Basement ceiling duct metal

MikeKy55

When you put up drywall on the floor joist above a basement and cross over a sheet metal air return duct built in the cavity, do you predrill for the drywall screws? Or will they run on thru the metal?

bjbatlanta

The screws will run in without pre-drilling. Depending on the gauge of the metal, you may need self tapping screws however. They have a small drill point on the end (available at HD & Lowes). How much of a span are you trying to go over?? You may not need to attach to the duct work. If you're spanning 16" or less with 1/2" or 24" with 5/8", no need to screw to the duct.

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MikeKy55

The areas I was concerned about were where the air returns and built using the joist cavities. There are two side by side so I'm spanning 32 inches. But if the drywall screws will go thru, I'm good. This house is about 8 years old, so the metal is thin. My last house was built in 1959 and the metal in those ducts had to have been 20GA.

redmanblackdog

You should be able to screw with regular 1 1/4" drywall screws. I have done it many times before, but I was using a drywall screw gun, you don't want to over spin if you don't have a drywall screw gun, or it might not hold. If you have problems, they also make metal drywall screws for channel that might worker easier.