another vote for contracting drywall work

[vavet]

I decided in the summer of 2018 that I wanted to insulate and drywall my garage so that I could eventually air condition it. The heat and humidity made working out there unbearable in the summer. I read advice on here that made it sound like contracting drywall work was worthwhile because it can be hung by a pro for not much more than you can do it yourself.
I didn't take that advice. Knowing that I'm usually unhappy with the work of others, I decided to take it on for myself. I ordered some drywall from Lowe's and picked it up. While picking it up, this guy starts chatting me up in the line and gives me his business card. He's a long time drywall contractor and tells me to call him if I've gotten in over my head.
I hung some drywall myself and got a lift to do the ceiling. I called in a friend who'd done some work with Habitat for Humanity and we finished MOST of the work over 2 days last November. That's where it stalled.
I developed a back injury. I've been through a lot with that, but I won't go into that here. I finally contacted the drywall contractor who I met at Lowe's and asked him to quote finishing it for me. This is hanging about 5 sheets, and mud and tape to paint-ready standards. He quoted $1500 and I agreed to that. Then I asked him to give me a quote on paint too (other threads about that). When I saw him yesterday, I asked him for a ballpark figure on what it would've cost to have him do all the drywall. He eyeballed it, punched a few numbers on his calculator, and came up with $2800.
I easily spent $900 on the drywall panels I bought, plus the screws and the time researching how to do it.
$900 plus the $1500 I paid him to finish it puts me at $2400. That's $400 less than I could've paid him to take it start to finish. Two guys working two 8 hour days (roughly) means we each got paid $100 a day or $12.50 an hour.
We don't always build or work on things because it makes financial sense, but in this case, I really wish I'd have just paid him to do it in the first place. I should've at least explored the option a bit more. I can't believe the number of hours he and his guys have in mudding and sanding the place. It looks great! I'm very happy with the level of work he's done.
Now...does anyone want to buy my drywall lift?

 

[cvairwerks]

Drywall is the one thing I'll sub out without question if it's more than a sheet or two. I hate doing it and it always looks like a rabid beaver on crack was doing the job, no matter how careful I am.

 

[rsanter]

I hate doing drywall but I will do it to save me some money.
Last job I had to do was because of a water leak in the bathroom above causing damage to the laundry room below.
I ripped things out, dried things out, put new insulation in and hung new drywall panels....all no problem and went well.
I tried to float the panels and just did not do a good job. Lots of sanding to fix and was still not as good as I though it should be.

Let’s try a different route, made a couple calls to drywall guys. Found one I liked from talking with him and asked for an estimate.
Price seemed very low so I went with it. He finished quickly and did a great job so I was happy.

I hung some more drywall and didn’t even try to float it. Called him. Quote seemed low. He finished quickly and did a great job.

What you need to do is call around and find someone reasonable and good.
Starting with someone that pitched himself to me with ‘if you get in over your head then call me’ seems like a recipe to pay too much because he now knows you can’t handle it.

 

[Kaizen]

Good write up op. Please detail size of job sq ft and ceiling height so others can compare for their projects.



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[vavet]

OP here: garage is 24x32 x12 foot ceiling.
There are six 4x2 transom windows and a 18x8 overhead door on the 24 foot wall.

 

[machsnell]

If I were smart I would have hired it out. I am not smart amd I actually kind of enjoy drywall. Including the taping and mudding. Not so much the sanding.

There is something oddly enjoyable about mudding.

My buddy that builds houses told me to use his guys. Said I was crazy.

They hang and tape, mud, block and coat again for $15 a sheet. Doesnt matter if its 8 or 12 footers. You have to supply the drywall.

Hard to beat that...unless you are dumb like me.

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[acer66]

I hate doing it and it always looks like a rabid beaver on crack was doing the job, no matter how careful I am.

 

[paredown]

We brought in a union guy on the kitchen we were renovating this summer. We put up the board; he taped and finished.

A couple of observations--he was way faster, and way more precise than I can manage--especially on corners. And because the mud was put on with a lot more skill, he did minimal sanding. And he was FAST! And he helped put up protection and clean up when done. (He typically works in high end retail buildouts.) I just wish I could afford him for my own house.

I find with the reno I'm doing, it is 'a few sheets here, few sheets there' and seems easier just to do it myself. I do hate doing ceilings (especially because I like to use paint with a slight sheen)--I'm getting better, but I have a ways to go.

If I had new construction though, I would hire it out--it is so efficient to bring in a crew and let them fly at it.

 

[vertguy]

Although I tried doing drywall a couple times when I was younger, it became very apparent that I **** at any finish type work. So when it came time to finish the basement at our current house, I hired it out. Best money I have ever spent as he was reasonable, quick and did quality work. I have used the same guy a couple times since including a remodel at our rental with the same results.

 

[yeldogt]

Drywall and roofing .....

 

[Jackfre]

I've put up a lot of sheetrock. There is a technique to handling the material. I forget the technique between jobs, so insulation and sheetrock are jobs I won't touch. My insulator did the whole job for about what the material would cost me and having a pro do the rock...well, it looks like it is supposed to be there. That may not have been the case had I done it.

 

[Jazz1]

Yes I drywalled my garage. All 14’ and 16’ sheets. Took two of us about 4 hours. My helper only stayed couple hours (he sick like dog)and really did not need one as I had rented a drywall lift
In a house I’d pay a pro cuz mudding is not my forte

 

[Bretny]

You prob spent $900 on drywall because you got it at lowes. I found my local building supply house a bit cheaper. I have now done my whole house....you get good by the end. My kitchen/living room was 35 sheets, we used alot of 16' where we could. The 11' ceiling was one of them. Took me a month of after work to finish that. I gained alot of expierence. Just did a 10x23ft addition in a week of after work work.

 

[gerryw]

I totally get the op, every time i do DW , half way through the job, i curse not farming it out.
But im cheap(and stupid)

Gerry

 

[jetnow1]

I did my 24 by 30 garage in 5/8s by myself, 12 foot sheets, 10 foot ceiling.
I have owned a lift for years. It was a lot of work, took about a week in total
working pretty much full time in it. I have a lot of electrical boxes to cut around, and also a stairway to the attic storage. I found buying it at Lowes
was the cheapest as they will price match, plus I had a coupon for 10 % that I did not tell them about till I checked out. I also accepted some sheets that they had hit with the forklift as I knew I had to trim one edge, they thru in 2 pails
of compound as compensation.
I used pros on the last addition I did, they hung a 22 by 22 room with a 16 foot
cathedral ceiling as well as a 8 by 10 bath room and a 8 by 10 laundry room
in a day and a half, then one guy taped it in three days. For the price they charged I figured it saved my customer 2 weeks and probably 2000 over what I would have charged to do it, plus It allowed me to work on applying the siding
while they did it.

 

[bwringer]

An experienced drywaller in action is pure magic. It's a blend of high-speed geometry and artistry far beyond my muddy perception or capabilities.

Doing ceilings and high walls on stilts is the part that blows my mind right up.

 

[u2slow]

All I remember about 'contractor' was it took twice as much $$$ as anticipated to build an unfinished shop.

Plywood shop interior for me. Doing it myself as time and money allow. My shop is already full of stuff and I wrench in there. Me and little lady re-did the roof last year.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

An experienced drywaller in action is pure magic. It's a blend of high-speed geometry and artistry far beyond my muddy perception or capabilities.

Doing ceilings and high walls on stilts is the part that blows my mind right up.

My drywall guys finishes can do a 14’ garage with stilts strapped on top of another pair of stilts. It’s crazy

He claims one of his guys made a wood leg stilt set and can do 19-22’ ceilings on stilts. Says he takes one step, and is 10’ down the wall and needs to reload his box with mud.

An expert drywall finisher is truly an undervalued trade

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I’ve hung drywall but never did the muddling and taping. Might try it on the garage. Always said that I would likely put 10 pails of mud on the wall and sand off 9. Apply 5 more pails and sand odd 4. Sooner or later it should be completed.

 

[TractorJeff]

Although I tried doing drywall a couple times when I was younger, it became very apparent that I **** at any finish type work. So when it came time to finish the basement at our current house, I hired it out. Best money I have ever spent as he was reasonable, quick and did quality work. I have used the same guy a couple times since including a remodel at our rental with the same results.

Ask him if he has time to mud/tape my 30 by 32 by 12 garage?
How close by are you?

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: this is one job i'd always hire out especially if I new an honest guy that did great work. it's an art and easily can take 10 times longer to do yourself and you'll see the flaws almost everytime you go in that room.

 

[ekimneirbo]

If you are going to do drywall, buy a used panel lifter off Craigs list ($150) and when you are done you can resell it for the same price. I'm 74 and I just finished building a 32x16x8.5 building. I both 12' and 8' sheets. Most of it I did by myself, but it is helpful if your wife can help you just slide the sheets on the lift. Put some adhesive on the walls and crank the panels in place. Then add a few screws. Biggest problem is dealing with the holes for the electric outlets.

Taping isn't any fun, but put the tape up and a light coat of mud over it. This is where a little effort pays big dividends later. Use one of thos mixers and your drill to stir/mix the mud to a fine consistency........then make a reasonably smooth coat. Don't try to do it all at once, you will need to do it several times. Just don't hurry to get it done.

Yes it will take you longer than a pro. I contacted a guy about just doing the finishing on my 16x32 and he wanted $800. I spent about two days total (and at 74 I ain't fast)
doing mine, but that was spread over about 4 days so it could dry. Does my finishing job look as good as his........nope! The thing you have to remember is that you are building a workshop, not a house. Little imperfections are either acceptable or usually unnoticed. I guarantee you if you look for them you will see lots of stuff that could have been sanded a little more and maybe another coat of mud here and there......but white paint hides a lot of flaws. This was built to be a paint booth, so there is a vent and lots of lights embedded in the walls and ceiling. Guarantee you no one walks into it and worries about it having a perfect finish. My car buddies just wish they had anything similar. When not painting, my tractor or old car thats residing inside is just happy to be out of the weather.....they don't care about the drywall either. Now I have $400 to put toward an air compressor.........

 

[rayra]

Trick with drywall is 2-person lifts and putting just enough mud on, not so much that you have to pole-sand the hell out of it and make a giant laborious mess. If I can get away with it on my own remodels, I do three passes and skim coat the whole damned thing and don't sand AT ALL.

 

[GRivera]

So I got a quote for my family room/kitchen addition (20x46’ with 8’ ceiling) from a DW contractor over the phone- he said $25/sheet to supply DW, hang, tape , mud.

Here is where I went wrong- I opted to have the framer hang the sheets instead as he “had a guy” who would help hang, tape and mud. The “guy” was never available for finishing so I had to call around for finishing work. The DW contractor then charged me an arm and a leg to finish it, and complained about how the ceiling had been hung- too many joints. To add insult to injury, the ceiling didn’t turn out too well. It’s painted now but I think I may have someone skim cot it to smooth things out.

 

[rburke65]

When it came to insulating my shop, I figured a cost then called for an estimate....sheeeet...wrote the check! And always write the check for the dry wallers