Drywall installation only requires simple tools such as a hammer and tape measure.
Drywall is relatively inexpensive, but replacing drywall includes the cost of hardware, tools and finishing products, as well as demolition tools to remove the damaged drywall first. Labor is the most expensive part of drywall replacement, so if you are calculating the cost of doing the project yourself, you already have saved a significant amount of money. Borrow basic tools like hammers, saws and pry bars from your friends or neighbors to trim expenses if necessary, but don't skimp on product quality, or you may find yourself replacing the drywall again too soon.
Instructions
1. Measure the area where you need to replace the drywall. Multiply the length of the wall by its height to get the area in square feet. For example, a wall 12 feet long and 8 feet high is 96 square feet.
2. Divide the square feet by 32. Drywall comes in 4-by-8 sheets, which means they are 32 square feet per sheet. Your 96-square-foot wall divided by 32-square-foot drywall sheets equals three drywall sheets total. If your result is a decimal, round up to the nearest whole number.
3. Write down the number of drywall sheets you will need on your notepad.
4. Measure the thickness of your drywall. You may need to drill a hole or remove a section to get this measurement. Note the thickness next to the number of drywall sheets on your notepad.
5. Multiply the number of drywall sheets by 16. The result is the number of feet of drywall tape you will need, based on taping the top, bottom and one side of each piece (the other side is covered by the next piece's tape). Note the total number of tape feet on your notepad. Most projects will not require more than one roll of tape, but this calculation will help you determine what size roll to buy.
6. Multiply your number of drywall sheets by 32. This is the approximate number of drywall nails you will need.
7. Call or visit your local home-improvement store, or check their website to get pricing on the proper thickness of drywall sheets, boxes of nails (including the nail count within the box), drywall tape and joint compound. One pint of joint compound is fine for small projects; a large area may require a quart or gallon. If your project involves replacing drywall in a bathroom or other high-moisture area, ask for pricing on drywall designed specifically for damp areas. Costs vary by geographic location, so don't rely on national chain store online pricing unless it is based on stores in your zip code or guaranteed by the store.
8. Multiply the cost of each item by the number of that item you will need, based on your notes. Multiply that number by 0.1. This will add 10 percent to your total, giving you a cost cushion for tax and minor price fluctuations in your estimate.
9. Add in the costs of any tools you don't have that you can't borrow, as well as expendable tools, such as putty knives for the joint compound and pencils for marking the drywall for cuts and nail placement.
Related posts
Estimating the cost of drywall installation is simple.Although installing drywall in a room is a relatively simple procedure, it's imperative that the installer---whether beginner or novice---begi...
Estimate Drywall CostWhen you are remodeling your home, you might find it necessary to add walls or redo existing ones. In order to do this, you will need drywall. Drywall, or gypsum board, came i...
Estimate for Drywall MudMany home repairs may call for putting up new drywall. Typically, these sheets come in standard 4-by-8-foot sizes, so most often it's not too tough to estimate how much you...
Framing jobFrame and drywall costs vary regionally. Framing costs depend upon the overall design--single story, multistory, complexity of architectural design--and upon the framing specifications...
DrywallDrywall can be a difficult thing to calculate when it comes to estimating the cost of a job. There are several factors to consider when pricing drywall material and labor. Labor and materia...
