Walls and Ceilings - Installing Dry walls in the Basement

I never installed Dry wall before, I would like your advise on what are the most important steps that I need to take to make sure that the walls are installed correctly (for example: should I sit the dry wall right flat on the floor or the sheet needs to be 1/2" higher).

Thanks in advance


[Edited by hsalem on 03-29-01 at 12:32]

1st of all, if you're drywalling the ceiling, do that first. that way when you install the wall the wall sheets will help to keep the perimeter edges of the ceiling sheets from sagging. always butt your sheets as close as possible to each other, keeping the gaps to a minimum.
there is no necessary amount of space to be left across the bottom of the sheet at the floor. cutting the sheet about 1/4"-1/2" shorter than the actual height gives you a small amount of leeway when installing the sheet. it allows you to put the sheet up easily. think of it this way. if you cut the sheet to exact dimensions, if you are even 1/16" too large it won't fit and you will have to fight the sheet into place.
you want the corner joint where the wall meets the ceiling to be as tight as possible with little or no gap. the bottom along the wall will be covered with baseboard anyway, so a small gap at the bottom is not critical.