How to Calculate Drywall Costs
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One component of a successful remodelling or repair job in your home is proper budgeting for materials. You'll be more likely to get a job done with the money you have available if you're able to plan your work accordingly.
If you're repairing walls, finishing a basement or adding an addition, one major cost will be drywall. Figuring out the cost of the drywall you'll need for your job only requires a little work and some simple math.
Check the price of drywall at your local home-improvement or builder's supply store. Drywall comes in 4-by-8-foot sheets, so ask for the price per sheet. Unless you can haul the drywall yourself, inquire as to the delivery price as well.
- One component of a successful remodelling or repair job in your home is proper budgeting for materials.
- Figuring out the cost of the drywall you'll need for your job only requires a little work and some simple math.
Measure the height and width, in feet, of each wall you'll be putting drywall onto. Multiply these together to get the square footage for each wall. Add the square footage of all the walls together to get the total square footage for the project.
Divide this number by 36 (each sheet of drywall is 36 square feet). The result is the number of drywall sheets you'll need. Multiply this number by the cost per sheet, then add delivery cost if necessary. This is the cost of the drywall you'll need for your project.
- Measure the height and width, in feet, of each wall you'll be putting drywall onto.
- The result is the number of drywall sheets you'll need.
References
- "Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual: Completely Revised and Updated"; Editors of The Family Handyman; 2007
- "What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating"; Amy Johnston; 2008
Tips
- You'll want to make allowance for irregular spaces and wastage, so add some extra drywall sheets to your estimate; how many depends on how large your project.
Writer Bio
Based in Virginia, Nichole Liandi has been a freelance writer since 2005. Her articles have appeared on various print and online publications. Liandi has traveled extensively in Europe and East Asia and incorporates her experiences into her articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from West Virginia University.