Plasterboard or wallboard are names for drywall, flat paper-wrapped gypsum panels that are extensively used for stud walls or inner lining for wallpaper or paint. Hanging drywall can update unsightly interior brick walls that are no longer aesthetically pleasing. Although the installation process is relatively simple, you can’t hang the panels over the solid masonry surface; you need to install thin wood strips to the wall, called furring strips. These provide a framework onto which the panels are attached. Assign a helper during the installation process to reduce time and effort.
Step One
Installing Furring Strips - Hold a 2- by 4-inch furring strip vertically against a corner of the brick wall, with the 4-inch side against the wall. Ensure this length matches the height of the wall. Position a level next to the strip to ensure it is level, adjusting as required.
Step Two
Wear safety glasses and insert a masonry bit into the drill. Bore a series of 3-inch-deep holes through the furring board and into the brick. Space the holes 16 inches apart along the length of the strip.
Step Three
Insert the tip of a 3-inch-long fluted nail into a hole and tap it with a sledgehammer until it is flush with the wood. Repeat the process of inserting nails into the remaining holes.
Step Four
Measure 16 inches horizontally from the top of the furring strip and mark the spot on the wall. Also measure 16 inches from the bottom of the strip and mark the spot on the wall. Snap a chalk line over the two marks to form a vertical line that marks the location of the second furring strip on the wall. Repeat this process to measure and mark every 16 inches along the span of the wall for the strips.
Step Five
Position the second furring strip over the first vertical chalk line. Use a level to straighten it and bore pilot holes through it, spaced 16 inches apart. Drive fluted nails through the holes to secure this strip to the wall. Continue this process with the remaining chalk lines.
Step Six
Hanging Plasterboard - Assign a helper to hold one end of the drywall panel while you hold its other end. Lift this panel up against the first furring strip, ensuring the corners meet. A drywall panel generally covers four furring strips because it measures 8 feet in length.
Step Seven
Drive 1 1/4-inch drywall screws into the panel every 16 inches to secure it to the furring strip directly below. Repeat the process to secure the drywall panel to the remaining three furring strips.
Step Eight
Hold a second drywall panel up against the wall, with its edge matching the edge of the previous panel so that they share the same furring strip. Drive drywall screws to secure this panel to the four furring strips it covers. Repeat this process of securing panels to the strips until you cover the brick wall completely.
Step Nine
Hang another row of drywall panels above the installed row. Position the lower edge of a drywall panel directly above the top edge of the first panel in the row below. Secure this panel to the furring strip the same way you secured the previous panels. You may need to score drywall panels with a utility knife and snap them into smaller sections to fit the gap between the first row and the ceiling.