When installing a suspended ceiling with drywalled walls. Should I install the ceiling first or the walls?

Question

I am remodeling my basement and I am drywalling the walls and putting in a suspended (drop) ceiling. I know when you install a drywall ceiling the ceiling should come first but how should it go when installing alternative ceilings with drywalled walls?

Answer 1

The drywall would go up first... The drywall HAS to extend the full length of any studs and reach to the fire-breaks. It's not just aesthetics, but safety and thus CODE !!

Answer 2

With no offense, OOPS. In any case it isn't a capital offense crime. After installing thousands of sq. ft. of drywall I offer that the process will be much the same as if the walls were still just studs. Certainly a helper or two would be nice, but the job can be tackled by a single, with some effort. If you have two like sized step ladders they can help. You can make braces from 2 x 4's to hold up a sheet, once you manage to get it up. The braces can also be used to "boost": the sheet to the ceiling then wedge/hold it in place. Once screwed to the rafters/ joists all you need do is tape, mud, sand, and eventually paint. If you happen to NEED it white you can mask off your walls at the meeting points. I've also applied thousands of gallons of paint and have a suggestion. Assume your walls are a color. It is a trick of the eye perhaps, but glaringly noticeable to anyone if the painter didn't have a steady hand, and happened to get color up onto the ceiling. The better process for a DIY especially, is to cut the ceiling down onto the walls, and then paint the wall color to within 1/16th inch of the ceiling in a masked, straight line. Odd how it works, but it does. Steven Wolf

Answer 3

Put the walls up FIRST.

Your ceiling should suspend somewhat DOWN the wall; the metal track will be attached to the drywall (and into a stud or something other hunk of wood in back of it -so make sure there IS something back there).

Enjoy!

Answer 4

Install the walls first. the suspended ceiling will over lap the dry wall.

Normal basements are some times shorter than on the main level of the house make sure yours has enough height to install nicely with out taking up your head space.

Answer 5

walls first and make sure you drop your ceiling low enough if in your basement for lights i think it is 4 1/2 inches

Answer 6

100%! The walls definitely go first.