What Do Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers apply plasterboard or other wallboard to ceilings or interior walls of buildings. Apply or mount acoustical tiles or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings and walls of buildings to reduce or reflect sound. Materials may be of decorative quality. Includes lathers who fasten wooden, metal, or rockboard lath to walls, ceilings or partitions of buildings to provide support base for plaster, fire-proofing, or acoustical material. They also read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements.

Other tasks include:

• Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
• Fit and fasten wallboard or drywall into position on wood or metal frameworks, using glue, nails, or screws.
• Measure and cut openings in panels or tiles for electrical outlets, windows, vents, plumbing, or other fixtures, using keyhole saws or other cutting tools.
• Assemble or install metal framing or decorative trim for windows, doorways, or vents.
• Cut metal or wood framing and trim to size, using cutting tools.
• Inspect furrings, mechanical mountings, or masonry surfaces for plumbness and level, using spirit or water levels.

We asked Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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64% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 48% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers fit and fasten wallboard or drywall into position on wood or metal frameworks, using glue, nails, or screws. They read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements.

• Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
• Cut metal or wood framing and trim to size, using cutting tools.
• Inspect furrings, mechanical mountings, or masonry surfaces for plumbness and level, using spirit or water levels.
• Coordinate work with drywall finishers who cover the seams between drywall panels.
• Cut and screw together metal channels to make floor or ceiling frames, according to plans for the location of rooms or hallways.

We asked some Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	68% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	66% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	88% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	31% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	39% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers also coordinate work with drywall finishers who cover the seams between drywall panels. They may also scribe and cut edges of tile to fit walls where wall molding is not specified.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Assemble or install metal framing or decorative trim for windows, doorways, or vents. They might also Nail channels or wood furring strips to surfaces to provide mounting for tile.

In addition, they Cut fixture or border tiles to size, using keyhole saws, and insert them into surrounding frameworks.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Remove existing plaster, drywall, or paneling, using crowbars and hammers.

To some Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, it is also their responsibility to Install blanket insulation between studs and tack plastic moisture barriers over insulation.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/construction-and-extraction/drywall-and-ceiling-tile-installers-and-tapers.htm

http://www.abc.org/

http://store.awci.org/cgi-bin/awci

http://www.nccer.org/drywall