Removing Sheetrock ceiling

Mstrlucky74

We are going to be removing Sheetrock in our living room and put up new. Above the ceiling is our unfinished attic. We have insulation betwwen the rafters above this ceiling and are hoping it stays put when the ceiling is removed. What is the best way to remove a Sheetrock ceiling? Start going crazy with a hammer ? . Thanks a lot

joecaption

Why not just go over the old ceiling with new drywall, A whole lot less mess.

123pugsy

X2.

I see no reason to remove the old ceiling either.

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ecocco1469

I just replaced my entire ceiling also. Best way is to go in attic n move insulation out of way n vacuum this one person can push old rock down n get nice big peices down at a time. If u pull down from bottom u will get small peices n make huge mess with insulation. N sheet rock will be more of a pain to take down. Try putting up 5/8 rock instead of 1/2 in. U can rent drywall jack for 30 at Home Depot for day

joecaption

A drywall lift is the way to go, good point.
Once I bought one I'll never go back to the bad old days of tying to balance it on my head standing on a step ladder and yelling at each other all day.
It can make it a one man job.

Mstrlucky74

Never thought about putting the new over the old. Seems much easier but seems to be a 50/50 split here. Any negatives to putting new over old? Thanks a lot

joecaption

I see someone suggesting how to remove it because that's what you asked about, but there not suggesting not to go over.
I've done it both ways. The only time I remove the old is in really old houses with undersized sagging joist.
That way I can sister them to make the whole ceiling flat and level again.

Mstrlucky74

Thanks Joe. How to you find the joists to nail the new sheetrock to?

joecaption

Stud finder, go up in the attic and just drill a small hole on each side of the rafter, look for divits or nail pops in the ceiling.
If you go in the attic and check to see if the joist are evenly spaced, once you find one it's just a matter of marking off the rest.
I like to use blue tape on the wall to mark out where the joist are.
Just going to have to use longer screws when installing it.

BigJim

Another vote for installing over existing sheet rock. If you have never taken any down, you have missed all the mess, and especially a face full of junk in your face. Try this in an old house where they burned coal.

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Jim

joecaption

Your also going to have to deal with the fact the ceiling was installed first and the walls second. So you would have to dig out all the old rock that's stuck in there when the ceiling comes down.

joecaption

The worst ceiling I ever took down was in an old movie theater.
Were 50 ft. above the floor, old stamped steel ceiling panels, then 4" of old news paper laying flat, 6" of celluose, 2" of old pigen poop.

BigJim

Ewwwww I thought the coal dust, rat and mouse droppings was bad enough.

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Jim

bbo

are you sure all the poop was old?

I'd have to get fully suited up for that ... ummmm ... crappy job.

joecaption

Mask, suits, duct tape on ankles and wrist.
We were doing this in a building with no heat in the middle of winter when it was well below zero.