Working with it, not against it!

No offense to any readers who fall in this category but I have never quite understood why so many people are intimidated by materials in a 4' x 8' sheet. This applies to guys and girls, it just is not that heavy! (with exceptions, of course, 3/4" plywood is no joke). Folks, it requires balance!

The key to working with sheet material of any kind is working with the material and with your partner. If you fight the material every step of the way I'm sorry to say the material will win in the end! If your partner is doing battle with the material and with you I'm afraid you'll be looking for a new partner real soon.

When the truck comes loaded with your material, you get your first chance to learn how to work with it, not against it.

Carrying drywall 101

1) Stay on the same side of the sheet!

I can't begin to tell you how important this is. I've seen first-timers do it time and time again. Carrying 8' sheets of drywall is a breeze as long as you and your partner aren't trying to go in opposite directions. The trick is to have the board(s) leaning against both of you. If your partner is trying to lean the board to the right and you're trying to lean it to the left, best case scenario is you're both going to feel like you unloaded the entire truck already. Worst case scenario - somebody is going to end up with a torn muscle or an out of whack back.

2) Have extra help

If your job is larger than a few sheets please have extra help on hand. The professionals do it too. If you can't have help or have minimum help don't schedule the work to start the same day as the material delivery.

3) Weather conditions

Do not expose drywall to rain, snow, and ice. A couple of rain drops won't hurt anything but don't underestimate have much damage can be done with even a brief exposure to water. High winds can be especially dangerous when carrying drywall. I've seen men get blown off the truck on more than one occasion.

4) Bundled or single?

Drywall always comes bundled with two sheets together. Carrying two at a time makes the unload job go faster but that's hardly an important point if you only have a few sheets. Carry whatever makes you comfortable. Single sheets flex more which may be a good thing in some cases and a bad thing at other times.

5) Alone

So you couldn't wrangle any help at all to unload the truck huh? Remember when I mentioned balance? Get your balance right and you've got it nailed. Remember the tip in #4, single sheets flex a lot! Unless you are a very diminutive person carrying a bundle of 4' x 8' drywall shouldn't be a problem.

Next up -

Lets start hanging!