WTF drywall prices?

[Cryptic1911]

got two quotes for drywall in the past two days.. one was $9700, and the other was 9k.. this is for hanging / sanding / taping roughly 185 sheets of 5/8". Is drywall really that expensive? or are these guys just out of their minds?

 

[rwhite692]

Pricing will depend a lot on what final surface finish you are specifying.

 

[Cryptic1911]

not sure what you mean? taped and sanded to me equals ready to prime / paint.. not sure of any other finish?

 

[gabeancounter]

Yep, they have lost their mind around here.

$10 materials
$10 hang
$10 finish
$5550 Total

You are hanging 5/8 on walls and lids? Might say an even $6k for hanging 5/8. Good luck

 

[Cryptic1911]

yeah, gonna do 5/8 everywhere for added sound deadening

 

[Jayincali]

I'm not drywall expert at all, but my local HD has 4'x8' sheets at 5/8" thick for $6.82.

$6.82 x 185 sheets = $1261.70
maybe add another $100 for mud.

So $7600 for labor....

 

[Cryptic1911]

yeah, exactly my point.. problem is that I'm not exactly looking forward to hanging it all lol. I was hoping for some reasonable prices and just let someone else do it

 

[nutjob]

Drywall finish can be spec'd from level 0 to level 5

A couple of quotes:

Specifications that include the Levels of Gypsum Board Finish also promote competitive bidding that allows the bidder to consider the correct labor and materials to finish the wall suitably for its final decoration.

Specifiers should be aware of the recommended level of finish required for the final decoration for walls and ceilings and clearly specify this for contract bidders. Bidders should carefully read project specifications to ensure that bidding includes the proper level of finish to meet the standard set for final wall decoration.



http://www.nationalgypsum.com/resources/techtalk/revisiting.aspx

 

[gabeancounter]

I assumed 12 footers w/ my pricing. I agree the labor is BS. Don't feel bad I got 15 quotes before I got people to come in line. Then everybody would do it for that price!

Don't forget to request glued and screwed! Non of the fiber mesh tape unless they are not using the premix mud.

I would just tell them you paying $3700 for labor and you will provide the materials. Look up sheetrock dealers and they will sell it delivered and you don't have to worry about a lien on your property. Don't let anybody tell you that you can not buy it at the price they are paying for materials. Just not true. Every materials dealer is starving to death and will sell to you as cheap as anyone.

 

[Stuart in MN]

It's pretty hard to tell, for several reasons...I've read that it averages around $1.00/square foot, but labor (and material) costs vary all over the place depending on where you live, and it will also depend on the difficulty of the install - if it's just four walls with no windows and an 8 foot ceiling that's one thing, but if there are a lot of openings and corners, or high ceilings and angles, it will drive the cost up.

 

[gabeancounter]

Levels of finish are rarely seen in residential in GA. Most drywall guys don't even speak english. It is either smooth ceiling or textured. lol

 

[Cryptic1911]

Drywall finish can be spec'd from level 0 to level 5

http://www.nationalgypsum.com/resources/techtalk/revisiting.aspx

edit: nevermind, read the quote wrong. I thought 5 was the normal paint the walls nice kinda drywall. apparently its 3-4 and 5 is super high end $$$

 

[boiler7904]

9k is just over a buck a sf which isn't too bad assuming 4x12 sheets that most pros use. Without knowing what the project is, some things that could be driving up the cost are:

Room layout size / layout - small rooms are typically more labor intensive than large open spaces.

Angles / curves

Vaulted ceilings

Drywall returns at windows

Remodel work typically priced higher

The other thing to know is that USG put out a memo late last fall raising prices in the neighborhood of 25 or 30% across the board. All of the other drywall manufacturers followed suit just because USG did and they could increase margins and still be competitive.

 

[boiler7904]

Interesting.. never heard of that before. To me, finished drywall I guess would be level 5.. anything else is hack in my book

Level 5 would be the typical New England blue board and veneer plaster treatment.

Level 4 is common in the midwest except high end custom residential where you occasionally see Level 5.

 

[Cryptic1911]

^ hm, the levels are confusing.. I just want smooth walls with no divets / screws popping through that I can put paint on and look nice.

As for what's being drywalled, I do have mini vaulted ceilings upstairs.. in the main room it is only 11ft in the center, one big ~30ft square, but the upstairs hallway area does have multiple angles, though it isn't a huge area to do. Either way, with what has to be done, I don't think its a hard job, especially for a professional

the garage below is just a 30ft square, no windows, and 12'6" ceilings

garage:

upstairs: (all insulated now)

upstairs hallway: (windows will be removed from old part of house before drywall)

 

[GarageEnvy]

had my garage done about 4 months ago and it was close to $1 a sf with 5/8" everywhere. That actually included a hundred sf or so of interior patch with texture matching that was time consuming. The garage portion was tape AND texture (spray/orange peel). That was done by a top rated licensed contractor. He did the texture and sub'd the hanging and taping. The two hangers were about 5'5" tall and stepped up onto a sawhorses with 12' sheets. For a short guy that's a big step up with a lot of weight. The guy told me he made $90 a day or $180 for the whole job. There were two hangers. If you don't need the texture, think about finding some hangers instead of going through a contractor.

 

[Nix]

Level 5 would be the typical New England blue board and veneer plaster treatment.

Level 4 is common in the midwest except high end custom residential where you occasionally see Level 5.

That's how it is here as well.

To the OP: Have you considered hanging it yourself and just hiring someone to finish it to save some money?

 

[irishtom]

2010 RS MEANS Construction Cost Data pegs 5/8" FIre resistant Gypboard, taped and finished to a Level 4 finish at 1.40/sf. The regional cost index for your area increases the total by 13.6%. So when you do the math, therir costs are in the $48-52 cost range per 4x8 sheet. That's "book value", just like your mechanic would use to estimate the cost of working on your car.

A Level 4 finish is defined by the Gypsum Associations as "All joints and interior angles have tape embedded in joint compound and two separate coats of joint compound applied over all flat joints and one separate coat of joint compound applied over interior angles. Fastener heads and accessories shall be covered with three separate coats of joint compound. All joint compound shall be smooth and free from tool marks and ridges."

I don't think you'll get prices much different from other contractor's right now, unless you have a friend in the business. The contractors still in business all seem to making up for lost revenue over the last few years. You might consider renting a drywall lift and doing the work yourself, or have the drywall crew mud after you've hung the drywall.

 

[Nix]

Interesting.. never heard of that before. To me, finished drywall I guess would be level 5.. anything else is hack in my book

If that's the finish you're being quoted, I'm not surprised by the high price. The skim coat is a lot of extra labor. If they're quoting "level 4", that would definatley be high, at least where I live.

 

[csp]

Look up sheetrock dealers and they will sell it delivered and you don't have to worry about a lien on your property. Don't let anybody tell you that you can not buy it at the price they are paying for materials. Just not true. Every materials dealer is starving to death and will sell to you as cheap as anyone.

True. I saved about $1.50/sheet on 5/8" from a drywall supplier vs. Home Depot and Lowes. That was delivered too, so I dind't have to handle it four times to get it home and stacked.

 

[bigdav160]

Too bad you don't live "down south" where you would pay less for that completed job than the materials would cost at HD.

 

[Cryptic1911]

Level 5 would be the typical New England blue board and veneer plaster treatment.

Level 4 is common in the midwest except high end custom residential where you occasionally see Level 5.

Ah, yeah I was mistaken.. I read the page wrong, level 4 I guess is what would be normal. I missed the "a skim coat applied to whole surface" on the level 5 description

That's how it is here as well.

To the OP: Have you considered hanging it yourself and just hiring someone to finish it to save some money?

I kinda entertained it in the beginning, but checking prices on the insulation it ended up being cheaper to have someone else do the whole job w/ materials, than it was for me to buy the materials and do it myself.. I figured drywall wouldn't be as cut and dry, but I definately wasn't expecting quotes like these. There's no way in hell that I'm paying that much, so I just may end up doing it myself

If that's the finish you're being quoted, I'm not surprised by the high price. The skim coat is a lot of extra labor. If they're quoting "level 4", that would definatley be high, at least where I live.

I wasn't actually there to deal with the drywall guys, my father waited for them.. but I doubt they even asked what level of surface we wanted. I'll ask though. I'm betting the quote is for level 4 though.

 

[drmoonshine]

The alternative is doing it yourself. Do you think your up for the task?

 

[Cryptic1911]

well, $8,000 in my pocket instead of theirs is alot of motivation

 

[NXGTS]

well, $8,000 in my pocket instead of theirs is alot of motivation

This is the kind of motivation I usually run into as well. At the end of the day you will have more satisfaction that you did it and saved a boat load of $$$$.

 

[Packard V8]

Framing, finishing, no problem. Electrical, no problem. Plumbing, no problem. Painting, no problem. Hanging and finishing drywall - let the pros do it. I'll do everything else, but I hire the drywall. Finishing drywall is like paint and body work on cars. It is a touch and technique. If you don't do it every day for years, you'll take three times as long and it will look half as good when done. I've priced the savings on buying and hanging it myself and letting a crew finish. Just wasn't enough to be worth the hassle of working overhead on a scaffold.

Get several more bids. You'll find a sub who is between big jobs.

jack vines

 

[Steevo]

I'm glad I had mine done last year then.
I paid $2300 cash to a drywall contractor last May to have my 24x40 shop with 10 foot walls and a bathroom rocked with 5/8, and finished to paint ready with no texture applied (very smooth taping and skim coating).
Business was slow and he was looking for work . . .

 

[rwhite692]

Levels of finish are rarely seen in residential in GA. Most drywall guys don't even speak english. It is either smooth ceiling or textured. lol

Yes, that's exactly why I mentioned it...there is typically a huge price difference between those two.

 

[KMR Construction]

I did a garage addition not to long ago it was 65 12' sheets. Paid my plaster $3800 to hang and plaster. Your price might be a little high for drywall/ compound. Try offering them cash. I would also say if you decide to do it yourself pay someone to hang it. They ussually get 8-12 a sheet and can do that in a day.

 

[rwhite692]

When it came time to drywall my 24x36, I hired a crew to do the ceiling (vaulted) because there was just no way I was going to try and do that myself. Just too high to work with 5/8" sheets, for me.

The crew I hired did the whole job (taped, two coats, ready for light texture) and supplied the drywall, for 800 bucks. This was about 936 square feet. They did the whole thing with 12' sheets. I think they had the drywall left over from a previous job, because the price was ridiculously cheap.

I did the walls (10') myself, and luckily, I scored 27, 12 foot sheets of 5/8" National Gypsum at my local Lowes for half off (which was $8.68 per sheet!), when they stopped carrying the 12 foot sheets of 5/8" at my local store.

They said they stopped carrying the 12 foot sheets of 5/8" due to the fact that new construction activity was so low.

 

[stafford]

That 5/8" sheet rock is heavy as **** and it'll kick your ****. 185 sheets is a lot to hang in your spare time, not to mention finishing it. Some of our southern neighbors did a little job for me only 32 sheets. He supplied the 12' foot sheetrock and all the supplies, hung and finished it for .75 per foot. and I didn't have to touch one damned peice of it. It was going to be 150.00 less but I had ten lights he had to work with (dismount and remount) so he added to it and I thought it was fair. My drywall was just 1/2" origonally it worked out to 68 cents

 

[ishiboo]

Framing, finishing, no problem. Electrical, no problem. Plumbing, no problem. Painting, no problem. Hanging and finishing drywall - let the pros do it. I'll do everything else, but I hire the drywall. Finishing drywall is like paint and body work on cars. It is a touch and technique. If you don't do it every day for years, you'll take three times as long and it will look half as good when done. I've priced the savings on buying and hanging it myself and letting a crew finish. Just wasn't enough to be worth the hassle of working overhead on a scaffold.

Get several more bids. You'll find a sub who is between big jobs.

jack vines

Agreed, same here. Plus I hate being covered in gypsum dust. It takes me 5 times as long as the pro's because I have to put more on and do more sanding to get a lesser result

 

[tdkkart]

Are we sure on the math here?? Even 2 stories, which makes it roughly a 30L x 30W x 20H plus 2 ceilings does not come up to 185 sheets at 48sq/ft per sheet?? Even vaulted ceilings does not double the square footage.

4 walls 30L x 20H = 2400sq/ft divided by 48sq/ft per sheet = 50 sheets

2 30x30 ceilings = 1800sq/ft @ 48sq/ft/sheet = 37.5 sheets

I'm at 90 sheets??
Am I way off somewhere?? I realize vaulted ceilings takes some, but not double.

 

[stafford]

They're probably figuring for eight foot drywall and charging him for 12 foot

 

[91FE]

Interesting.. never heard of that before. To me, finished drywall I guess would be level 5.. anything else is hack in my book

Um... not true. 99% of residential is Level 3-4. Level 3 is used under wallpaper and painted walls generally get level 4. Level 5 is reserved for VERY high-end residential and commercial.

 

[mad57]

My guys did my 30x80 5/8 rock , all supplys included and hung and finish taped $2600 nj not that far i could give you there #

 

[Cryptic1911]

Um... not true. 99% of residential is Level 3-4. Level 3 is used under wallpaper and painted walls generally get level 4. Level 5 is reserved for VERY high-end residential and commercial.

yeah, I read it wrong. I edited the post. who knew there was so much to drywall LOL

I asked my dad what the guys said about finish, and he said that only one guy asked, but it was a basic "do you want textured, or smooth surface to paint?" kinda question

 

[irishtom]

Cryptic. PM me the contractor's names, I may have some others you can contact for alt. pricing, and they may be open to options. One way I've gotten better prices was to tell subs the could use my project to fill in between other jobs. I was never in a big hurry to get a job finished.

 

[irishtom]

Are we sure on the math here?? Even 2 stories, which makes it roughly a 30L x 30W x 20H plus 2 ceilings does not come up to 185 sheets at 48sq/ft per sheet?? Even vaulted ceilings does not double the square footage.

4 walls 30L x 20H = 2400sq/ft divided by 48sq/ft per sheet = 50 sheets

2 30x30 ceilings = 1800sq/ft @ 48sq/ft/sheet = 37.5 sheets

I'm at 90 sheets??
Am I way off somewhere?? I realize vaulted ceilings takes some, but not double.

If these contractors are quoting 4x8 sheets, it's 2400/32 =75 sheets, 1800/32 = 57 sheets. Total 132 plus 25-30% waste. That's getting closer to the 185 sheets.

I'm not saying these quotes are justifiable or acceptable, just offering explanations to the OP that he can use to knock the price down. 30% waste is unacceptable to me. For a straightforward install, 10% is more reasonable, especially with 4x12 sheets. And 90-100 sheets of 4x12 should cut down install and finish time (less joints).

 

[hansen1]

I just had my 36x48x14' done. It was right at 100 sheets with 60 sheets of 4x8x5/8 and 40 sheets of 54"x12'x1/2". I paid $7.00 a sheet to hang and they did it in one day with a crew of 4. I then paid $1600 for a level 4 finish. This included materials and labor for a crew of 2. I paid around $1100 for the drywall itself.

It ended up being just under 4000 square feet.
$1100 for drywall
$700 for hanging
$1600 for finish
$3400 total (.85/sq ft)

I went back and forth on whether I would do it but figured it would take me several weeks to hang and finish to say $2000. I finally decided time was more important and in the end the quality was much better than I could have done. I would have also had to do 100% of it myself which didn't sound to fun hanging 5/8" 14' in the air.