drywall install costs DC/Baltimore region
Hi all, and Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! I know this topic has been discussed before, but please bear with me. I’m the Harry Homeowner and looking for a ballpark price (per sq. ft., per sheet, per job, whatever) for a drywall job with the following specs:1) I’m in the Washington DC/Baltimore, MD/Frederick, MD area; 2) It’s a basement, walls only, no ceilings; 3) I want 1/2″ drywall; 4) About half of it will be installed on commercial-grade 20 gauge steel studs (installed plumb & level) and half of it installed over 5/8″ plywood sheathing (which will be installed by me over the steel studs as part of a multi-step sound control method that’ll also include Roxul AFB or Safe’n’Sound); 5) The only access to the basement is via a “U” shaped stairway (no walkout, no exterior door); 6) The price should include all hanging, taping, mudding, leaving the walls ready for priming (I’ll do that), and a thorough cleanup of the work site (of the drywall debris, dust, etc.). I’m just looking for some guidance so I can tell when the various estimates I’m getting are realistic. Many thanks in advance!
Replies
Can you get a 4x8 sheet down the stairway? Will you help the installer haul down the rock, or will he have to have a helper?
If he can't get it down, stand it up and make the turn.......
Then someone should look at cutting out a section of the floor at the landing and hope there's room to slide the sheet down there and into the common space.
What's the above basement floor plan look like for getting the sheets to the basement door? (he wondered).
Good questions!
Good questions, DanH and Calvin! One guy said they could get 4' x 8' sheets down the stairway if I took the handrails off (no problem). Another guy just gave a shrug of his shoulders. I've been able to get 1" thick 4' x 8' sheets of rigid foam insulation down the stairway with removing only one of three handrails. I'll help the installer unload his gear, help carry the drywall downstairs, make him coffee, and serve him lunch if it'll keep the cost down! As to cutting out one of the landings, I'm about 95% sure there's not enough room below the landing(s) or between the landing joists to pass down a 4' x 8' sheet.
Mark
I had to cut away the bottom tread and sheeting on the landing to angle the sheet through the landing wall/floor.
But, the board made it and so did the carpet.