Prefab floor trusses can be framed to hang drywall.
Preparing roof trusses for hanging dry wall poses no particular difficulties, but you need to understand the strength and stability limitations of drywall and plan your work accordingly. Putting up runners---or "furring strips"---beforehand and planning for that in the design of the roof will usually solve the problem.
Instructions
Determine Distance Between Trusses
1. Truss manufacturers and structural engineers design the distance between trusses: 12 inches on centers (OC) if the trusses are for the floor above, otherwise 16 inches or 24 inches OC. You will almost always leave trusses greater than 24 inches OC open. Trusses 12 inches and 16 inches OC can be drywalled directly; trusses 24 inches OC will require runners or special drywall.
2. For direct application of drywall for less than 12-inch or 16-inch trusses, you should nail the drywall with 1 1/4-inch drywall nails about 7 inches OC. Exercise some caution at the ends of trusses because the truss will "work"---or move slightly---where it meets the wall. Don't nail or screw the drywall too close to that movement point; leave at least 3 to 4 inches between the last nail into the truss and the wall.
3. Alternatively, you can use drywall clips, small right-angled clips that attach to the side of the joist. You screw the drywall up into the horizontal clips, which allow for slight movement between the joist and the drywall, which is advantageous because joists always "work" slightly in a ceiling, and the movement can crack drywall, particularly along the seams.
4. When attaching drywall to trusses 24 inches OC, you can attach the drywall directly to the truss using thicker, 5/8-inch drywall or specially formulated drywall that resists sagging. Home improvement centers carry different brands; ask for "sag-resistant drywall."
5. When dealing with trusses 24 inches OC, some drywallers, rather than pay more for thicker drywall or special drywall formulations, prefer putting up 2-by-3-inch wood furring strips---or runners---16 inches OC under the trusses and at right angles to them. If you do this, you then simply attach the drywall to the furring strips.
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