When remodeling a basement apartment using drywall there are several things you should keep in mind. The first area of concern is the moisture content of the basement. If moisture is a problem, then you might want to install water-resistant drywall. The other thing that should be of concern is whether you need to use fire-retardant drywall in the basement apartment. This may be required by your local building code, especially if the apartment is rented out to a third party or non-family member. If you don't need fire-retardant drywall, then plain 1/2-inch drywall can be applied to the ceiling and walls in the same manner as any other room in the house.
Instructions
Install Drywall in a Basement
1. Inspect all framing members for the walls and ceilings to be certain that they are solidly in place. Framing walls in a basement can be very challenging, so be sure to check every framing member very closely, especially those that are attached to masonry. If the ceiling is being covered with drywall (sometimes drop ceilings are installed instead), then you also need to look at the ceiling joists very closely for proper installation.
2. Make sure all electrical light fixtures, wall sockets and switches are in place and the wires have been run before you start hanging the drywall. Also check for heating vents and any other openings that need to be made in the drywall.
3. Hang the sheet rock on the ceiling first. (if a drop ceiling is being installed, skip this step). Overlap the seams at the end of each piece of drywall, so that they are staggered. Install each piece with 1 1/4-inch drywall screws, using standard construction techniques. Most important is tight spacing of the screws and just a slight indentation underneath each screw that does not break the paper. Don't forget to cut the openings for light fixtures and electrical outlets. This cutting can be done with a key hole saw and a utility knife.
4. Hang the sheet rock on the upper portion of the wall first. Do this so the tapered edge slides tight against the ceiling.This helps support the ceiling. Use the same screwing techniques for the wall pieces that you did with the ceiling. First attach the 4-foot-wide pieces (length can vary) along the border, where the top of the wall meets the ceiling. Then install the bottom layer of drywall underneath, making sure none of the vertical seams line up. Then make sure the bottom edge of the drywall does not come in contact with the masonry floor. You can cover the gap, which should be a couple of inches, with a baseboard later.
5. Apply the joint compound and joint tape to all seams including the corners. First lay down a nice layer of joint compound and then press the tape into the fixture with a wide blade. Next, scrape off the excess joint compound with the same blade and then feather the compound away from the center of the tape for 6 inches on each side. Let everything dry, which may take 24 hours or more.
6. Fill the nail heads with a layer of joint compound. This should only take one or two strokes with a 6-inch putty knife. Then let everything dry, including the seams. This also might take 24 hours or even longer.
7. Lightly sand all areas of joint compound and cover everything with another thin layer of joint compound.
8. Repeat step 7 for a third coat of joint compound. (sometimes the nail heads might need a fourth coat). After you have done this, sand again.
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