How long should it take an 'experienced' handyman to install drywall?

[edprush]

How long should it take an 'experienced' handyman to install drywall to a studded wall? (install includes nailing, taping, and putty/compound -- no painting).

The wall is 16' wide by 7.5' tall.

I'm just trying to figure out how much this may cost me if the guy charges $30/hour.

 

[JLGatsby]

If you pay them by the hour, they're not going to be in much of a hurry.

 

[Midlander]

Installing the drywall and applying the tape and first layer of compound should take less than 1/2 a day. But, he will have to come back at least 2 and probably 3 times to get things right. The compound has to dry between each coat.

I would guess on $200-300 for the job.

Good luck.

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: Midlander
Installing the drywall and applying the tape and first layer of compound should take less than 1/2 a day. But, he will have to come back at least 2 and probably 3 times to get things right. The compound has to dry between each coat.

I would guess on $200-300 for the job.

Good luck.

when it comes to all the sanding/taping,plastering, this sounds about right, if hes fast or does a half assed job maybe under $200

 

[DaTT]

To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

That sounds a little more reasonable. How much would you charge?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

now you've lied to him. There is NO WAY anyone will charge him for only 2 HOURS to do that job. Get real. This is not production work like rocking an entire house, it's a small inefficient project.

A more realistic estimate would be 1MH to rock it, 1MH to apply first coat and clean up, and 1MH for 2nd coat and clean up, 1 MH for 3rd coat and clean up. Allow 2 MH for sanding and final cleanup. But you need to find out how he is charging you....is he charging you travel time for the repeat trips? Are you providing all materials at the location, or does he have to pick them up? If he has to go buy the stuff or move it from your garage to the room being worked on, he will charge you for that time.

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

That sounds a little more reasonable. How much would you charge?

If you supplied everything, $100 would be a good price.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

That sounds a little more reasonable. How much would you charge?

If you supplied everything, $100 would be a good price.

you better go do it for him, because the only person he will find to do it for $100 is YOU (or an alcoholic out-of-work rocker).

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

now you've lied to him. There is NO WAY anyone will charge him for only 2 HOURS to do that job. Get real. This is not production work like rocking an entire house, it's a small inefficient project.

A more realistic estimate would be 1MH to rock it, 1MH to apply first coat and clean up, and 1MH for 2nd coat and clean up, 1 MH for 3rd coat and clean up. Allow 2 MH for sanding and final cleanup. But you need to find out how he is charging you....is he charging you travel time for the repeat trips? Are you providing all materials at the location, or does he have to pick them up? If he has to go buy the stuff or move it from your garage to the room being worked on, he will charge you for that time.

You have like 4 or 5 of these going on and its not so inefficient anymore. You're right though, you can't really charge hourly for a little job like that, a set price would be best for the contractor.

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

That sounds a little more reasonable. How much would you charge?

If you supplied everything, $100 would be a good price.

you better go do it for him, because the only person he will find to do it for $100 is YOU (or an alcoholic out-of-work rocker).

4 sheets of board with everything supplied is not worth much more than $100....chances are he'll be getting paid cash.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

now you've lied to him. There is NO WAY anyone will charge him for only 2 HOURS to do that job. Get real. This is not production work like rocking an entire house, it's a small inefficient project.

A more realistic estimate would be 1MH to rock it, 1MH to apply first coat and clean up, and 1MH for 2nd coat and clean up, 1 MH for 3rd coat and clean up. Allow 2 MH for sanding and final cleanup. But you need to find out how he is charging you....is he charging you travel time for the repeat trips? Are you providing all materials at the location, or does he have to pick them up? If he has to go buy the stuff or move it from your garage to the room being worked on, he will charge you for that time.

You have like 4 or 5 of these going on and its not so inefficient anymore. You're right though, you can't really charge hourly for a little job like that, a set price would be best for the contractor.

It's totally inefficient as all 4 or 5 are not going to be next door to each other. It will take the guy as long to gather his tools and drive, and get set up to work each trip as it will to do the bed coat and finish coats.

 

[shamrock1313]

Originally posted by: edprush
How long should it take an 'experienced' handyman to install drywall to a studded wall? (install includes nailing, taping, and putty/compound -- no painting).

The wall is 16' wide by 7.5' tall.

I'm just trying to figure out how much this may cost me if the guy charges $30/hour.

My brother (27) and I (17) put up drywall in out whole basement which is very large. It took us about 2 days with about 6 hours of work each day. First time ever doing that, too.

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

now you've lied to him. There is NO WAY anyone will charge him for only 2 HOURS to do that job. Get real. This is not production work like rocking an entire house, it's a small inefficient project.

A more realistic estimate would be 1MH to rock it, 1MH to apply first coat and clean up, and 1MH for 2nd coat and clean up, 1 MH for 3rd coat and clean up. Allow 2 MH for sanding and final cleanup. But you need to find out how he is charging you....is he charging you travel time for the repeat trips? Are you providing all materials at the location, or does he have to pick them up? If he has to go buy the stuff or move it from your garage to the room being worked on, he will charge you for that time.

You have like 4 or 5 of these going on and its not so inefficient anymore. You're right though, you can't really charge hourly for a little job like that, a set price would be best for the contractor.

It's totally inefficient as all 4 or 5 are not going to be next door to each other. It will take the guy as long to gather his tools and drive, and get set up to work each trip as it will to do the bed coat and finish coats.

I guess you and I work a little differently....there is little to no setup time after the room is taped. The mud is already there waiting for you.

And, $100 bucks for 20minutes a day on the way home from work is not a bad price.......

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Mark my words.....OP will end up paying 6 hours or more to anyone worth a sh!t. Anyone who would do that job for $100 or less is desperate for work since he has no real skills, is a friend, or is DATT.

BTW I'm a commercial etimator for a GC, so I have somewhat of a grasp on the estimating and business side of this. I totally agree with DaTT on his estimates IF you are doing a larger project where the rocker and tapers can be moving from room to room but not for something small like this project. Also, for remodelling work you are forgetting about all the time consuming things, like putting down tarps or visqueen, cleaning your taping tools, vacuuming up at the end of the job...that stuff all adds up.

Maybe bctbct will chime in, he's a drywaller and carpenter by trade, and I know he's done lots of projects similar to this.

 

[DaTT]

I will give you some advice edprush, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT do any of the work yourself if you plan on hiring someone. You will get charged more for fixing the mistakes you made (trust me, there will be some if you've never done it). It will take twice the amount of time.

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Mark my words.....OP will end up paying 6 hours or more to anyone worth a sh!t. Anyone who would do that job for $100 or less is desperate for work since he has no real skills, is a friend, or is DATT.

BTW I'm a commercial etimator for a GC, so I have somewhat of a grasp on the estimating and business side of this. I totally agree with DaTT on his estimates IF you are doing a larger project where the rocker and tapers can be moving from room to room but not for something small like this project. Also, for remodelling work you are forgetting about all the time consuming things, like putting down tarps or visqueen, cleaning your taping tools, vacuuming up at the end of the job...that stuff all adds up.

Maybe bctbct will chime in, he's a drywaller and carpenter by trade, and I know he's done lots of projects similar to this.

I am a commercial drywaller/taper/framer. Yes, 6 hours sounds reasonable from a commercial pov, not so much for residential. Keeping in mind, everything is being supplied, and waiting downstairs.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

now you've lied to him. There is NO WAY anyone will charge him for only 2 HOURS to do that job. Get real. This is not production work like rocking an entire house, it's a small inefficient project.

A more realistic estimate would be 1MH to rock it, 1MH to apply first coat and clean up, and 1MH for 2nd coat and clean up, 1 MH for 3rd coat and clean up. Allow 2 MH for sanding and final cleanup. But you need to find out how he is charging you....is he charging you travel time for the repeat trips? Are you providing all materials at the location, or does he have to pick them up? If he has to go buy the stuff or move it from your garage to the room being worked on, he will charge you for that time.

You have like 4 or 5 of these going on and its not so inefficient anymore. You're right though, you can't really charge hourly for a little job like that, a set price would be best for the contractor.

It's totally inefficient as all 4 or 5 are not going to be next door to each other. It will take the guy as long to gather his tools and drive, and get set up to work each trip as it will to do the bed coat and finish coats.

I guess you and I work a little differently....there is little to no setup time after the room is taped. The mud is already there waiting for you.

And, $100 bucks for 20minutes a day on the way home from work is not a bad price.......

you've still got to clean your knives and mudbox, and you are probably the only person I've met that will bid work that will take you 20 minutes as 20 minutes. At some point you have to justify the costs of charging less than an hours work if it's only going to take less than an hour. You'd drive across town and tape a coat for $10???? IT WOULD BARELY COVER YOUR GAS! That kind of pricing is what will drive anyone trying to do this for a living out of business....you don't bother to analyze the cost of doing business when you give someone a bid.

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

now you've lied to him. There is NO WAY anyone will charge him for only 2 HOURS to do that job. Get real. This is not production work like rocking an entire house, it's a small inefficient project.

A more realistic estimate would be 1MH to rock it, 1MH to apply first coat and clean up, and 1MH for 2nd coat and clean up, 1 MH for 3rd coat and clean up. Allow 2 MH for sanding and final cleanup. But you need to find out how he is charging you....is he charging you travel time for the repeat trips? Are you providing all materials at the location, or does he have to pick them up? If he has to go buy the stuff or move it from your garage to the room being worked on, he will charge you for that time.

You have like 4 or 5 of these going on and its not so inefficient anymore. You're right though, you can't really charge hourly for a little job like that, a set price would be best for the contractor.

It's totally inefficient as all 4 or 5 are not going to be next door to each other. It will take the guy as long to gather his tools and drive, and get set up to work each trip as it will to do the bed coat and finish coats.

I guess you and I work a little differently....there is little to no setup time after the room is taped. The mud is already there waiting for you.

And, $100 bucks for 20minutes a day on the way home from work is not a bad price.......

you've still got to clean your knives and mudbox, and you are probably the only person I've met that will bid work that will take you 20 minutes as 20 minutes. At some point you have to justify the costs of charging less than an hours work if it's only going to take less than an hour. You'd drive across town and tape a coat for $10???? IT WOULD BARELY COVER YOUR GAS! That kind of pricing is what will drive anyone trying to do this for a living out of business....you don't bother to analyze the cost of doing business when you give someone a bid.

Even if you charged the person 1 hour work for every time you were there for 20 minutes, it's still only 4 hours or so.

 

[DaTT]

Lets stop this argument and Answer his original question......

4 trips to finish the job completely. I could do it in the time listed above in my first post. What he wiull charge you is up to him.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

now you've lied to him. There is NO WAY anyone will charge him for only 2 HOURS to do that job. Get real. This is not production work like rocking an entire house, it's a small inefficient project.

A more realistic estimate would be 1MH to rock it, 1MH to apply first coat and clean up, and 1MH for 2nd coat and clean up, 1 MH for 3rd coat and clean up. Allow 2 MH for sanding and final cleanup. But you need to find out how he is charging you....is he charging you travel time for the repeat trips? Are you providing all materials at the location, or does he have to pick them up? If he has to go buy the stuff or move it from your garage to the room being worked on, he will charge you for that time.

You have like 4 or 5 of these going on and its not so inefficient anymore. You're right though, you can't really charge hourly for a little job like that, a set price would be best for the contractor.

It's totally inefficient as all 4 or 5 are not going to be next door to each other. It will take the guy as long to gather his tools and drive, and get set up to work each trip as it will to do the bed coat and finish coats.

I guess you and I work a little differently....there is little to no setup time after the room is taped. The mud is already there waiting for you.

And, $100 bucks for 20minutes a day on the way home from work is not a bad price.......

you've still got to clean your knives and mudbox, and you are probably the only person I've met that will bid work that will take you 20 minutes as 20 minutes. At some point you have to justify the costs of charging less than an hours work if it's only going to take less than an hour. You'd drive across town and tape a coat for $10???? IT WOULD BARELY COVER YOUR GAS! That kind of pricing is what will drive anyone trying to do this for a living out of business....you don't bother to analyze the cost of doing business when you give someone a bid.

Even if you charged the person 1 hour work for every time you were there for 20 minutes, it's still only 4 hours or so.

Thats still twice as much as you told him it would take (and still not enough IMO). I'm just saying there's a difference in what you THINK the job will take, and what you should BID what the job will take.

OP....any reasonable person will likely tell you to plan on 6 hours for this work....another way a person might approach it is to use hot mud for the taping, in which case they might actually try to tell you they will plan on sticking around between coats. I'd avoid this. You'll end up paying for them to sit around for a few hours extra.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: DaTT
I will give you some advice edprush, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT do any of the work yourself if you plan on hiring someone. You will get charged more for fixing the mistakes you made (trust me, there will be some if you've never done it). It will take twice the amount of time.

:thumbsup:

Plus, repairing stuff is a pain. I remember this one incident with uneven sheets on the ceiling....oh god..the humanity...four courcner joints..the whole shebang

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT
To hang the 4 sheets of board will take maybe 20-30 minutes. Taping will be done in maybe 15 minutes (include mixing the compund add another 10...to be generous). First coat should also be like 20 minutes, second coat 20 minutes, final sanding will also be like 20 minutes.

I do this for a living BTW.

now you've lied to him. There is NO WAY anyone will charge him for only 2 HOURS to do that job. Get real. This is not production work like rocking an entire house, it's a small inefficient project.

A more realistic estimate would be 1MH to rock it, 1MH to apply first coat and clean up, and 1MH for 2nd coat and clean up, 1 MH for 3rd coat and clean up. Allow 2 MH for sanding and final cleanup. But you need to find out how he is charging you....is he charging you travel time for the repeat trips? Are you providing all materials at the location, or does he have to pick them up? If he has to go buy the stuff or move it from your garage to the room being worked on, he will charge you for that time.

You have like 4 or 5 of these going on and its not so inefficient anymore. You're right though, you can't really charge hourly for a little job like that, a set price would be best for the contractor.

It's totally inefficient as all 4 or 5 are not going to be next door to each other. It will take the guy as long to gather his tools and drive, and get set up to work each trip as it will to do the bed coat and finish coats.

I guess you and I work a little differently....there is little to no setup time after the room is taped. The mud is already there waiting for you.

And, $100 bucks for 20minutes a day on the way home from work is not a bad price.......

you've still got to clean your knives and mudbox, and you are probably the only person I've met that will bid work that will take you 20 minutes as 20 minutes. At some point you have to justify the costs of charging less than an hours work if it's only going to take less than an hour. You'd drive across town and tape a coat for $10???? IT WOULD BARELY COVER YOUR GAS! That kind of pricing is what will drive anyone trying to do this for a living out of business....you don't bother to analyze the cost of doing business when you give someone a bid.

Even if you charged the person 1 hour work for every time you were there for 20 minutes, it's still only 4 hours or so.

Thats still twice as much as you told him it would take (and still not enough IMO). I'm just saying there's a difference in what you THINK the job will take, and what you should BID what the job will take.

And only $20 more than I said.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats


Thats still twice as much as you told him it would take (and still not enough IMO). I'm just saying there's a difference in what you THINK the job will take, and what you should BID what the job will take.

And only $20 more than I said.

Count your fingers and toes again. 2 HOURS x $30 = $60. 4 HOURS x $30 = $120. Thats $60 more.

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats


Thats still twice as much as you told him it would take (and still not enough IMO). I'm just saying there's a difference in what you THINK the job will take, and what you should BID what the job will take.

And only $20 more than I said.

Count your fingers and toes again. 2 HOURS x $30 = $60. 4 HOURS x $30 = $120. Thats $60 more.

Originally posted by: DaTT

If you supplied everything, $100 would be a good price.