How to Estimate Budget for Drywall Projects

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Sheetrock, wallboard and plasterboard are all names for drywall, a product used as the base of walls or ceiling before wallpaper or paint. If you're looking at a drywall project for remodeling or building new, you need to estimate costs for the region where you live so that you make a building budget that works for you.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Remember that drywall panels come in different sizes. While 4 x 8 may be the standard, you can also find larger 4 x 10 and 4 x 12 sheets of drywall. Figure out which one works best for your project. If you have 10 foot ceilings, you should probably choose 4 x 10 sheets for less cutting and seam work.

Step2

Measure a room area to determine the amount of drywall needed. You'll need the room perimeter, or the total of all the lengths of wall space. Add ceiling measurements in if you need drywall for it.

Step3

Adjust your measurements by subtracting areas that won't need drywall, like windows and doors. If you have a lot of oddly shaped surfaces, you should probably get up to 15 percent more drywall and supplies than you think you'll need.

Step4

Complete your materials list with supplementary items. Every hundred square feet of drywall needs about half a gallon of joint compound, forty feet of drywall tape and up to a pound of screws or drywall nails; add these to your budget.

Step5

Consider whether you will hire the labor to install the drywall yourself. If you're hiring someone, get an estimate for labor. If you're doing it yourself, make certain you have the tools, or add a drywall handsaw, hammer and drill to your materials list.

Step6

Estimate prices according to the local market. Drywall runs anywhere from 85 cents to $1.50 a square foot. If you're having it delivered, you're probably looking at an additional delivery charge in your budget.

Tips & Warnings

Check with your local planning commission before starting any project. You might need a permit or inspection.
Starting in 2008, environmentally safe drywall became more widely available. The new drywall won't produce as much pollution from offloading of greenhouse gases as conventional drywall, but you'll need a higher budget for green product.
If you're a do-it-yourselfer, understand that drywall sheets are heavy. You'll need at least one other person helping you.