Tools: Sheetrock Cart/lifting Machine
I am getting ready to start my first rehab and am wonder where I can find a tool to help with sheetrocking cielings and other odd places. I have seen them on jobsites (I am an appraiser) but have never seen them in lowes or home depot. You can tell i'm a rookie as I am not even sure what they are called. Anyway, I think they have a hand crank to adjust height etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Also, is there any air nailer that will handle both framing nails and roofing nails?
They are called drywall lifts, or Drywall jacks. Do a search on Google find a manufacturer then find out who the nearest dealer is.
Drywall jacks are not inexpensive, and you may want to reconsider this purchase for your first rehab unless the ceilings are in the upper atmosphere. Look instead to rent the rig from a commercial tool supplier.
You’re not doing the ceiling yourself, are you? It’s a two man job, at least, and the cheapest, most accessible drywall jack will be your head. There is pain associated with this, which you may not enjoy. Your second cheapest option would be what’s commonly referred to as a “deadman” – a long and a short length of 2 x 4 screwed together in the shape of a giant letter T. Get the sheet up there with ladders or scaffolds and then wedge two deadmen underneath (they should be built just greater than the floor to ceiling measurement). This will enable you all the time necessary to screw the sheet off.
The best solution: this is a common enough labor that a million guys can do it. I say let them. Rocking a ceiling is a horrible task, in my opinion. Folks that enjoy it are beyond my figuring, but worth their weight in gold, or plaster at least.
Quinn
You definitely don't want to purchase this equipment unless you're going to be using it a heck of a lot. Try your local rent-all center. They have all kinds of cool gadgets. You don't want to waste money having it sit on your job site waiting for you tho, so make sure you rent it when your schedule allows you to actually do the work (preferably with help).
The Gambler says: You need to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, and know how to walk away...
Drywalling ceilings is time to walk away.
There are way too many people who will bust there ass hanging drywall for you faster and better than you ever can. It is money well spent, and probably will shock you how cheaply you can get sheet rock hung.
In rehabbing you have to choose your battles, sure you could even make your own drywall, but it is better in the long run to just buy it pre-made, same goes with rocking ceilings.
If your really wanting to do it yourself look on Ebay, I have seen a panel lift for $250. They are handy for spot repairs of a panel or two on the ceiling when your working by yourself.
Generally a rental agency or lumber yard will rent you one for $25-$35 a day.
If it is a whole house your wanting to do then I would say "sub it out" hung, taped, and texteured we do for .90 to 1.10 a sf
[addsig]
Rent it from Home Depot then get one of those popcorn sprayers and popcorn the ceiling so you don't have to finish it real well as ceilings are tough to make the seams not show.[ Edited by meddac on Date 05/27/2004 ]
I'm with Re-habinator on this. The first house I rehabbed I let my handyman and his two buffoons do the drywall. It took 4 weeks to do 1200 sq ft of walls & ceilings. A pro drywaller would've been in-out & gone in under 1 week. In the end, it cost me more. Never again.
i refinish walls in most the homes i rehabb. i am even available for hire to refinish walls for the private sector. when it comes to ceilings i hire that work done. .......kenmax