Home remodel questions

Redoing the bedroom. Putting up drywall/sheet rock in place of the old 70s panelling. Ceiling and walls. Room is 10 x 20 with 7 foot ceiling height.

What thickness drywall? 3/8, 1/2, or 5/8? I read the ceiling should be at least 1/2 to prevent sagging. Is this necessary/true?

Is it necessary to use glue in the ceiling sheets?

How many screws per foot?

I'll be sub-letting out the taping and mudding. Not for me! Should I install corner beading or leave it to the taper/mudder? Metal, plastic, or paper lined?

Any tips or sage words of advice?

Thanks

5/8 for the ceiling is code in many places. 1/2 for the walls. I go every 6" on the ceiling and less on the walls (every 8"?). I have never used glue on the ceiling sheets. I prefer metal corner beading.

No actual advice. It's not my favorite thing either.

7 foot ceilings? Can you raise it up?

Over here I replaced with what was previously there which was 1/2 all around. Never glued anything. Metal corner beading. If you don't have a drywall gun they make a special bit that goes in your drill that helps you not over tighten the screws.

For the ceiling if you don't have a jack you'll appreciate screwing a couple 2x4s in a T and using that to hold the drywall up while you screw.

Mudding/taping wasn't so bad.

1/2" MR board (Moisture resistant- It's green)

Do not use 3/8" anywhere in a bathroom.

Be aware, most drywall finishers will charge a premium if you hang it (because you don't know the best ways to do the joints to make the taping easier). Hanging is really cheap- usually easier to hire someone to both hang and finish. I wouldn't be surprised if the hanging only cost $150 or so.

My drywallers would hang that room in less than 30 minutes.

Missed part- don't do the corner bead. The finisher does that.

SVreX wrote: My drywallers would hang that room in less than 30 minutes.

Can you get them to Vermont before Thanksgiving?

vwcorvette wrote:

SVreX wrote: My drywallers would hang that room in less than 30 minutes.

Can you get them to Vermont before Thanksgiving?

There are plenty of drywallers in VT who can do the same thing.

Hanging drywall is cheap. Amateur drywallers do a E36 M3ty job. It's just not an area I would try to save money.

Ask any Spanish speaking construction worker where to find a good drywaller. They will be able to help you find a 3 man crew who can hang and tape that job in an hour and a half. Should cost $12-14 per sheet.

Done.

That job will take the average amateur 3-4 weekends with a few friends. He will have a very sore back, and a questionable finished product. He will have inhaled about 4 1/2 lbs. of sanding dust. His wife will be pretty annoyed.

Just the truth.

(I spent about 15 years building hundreds of houses with nothing but amateur labor).

+1 metric crapload.. on hiring this work.

Better. Faster. Less painful. Probably about the same cost if you value your own time and don't have the right tools.

Is VT a "blue board and plaster" state like other parts of New England?

In reply to SVreX:

Spanish speaking construction workers. In Vermont. Now that's funny.

vwcorvette wrote: In reply to SVreX: Spanish speaking construction workers. In Vermont. Now that's funny.

No it's not. Been there, got the tee shirt.

You'd be surprised.

But it doesn't really matter. There are English speakers just as capable.

Best drywall crew I ever saw looked like 5 colors-wearing bikers and showed up in a ratty '74 Caprice like Harry Dean Stanton drove in Repo Man... in about 1994.

SVreX speaks the truth and knows his stuff.

Rockers in that corner of the country are (or were) typically French speaking (from north of the border), but I agree - sub it out.

I picked up a couple Spanish guys from in front of Home Depot to do our office trailer at my last job. They hung drywall and I gave them cash and grilled food. It was better and faster than if I did it and we all went home happy after half a day.

So yeah, not doing it myself based on your recommendations. Two quotes so far. $1600 and $1200 all in. Have another coming on Thursday.

In reply to vwcorvette:

Do you know how much of that is hanging, and how much is finishing?

8 hours for two to hang. @ 8 for one to finish.

Hire it out. Drywalling sucks.

5/8" for ceiling, 1/2" for walls. Use 10' sheets on their sides for fewer seams.

They've recommended 1/2 for the ceiling and 3/8 for walls. Was told thicker for fire control/ condo/ apartment applications. Not so here.

3/8" is too thin for walls, unless you really enjoy punching holes in it.

It also makes door frames too thick.

3/8" is NEVER used for walls. That recommendation would make me concerned.

1/2" is typical for both walls and ceilings in residential work, except for fire resistance.

DIY!

16 man-hours to hang 17 boards? Not for any drywaller I've ever seen. $50 per man hour? That's the small job premium price.

The scale for a Federal military job with certified payroll is currently $31.66, with all fringe benefits.

When I started, I used to hang for $3 per board (in the Northeast). Right now, it's more like $10-12.

You have probably found "legit" drywall contractors- guys with trucks that say "Drywall and Acoustic Installation" on them. If it was a nice truck, they probably sub everything and add a profit margin (probably $500 on a small job). I was suggesting you find the skilled man directly, and hire him as a side job. (Should be $15-18 per hour or less). You can find this guy by asking tradesmen (or asking at the local YMCA or Pawn Shop), not by looking in the phone book or asking drywall vendors.

But it's not important. I still stand by my recommendation. I'm pretty sure you will feel it's a couple hundred dollars well spent.