Cost of Drywalling a House
The concept of drywalling or plasterboarding all the rooms in your house, rather than having each room plastered, is quite a new one to us in the UK. Drywall also known as plasterboard, wallboard, sheet rock, gyprock or gypsum board is a panel made of calcium sulfate dehydrate (gypsum) with or without additives, that is usually sandwiched between thick sheets of an outer layer of paper. These drywalls are used in the construction on interior walls and ceilings.
The benefits to drywalling over plastering are that it is a much quicker process than plastering which can, of course, mean that it is cheaper. Drywall can also help to reduce noise. Drywall also has some fire –resistant properties due to the water in the boards. For these reasons, its popularity is increasing as a viable option to plastering. The average cost of drywalling a fairly standard 12 foot square room (materials and labour included) will vary on average between £540 and £920 depending on the thickness of the panel and the finish required and the benefit is that you do not have to wait for plaster to dry out before you can paint the walls.
It's recommended to get up to 3 quotes to get the best price for drywalling your home. My Job Quote have loads of trusted tradespeople that can help with a variety of jobs in your home.
Cost of Drywalling a House
| Job Description | Duration | Material Cost | Labour Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall a standard ceiling |
2-3 hours | £90-£150 per ceiling (including taping) |
£190-£250 per job depending on company, conditions and finish required |
| Drywall an average room |
4-10 hours | £200-£350 per room (including taping) |
£360-£600 per job depending on company, conditions and finish required |
| Drywall a standard size family home |
2-3 days | £1500-£2550 per house (including taping) |
£1500-£2550 per house (including taping) |
Things to Consider When Drywalling a House
You need to bear in mind that some contractors will vary their price per square foot based on the size of the job. Some of them charge more per square foot on smaller jobs to offset the cost of transportation, insurance, etc. It’s not unusual for a small bedroom to cost almost £2 per square foot while a 14,000 square foot home is priced at around £1 per square foot. Other factors that can influence the cost of your project include:
- Location of the job site
- Environment (wet areas such as bathrooms will need to be drywalled with a specially treated
panel to avoid damp and mould issues later on) - Non-standard
features of a room such as arches and curveThese can cause your costs
to increase by as much as double. The estimate for your drywall
construction job should include the following: - Cost for materials specifying the dimensions and types of the panels and taping to be used
- Cost for transporting materials and equipment to the job site
- Job site preparation including protecting existing structures, finishes, etc.
- Labour setup and mobilization time
- Clean-up and removal of debris
Drywall has five levels of finishes depending on where it is being installed and the preferences of the homeowner. Level 0 is the bare minimum of drywall installation and Level 5 is the highest level of finish available-this is a finish that you will have to specifically ask for and carries an extra cost.
Doing it Yourself
Drywall is a fairly easy material to use and is relatively inexpensive to purchase, so any mistakes you make won’t cost an arm and a leg. However, it is very heavy work and if you don’t hang the drywall correctly, a neat and smooth finish will never be achieved. Each sheet of drywall needs to be ‘taped’ to secure it after hanging.
This is a skilled job that sees up to three layers of taping compound being applied to seams and corners to cover all the joints and fasteners. This is one of the main reasons why it is advisable to search out a professional for the job rather than attempt this yourself.
The drywall panels themselves are very heavy-the drywall needed for an average sized house can weigh as much as 3000kg! You would be advised to hire a hoist to lift the drywall boards into place.
This will obviously add greatly to the expense of the job and again is a reason why it is advisable to find a specialist drywaller. They will be experts at using the machinery and will get the job done in less time with less mess.
It’s always recommended to hire a professional to drywall your house as they will get the job done swiftly and to a high standard.
Hiring a Drywall Specialist Checklist
- Due to the skill needed to achieve a professional finish and the heavy nature of the drywall, it’s not advisable to do this job yourself.
- Locate a professional company and find out what their costs include, does it include taping, getting rid of waste, delivery?
- Always remember the golden rule of obtaining at least three quotes before selecting your drywalling company of choice.
- It will cost roughly between £4500 and £7500 to drywall an average sized property depending on your location, the finish you want and the type of drywall needed.
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