Thoughts on drywall installation: horizontal or vertical?

Submitted by Marvin on November 8th, 2019 at 9:42 PM

I took down some old paneling in our basement (which is finished and has a floating engineered hardwood floor, which I installed) and tomorrow I'll be putting up the drywall! I am not sure if I should install the drywall vertically or horizontally. Of course the advantage of vertical installation is that with studs that are 16" on center one 4x8 piece of drywall fits nicely between three studs and the stability is increased. On the other hand, you do wind up putting on a bit more mud since inevitably there are more seams with vertical installation. That means more sanding, which is the least enjoyable part of putting up new drywall! In addition, the basement ceiling is slightly less than 8' high, so I have to rip a bit off the top of each of the drywall sheets before I put them up, so there is really no advantage in vertical installation on that front, since I need to cut each sheet anyway. 

So how about the rest of you? Do you prefer to put up drywall vertically or horizontally? 

This is a fantastic thread for everyone and it shows what a full, rich life i lead. Also, in case any of you were wondering, my wife is not necessarily more inclined to have sex with me after I complete a big home improvement project. I used to think she would be, but over the years I have come to realize that it doesn't really improve my prospects on that front. 

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xtramelanin

November 8th, 2019 at 9:48 PM ^

personal preference based on the work/application surface you're working with and the number of seams based on the height of where you have to hang.  i've done it both ways and all things being equal i tend toward vertical seams as it seems to more easily accommodate varying heights and particularly higher ceilings.  

Joined: 12/09/2014

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Teeba

November 9th, 2019 at 12:16 AM ^

Which would be right side up where you come from. Yeah, I see what you did there.

 I gotta ask, when you are down under, do you just flush over and over while staring at the water circling the bowl and wonder at the majesty of the universe?

Joined: 09/25/2019

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Sam1863

November 9th, 2019 at 8:03 AM ^

I can't call geometry "fun," but it was the one HS math subject I ever learned. If you're a visual learner, you can see its major components: a circle, an angle, a triangle, a line, etc. You don't have to imagine them - they're right on the page in front of you. And there are absolutes in geometry: a circle has 360 degrees; the sum of the internal angles of a triangle are always 180; parallel lines never converge, etc. These facts don't change. Those two factors allowed me to get a surprising B in 10th Grade Math.

But when it comes to home improvements, the only number I'm concerned with is the number of a contractor. I know when things are beyond me.

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Johnny10er

November 9th, 2019 at 3:54 PM ^

I’m with you, man.

Geometry was the only subject in the maths that I ever had a complete grasp and understanding of. Everything was real. I could see it, I could make it. Those things could be measured, drawn, and constructed. Everything past geometry, I’m convinced is voodoo. 
I am a firm believer in doing it yourself, however, but you do you, man.

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CW97

November 8th, 2019 at 9:59 PM ^

Horizontal. Seams are easier (less ladders), and less noticable to the eye. It also gives more strength to the wall. Finally if you have a crooked stud you don't have to put a doubler on it. 

Joined: 11/28/2015

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San Diego Mick

November 8th, 2019 at 10:37 PM ^

LVP, luxury vinyl plank is the way to go, laminates are also susceptible to water damage, LVP tongue and groove is fine they come wirh an underlayment backing already, usually. Glued down is a bitch because the subfloor has to be perfect after self-leveling. 

 

For drywalling, just go verticle and use a chalk string and use a cutter for less than 8 foot heights. 

Joined: 05/11/2011

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Phaedrus

November 8th, 2019 at 10:02 PM ^

I have never done it horizontally. Honestly, it just never occurred to me. However, since you mentioned that you'll have to cut a bit off the top either way, personally I would prefer to do it vertical so you have to cut less at a time. I find it easier to cut smaller bits more often than do a long cut. It's just easier to keep everything straight. Also, I think you'd have more seams if you did the horizontal layout because you'd have the horizontal seams but you'd also have vertical seams (unless the wall is no more than 8' across). By doing it vertically, you'd just have vertical seams.

I'm going to have to put drywall up in my bedroom in the near future because the previous owners did a pretty poor job using cheap wood paneling. It's not something I'm looking forward to. It's not that I find drywall particularly difficult to work with, I just find it tedious and I hate the chalky feel you get on your hands.

Joined: 09/02/2019

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Red is Blue

November 8th, 2019 at 11:37 PM ^

On a 16 ft long wall, 8 ft high.  If you go vertical you install 4 sheets and have 3 8 ft seams (24 ft total).  Horizontally, you have 1 16 ft horizontal seam and 1 8 ft vertical seam which is also 24 ft total.

On a 13 ft wall, you'd still have 24 total feet of seams vertical, but horizontal you'd have 13 ft horizontal seam and 1 8 ft vertical seam or 21 ft, ie horizontal is shorter.

17 ft long wall, 32 seam ft vertical and 17 + 16 = 33 seam ft horizontal.  Horizontally, you can, of course, get longer sheets which would save you an 8 ft seam.

I'm ignoring the corners because its the same for both.

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Shop Smart Sho…

November 8th, 2019 at 10:05 PM ^

Since you're worried about the sanding, that probably means you aren't going to be great at it. So go with horizontal. It'll hide any screw ups a bit better, and it'll hide any bowed studs that would be really obvious on a vertical installation.

Only reason I know this is because my uncle hung drywall for 30+ years and taught me over the course of installing drywall in pretty much every home my extended family has owned. Also, you don't need as much mud as you think you do. Scrape it nice and thin.

Joined: 07/10/2008

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kdog

November 8th, 2019 at 10:16 PM ^

Horizontal with staggered seams (called railroad) is the correct way to install drywall - more stability with shorter seams. Shorter seams with more stability reduces the chance for cracks in the seam (which will happen either way). 

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MaineGoBlue

November 8th, 2019 at 10:20 PM ^

I’ve worked residential construction all my life, drywall is supposed to be hung horizontal, ESPECIALLY for remodeling. Unless the studs are perfectly straight and exactly 16” on center you will end up cutting the tapered edge and it won’t fit right.  You can cut the 4’ edge easily to whatever length you want in a straight line, good luck cutting a straight line for 8 feet, not to mention butting the tapered seams together since they will be slightly different thicknesses. 

Now, as far as your comment about sex, that can be either horizontal or vertical.

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Ibow

November 8th, 2019 at 10:35 PM ^

With just a touch less than 8’ ceiling, I’d do vertical. We did our own basement at home and our cabin both vertical. Same as you... both had just less than 8’ ceilings. Leave a little gap, 1/4” or so, on the floor for your flooring to move around. 

Good luck with your project tomorrow! 

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