The Cost Estimates of Drywall

Some contractors face challenges when it comes to drywall estimations. People can't blame them since it's a little complicated to figure out the amount of drywall, materials, and takeoffs. For those who have the experience, it is a reasonably simple task to accomplish. Before you proceed to do anything, remember to consider the area to install your drywall access doors and panels. Some may forget about it, but these access doors and panels provide convenience and additional safety for your personnel.

Now let's get into the process for calculating costs for your drywall: 

Interesting Read: "Tips for Drywall."

Calculate the Square Footage

You have to calculate the total square footage of the location where you will be placing the drywall. To acquire a total square-foot quantity, double the width times the height of each wall or ceiling area, then add all of the numbers together. The metric equivalent of a square foot is 0.09290304 square meters for individuals who do not utilize the imperial system.

Drywall Sheet Estimations

Divide the whole square footage of the area by 32, if using 4-by-8 sheets, or 48, if using 4-by-12 sheets to get how many drywall sheets you'll need. This division will provide you with the required number of full sheets, and it's also an excellent idea to include 10% to 15% for scrap and irregular cuts. To calculate the price, multiply the overall number of sheets by the cost per sheet, including local taxes and delivery fees.

Here is an example: 

3,200 ÷ 32 = 100 Sheets, then add ten percent for the waste and odd cuts, so 100 sheets + 10 = 110 Sheets in total.

Joint Compound Estimation

Calculate 0.053 pounds of mud per square foot of drywall as a general rule. To figure out how many pounds of compound you'll need, multiply the total number of square feet by 0.053. To visualize, here is an example:

3,200 x 0.053 = 169.6 pounds of compound.

Drywall Tape Estimation

A 4-by-12 sheet has a perimeter of 20 feet, while a 4-by-8 sheet has 16 feet. To evaluate the number of linear feet of joint drywall tape required, multiply the total number of drywall sheets needed by the perimeter of each sheet. Because most rolls of tape are 500 feet long, divide your total by 500 to figure out how many rolls you'll need. 

Once you've determined how many rolls you'll need, multiply that number by the cost per roll. Here is a visualization of the total tape required for 110 4-by-8 sheets:

110 x 16 = 1760 feet

Corner Beads Estimation

Sum up the number of outside wall corners in the overall project for corner beads. For each corner, use one complete corner bead, either an 8-foot or 10-foot bead. Measure the entire length of all of these pieces and divide by the size of a single corner bead. Suppose there are soffits or other structures with outside corners (8 or 10) to add this amount to the wall-corner count.

Drywall Screws Estimation

You should divide the square footage of drywall by 300 to get the number of pounds of screws needed. For example, if you have 3,200 square feet of drywall: 

3,200 ÷ 300 = 10.67 pounds of screws

Miscellaneous Costs

After calculating all of the costs mentioned, consider adding the miscellaneous. When considering the price outside the estimates, factor in the supplies for protecting finished areas and other materials needed for the project like sandpaper, Waste removal and cleaning, Insurance, and Permit fees. 

Lastly, include your profit and overhead markups. Small businesses may charge a markup of 15 to 20%, whereas larger ones may charge a markup of 10 to 20%, depending on the location, size of the task, and other factors that may affect your price.

Conclusion

In doing tasks involving drywall, it is better to leave things to the professionals who know their way around it. Never risk doing these projects without the required background knowledge and skills because it can end up costing a lot more than you estimated from all the possible damages. You should also consult a licensed professional for the best advice possible.