Residential Commercial Drywall and Plaster Estimates

Residential drywall and plaster is used to cover the inside walls. It comes in various thicknesses 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, and 5/8-inch. On framing placed 16 inches to 24-inches on centers, the half-inch is sufficient. However, the local code will set the requirements, with 5/8-inch fire-resistant wall board required next to furnace or fire walls next to garages.

Corner beads then are nailed in place. Taping and cementing the joints follow in order and require quite a bit of skill. Finally, the job is sanded and all slight indentations are spotted or filled in with cement. No further sanding is needed and the job is ready to paint. The sanding and spotting operations are best done after the floor is laid; trim work is in, and just before painting, as carpenters and floor layers sometimes put nicks or nail holes in the walls.

Drywall plaster is put on over rock lath nailed and wired to the framing members. Corner beads are nailed on and then a brown or rough coat of wet plaster applied over this backing. Plaster has various compositions; mason sand was once used on the brown coat. It has now been replaced with an insulation material so that the rough coat has a heat and sound insulation value. After the rough coat has dried, small cracks appear in the corners and around the windows. This indicates the drying has progressed enough; then the white finish coat is added. The quality of the finish coat depends upon the exactness of the base or rough coat, to a great extent.

With trowling and smoothing, the finish coat is completed and let dry. The time it takes depends upon the heat, air circulation and humidity. The finish coat is then ready for paint and is very hard on the surface. In good drying weather, the process takes about two weeks longer than wall board when the weather is damp and humid.

See "FAQ # 10" for estimate pricing.

Residential Commercial Drywall and Plaster Estimates