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Drywall Installation Cost
How much does it cost to install drywall in a single room?
Drywall, also called sheet rock or wallboard, is a material that is used for most modern homes and buildings to serve as sturdy walls and ceilings. The cost to install drywall in a 12'x12' bedroom with a ceiling height of 8' is $200, including labor and materials.
Cost breakdown
The average costs and materials associated with a project like this would include:
- The Drywall 1 - The room described above is going to demand around 600 square feet of drywall 1 to cover the walls and the ceilings. These will be sheets sized at 4'x8' and cost around $9 each. This means that roughly 20 sheets are required for this project, which will cost around $180 total.
- The Materials - hanging drywall 1 means the use of special 1 1/4" drywall 1 screws. These are sold by the pound and contain around 300 screws in each pound. Most carpenters estimate that they will require roughly one pound for every 500 square feet of drywall 1 installed. The average cost for a single pound is $6, which means that around two pounds will be necessary for the project, at a cost of $12. There is also the need for specialty "tape" and the joint compound 2 or "mud 2" required to complete the job. Most carpenters apply a unique mathematical formula to their work, with most dividing the square footage of the space by 7.25 to determine the number of pounds of mud to buy. For this example we would end up with the need for around 85 pounds, or two 45 pound pails that cost around $14 each. Lastly, the tape used to cover the joints between the sheetrock 3 costs only $4.50 for every 150 feet, and a single roll should complete this project; and
- The Labor - At HouseFlippingHelper.com it states that the homeowner who pays roughly $25 in total costs per sheet of drywall 1 is getting a cheaper price. This means that around 50% of a drywall 1 project is going to be directed at the labor, and the site goes on to state that most consumers can expect to pay more than that with average per sheet prices around $30 each. It is extremely important to sit down with the contractor selected for the project and to work out each item that will be completed, and the exact costs for them. Asking for a few quotes and demanding proof of insurance is perfectly acceptable as well.
Additional considerations and costs
- Clean up - it is vitally important that the homeowner establish the fact that the contractor is going to provide a comprehensive cleanup at the site. There are many stories of homeowners left with dust and debris all over their homes, and this is something that is easily avoided through honest negotiation and discussion before beginning the work.
Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet
Definitions in laymen's terms, cost considerations, pictures and things you need to know.See full cheat sheet.
1 Drywall: (Also known as Sheetrock) Type of plasterboard, commonly used to build walls and ceilings, composed of gypsum that is layered between sheets of heavy paper
2 Mud: (Also known as Joint compound) A material used to fill and smooth over gaps between sheets of drywall to produce an even, flat wall. It is made of gypsum, clay and latex resin that is then mixed with water
3 Drywall: A solid panel made of gypsum plaster with thick paper on both sides. It is used in most modern homes to construct walls and ceilings
How much does it cost to install drywall in a single room in my city?
Cost to install drywall in a single room varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.
Labor cost by city and zip code
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