drywalling over cold air return chase

avshockey

I am finishing my basement and attempting to hang drywall for the first time. I ran into an issue where I have a cold air return chase in the ceiling between two joists. I have to drywall beneath a section of the return. I figured a could remove the screws that hold the sheet metal tight to joists so they do not puncture the drywall, and the drywall once up will hold the metal panning tight to the joists. My problem is that the metal panning has a splice joint that joins two pieces of metal panning together. When I hung my drywall it popped my drywall out a bit but did not break the paper. Should I remove the drywall and add drywall paper shims around the splice so it does not affect the drywall when i screw it up?

oldrivers

I'm assuming they must have used pan head screws or something, you can remove any of those screws and use small nails instead on that, also if it were me i'd remove that splice piece and use a few strips of that metalic tape / duct tape . ive never seen anyone use a splice piece or panhead screws on cold air returns though , are you sure its a cold air return??

bjbatlanta

My return at the furnace has is spliced with the metal "joint" I believe you're referring to. I have seen it in runs between floor joists on occasion. Oldrivers has the right idea though with the metal tape on the joint after you take the spline out. You could also use tape to temporarily hold the actual metal to the joists until you get the drywall up. No need to replace the panheads that way.....

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bkeech

Is the return not level with the joists? I cannot see how the screws will go all the way thru the drywall for 5/8's drywall.