Anyone here hang drywall?

[KingGibbs]

Just wanted to add that hanging drywall is the easy part. It's the finishing that requires big time skills. I've always called those guys artist. Don't do it right and it sticks out like a sore thumb hit over and over again with a hammer.

[Larry]

Thought I'd post this one, too.



(Available from here.)

[Koolblue13]

LOL @ Koolblue and meth. Ask around and you will be surprised how spread out estimates are. A lot of them are desperate and we've gotten them to do it for $15.00 dollars a sheet.

am I wrong? I don't think so. Why do you think they're so desperate? Hang more drywall, get more meth, hang drywall faster, get more meth. It's all win.

[Koolblue13]

I laughed because it's mostly true. They're either druggies or alcoholics. There are a few exceptions. Very few,. It amazes me that they do as good a job as they do.

It's perfect for tweekers. You do the same thing over and over and over as fast as you can as fast as you can as fast as you can and then somebody gives you cash money!

[KingGibbs]

am I wrong? I don't think so. Why do you think they're so desperate? Hang more drywall, get more meth, hang drywall faster, get more meth. It's all win.

I laughed because it's mostly true. They're either druggies or alcoholics. There are a few exceptions. Very few. It amazes me that they do as good a job as they do.

[Catatonic]

Thanks to all for the input. You guys have confirmed what I had expected (and wanted to hear all along) - get someone who does it for a living to knock it out. I did a small closet myself one time and it looked like hammered dog ****. I have no idea why I even considered trying it again.

[Larry]

I would also suspect that you might be able to get a nice discount if you pay in cash, let the guy work weekends, and don't require paperwork.

Just a suspicion, mind you.

[artmonkforHOF]

As others have said, there are plenty of guys who do drywall cheaply and it is best to take an offer rather than do it yourself. Hanging the sheets is not that hard, especially if you have a buddy help you, but it is the taping and mudding that will give you nightmares if you havent done it before. I used to work for one of Toronto's largest drywall contractors and good quality tapers where always hard to find, so much so that my company and 2 of our competitors used to share one taper who would exclusively do skim coats on large walls. The tricky part is putting down only what you need so you dont spend an enterity sanding later. Plus if you did the job on a weekend shcedule, it would probably take you 3 weeks just to finish the taping as you would tape/mud on Friday or Saturday, sand on Sunday then vacuum like a madman in time to do your next two coats. A Pro should be in and out in less than a week, they would use fast drying compund and not have to sand as much, doing therir 2 to 3 coats in 2 days or less ( teh better the taper, the less coats of mud will be required to make a smooth finish).

On a side note, make sure to spend the extra $ (not very much extra anyways) for Type "X" drywall, which is fire rated. All drywall manufacturers make a standard drywall and a type "X", along with some other types of board. Fire rating is dependand on the entire wall assembly, but generally the type X drywall will give you an hour of protection against fire spreading into the structure, which does not sound like a lot until you realize that concrete block walls are only rated for 1 1/2 hr fire protection. Fire rated drywall for a garage, and insualtion for that matter, might even be required by your local building code, another reason to check with a pro first.

As for getting bids, if you get some bids in where one guy is a lot lower than everyone else, throw the price out, remember, you get what you pay for and if 2 or more people say the job is worth "X", and you go with a guy who's price is "1/2 X", you are going to get half as much quality and probably a bunch of cut corners.

[SWFLSkins]

As a contractor, I would recommend one. If you want and have the time stop by a active construction site and speak to a sub or the general and just tell that what you are looking for and need a price. You'd be surprised the guys working will look for side quick jobs to add to their income. They also are working and you can see them and feel them out, don't deal with meth heads. Get a cash price and don't pay until the end, get the material yourself and have it delivered. Home Depot and Lowes are not the cheapest, so check a supplier before buying.