Horizontal or vertical drywall in basements?

Q:Should I install sheets of drywall vertically or horizontally in my basement? The ceiling height is just a little bit lower than 8 feet.

A:Every professional drywaller I've seen typically installs sheets of drywall horizontally, not vertically. One advantage with this approach is that you can make use of long sheets of drywall to minimize the total length of joints that need to be taped. In addition to 8-foot sheets, 10- and 12-footers are also carried by building supply outlets everywhere. Another advantage to horizontal installation is visual. For reasons that aren't obvious, flaws in horizontal joints are more difficult to see than those in vertical joints.

Another issue to consider is soundproofing of your ceiling. This is especially important in a basement. By anchoring the ceiling drywall to strips of metal called 'resilient channel' (instead of to the ceiling joists directly), you'll greatly enhance the sound resistance of the installation. Resilient channel isn't expensive and it's easy to install. Simply run it every 16 inches across your ceiling, anchored by screws driven into the joists, beginning near the outside walls.