When drywall ceiling panels are installed, it is best to install them perpendicular to the ceiling joists, instead of parallel to the ceiling joists. Also, make sure that the butt joints are staggered, so that continuous seams are avoided. A good way to do this is to lay out the panels in a subway tile pattern.

What direction do you hang ceiling drywall?

On commercial jobs, fire codes often require seams to fall on the entire length of the framing, so the drywall must be hung vertically. However, on residential jobs, the drywall on the walls is typically hung horizontally. For walls 9 feet high or shorter, hanging the drywall horizontally has a number of benefits.

Can you run drywall parallel to joists?

You always want to put your drywall perpendicular to the supports. If the supports that are there now are running the way you want to run the drywall, you can strap the ceiling perpendicular to the joists and then run your drywall the way you want it, which would be parallel to your joists.