For most drywall contractors, installing drywall is the easy part. In fact, most drywall contractors got their start by installing, and over the years moved up the ladder until they were able to start their own company. Because of this, most are very comfortable doing the work. The discomfort comes when they have to estimate drywall work. By taking a systematic approach, anyone can estimate drywall without making mistakes or causing undue mental anguish.
Instructions
1. Measure the total square footage of the area to be drywalled. Multiply the width times the height of each wall or ceiling section to determine the square footage and add them all up.
2. Calculate the cost of the sheetrock by dividing the square footage needed by 32 or 48, depending on if you are going to use 4-by-8 foot or 4-by-12 foot sheets of drywall, to find the number of boards you will need and multiply this number by the price per sheet of drywall. Don't forget to include sales tax.
3. Multiply the number of drywall boards needed by 24 for 4-by-8 foot sheets or 36 for 4-by-12 foot sheets to determine the linear feet of joint tape needed. Divide this number by 250 or 500 (the most common sizes) to determine the number of rolls needed. Figure the cost by multiply the number of rolls needed by the cost per roll.
4. Divide the square footage by 400 to determine the number of buckets of ready-mixed joint compound required. Multiply the number of buckets by the individual price of each bucket to determine the cost.
5. Determine the amount of screws needed by dividing the square footage by 300. This is how many pounds of 1-1/4 inch drywall screws are needed. Select a box of screws that contains at least this many pounds and note the price.
6. Measure the amount of corner bead needed by adding the length of all outside corners. Corner bead comes in 8- and 10-foot sections, so multiply the number of sections needed by the individual price to determine the cost of corner bead.
7. Calculate labor costs by multiplying the per square foot installation price by the square feet of drywall to be installed. In this cost include worker's compensation insurance, if you pay it. Contact your insurance provider for instructions on calculate it as different states and insurance companies require different methods.
8. Include any additional costs such as waste removal (call a construction dumpster company) and site protection. This could include plastic to wall off untouched areas and paper to protect finished flooring. Each job site will be different so pay attention to each one, as what is needed on one might not be the same as on another.
9. Add up the totals for each section to reach your total cost to perform the job. To determine the final price, multiply this number by your markup for profit and overhead. This will depend greatly on your location and company size. A small company in a more rural setting may only need a 15 to 20 percent markup, where the same company in an urban setting may require 10 to 20 percent more.
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