Top 10 Drywall Contractors in Allentown, PA
Frequently asked questions about drywall contractors
In the construction of a new building, the drywall contractor is one of the last tradespeople to work on the project since they are the people who frame and hang the drywall to create the walls and ceilings. Residential drywall contractors may be responsible for subdividing a room or repairing existing drywall in a house.
Aside from installing the drywall panels, a residential drywall contractor is responsible for the following tasks:
- Cleaning and preparing the drywall before installation
- Mixing plaster compounds
- Measuring, cutting, and positioning the panels
- Mudding over screws and joists
- Taping and mudding over seams
- Scraping away the excess compound and allowing it to dry
- Sanding away blemishes
- Applying a spray finish
- Cleaning up the dust and mess
Drywall contractors are often subcontracted through the general contractor. They are exclusively responsible for installing and preparing the drywall.
Hiring a local drywall contractor will give ensure your project will be built the correct way and come in on budget through:
- Expertise. A good drywall contractor will have years of expertise and knowledge to use the correct materials for any given job and work with maximum efficiency.
- Tools and Materials. Drywall contractors already own the correct tools and compounds for their job, so everything they might need is at their disposal.
- Time and Money. Through their years of experience, drywall repair contractors will have honed their methods and skill to a point where they can work fast and well. This expertise saves you money and ensures the job is done as quickly as possible.
- Clean up. As part of their job, drywall contractors are expected to clean up the dust and mess when they finish, allowing you to have a flawless finish after painting or wallpapering.
To contrast the benefits of hiring a professional, there are a couple of solid reasons to handle the job yourself if you have the ability:
- Labor. If you’re going the DIY route, you won’t have to pay labor costs, reducing your project budget substantially.
- Scheduling. You can do the work on your schedule, meaning that you won’t have contractors going through your home at awkward times.
- Learning. Each project teaches you something, even if you already know what to do. This is the knowledge you can add to your DIY repertoire.
Yes, it is perfectly OK to put new drywall panels over existing panels. In fact, installing drywall over old panels is cheaper than removing and replacing them, and it has the benefit of adding extra soundproofing and insulation. However, when they have mold on them, the wiring or insulation needs updating, and the drywall is falling apart, it is best to remove the old panels.
Installing an entire layer of drywall can present some challenges since you’re adding another ¼” thickness to the wall. This can cause recesses on door and window trim as well as outlets. It can also affect how items are attached to your walls and how some of your fixtures might function.
In the case of repairing damaged drywall, it’s easy enough to make minor repairs yourself. For larger repairs, it’s best to hire a professional.
Hiring residential drywall contractors will save you in the long run as:
- They already have all the necessary tools.
- They know the correct thickness of panel to use.
- They can work faster and more efficiently.
- They can produce a blemish-free finish.
Hiring a quality residential drywall contractor requires a certain amount of homework on your part.
You can take a few steps to ensure you don’t end up with poor quality:
- Decide what you want. You’ll need to hammer out your expectations and identify the problem areas in your project before engaging a contractor.
- Make a list. Ask yourself: “Are there drywall contractors near me?” Create a list of the drywall contractors in your area.
- Questions. Write down a few questions to ask the contractors on your list. These should include questions about cost, the expected length of the job, what other jobs they have done, and so on.
- Contact and Interview. Contact the contractors on your list and ask them your questions. You may need to set up a separate time to interview them.
- Get a quote. Some residential drywall contractors prefer to view the job site before they give a quote concerning cost and expected time frame.
- Check references. Always ask for references from previous customers and call those references. A good contractor will be able to provide a few.
- Look at their past work. This will allow you to get an impression of their quality.
- Make sure they are licensed and insured. A license is an assurance of quality, so look for licensed drywall contractors. No matter how good a contractor is, accidents can happen. A properly insured contractor will be able to cover any potential damage that can occur as a result of faulty materials.
By doing your due diligence first, you’ll end up with a quality drywalling job.
Hanging drywall can be a tricky process that requires a healthy amount of experience and a few specialized tools.
Here are the steps needed to hang drywall:
- Prepare the Drywall Sheets. Before placing any sheets, measure the area and mark where you’ll place them. If the sheet doesn’t extend to the ceiling, it should at least end at the center of a joist.
- Drywall the ceiling. With an assistant or a lift, make sure one end is flush with the wall while the other edges are at right angles with the frame. Secure the sheet with five evenly spaced screws.
- Cut drywall for the walls. Measure the wall width and cut the sheet to 1/4” shorter. Have your assistant prop the sheet tight against the ceiling.
- Install on the wall. Make sure the first board will end up centered on a stud. Have your assistant hold the sheet tightly against the ceiling and the adjacent wall while you fasten the sheet in place.
- Cut doors, windows, and outlets. Remove the trim around the door or window and cut a hole in the drywall with the same measurements as the window or door. Using a jab saw, cut out the shape. Secure the drywall in place using five screws on each side.
- Secure at the corners. Using a jab saw, trim the drywall in the corners after hanging the sheet. This will give it a tight fit.
- Apply lightweight drywall compound and tape. Cover the screws with compound, and evenly apply the tape at the joints. Once the tape is laid, cover it with compound and sand once it is dry. You can paint when the drywall is smoothed out.
Since drywalling can be challenging to manage, hiring a contractor is a good idea. That way, you can be assured they have the right tools, experience, and insurance in case of a mishap.
Hanging drywall properly requires a certain amount of finesse, so it stands to reason that it’s possible to do a lousy job. Discuss your expectations with your local drywall contractor to stop errors before they start. Having said that, poor workmanship can still happen, especially if the drywall is in a residence.
Here are the three most common drywall mistakes, including how to repair them:
- Rough surface. Residential drywalling should be smooth, so a rough surface indicates poor workmanship. Ridges of the compound on the drywall can be sanded, but bumpy tape will need to be pulled off and redone.
- Visible nail or screw holes. One or two holes can be repaired with a joint compound, but a larger number of holes can mean the drywall was poorly installed. In this case, you may need to remove and rehang the panel.
- Mess. Drywall contractors will usually clean up the drywall dust after sanding since the dust can interfere with paint or primer application. Repairing this mistake will require stripping and reapplying the paint.
Recent reviews for Allentown Drywall Contractors
Ian of Klem's started off as a nice guy but upon finishing day 1 of his drywall aka sheet rock work, it is clear he is not the contractor you want to depend on. He showed up without the most simplistic tool required, the razor knife aka utility knife whic...
Not a good experience with this team. Project was scheduled for 4 days. Team no showed day one. I knew then there was a problem. Continued to get excuses about being late from a girlfriend to a dog. Unbelievable. It was like dealing with highschool kids. ...
They were very professional and did a great job building my room addition. Thank you Porch.
Very Professional! Hired Terrence to do some drywall repairs on my ceiling from a leak. They did a wonderful job repairing the damage. Very reliable and I’d recommend Bizzy b to family and friends.
LV Home Services contacted us prior to the appointment, showed up on time, and completed the work in a professional and efficient manner. I was 100% satisfied with the service.
WARNING STAY AWAY! This company is taking your money! They do not know what they are doing. PONZI scheme, taking deposits and not completing the work. My house is a disaster because of them.
Very happy with the price and the quality. Luis was a delight to deal with.
K and K LLC did a full renovation on my residential home and commercial investment building. They did full gut down and everything new all interior and exterior. I was extremely satisfied with the work and the crews work fast and gave quality work
As a local Investor , I have connected other investors and buyers to work with K and K several times. The quality of work and level of professionalism has far exceeded my experience with other contractors in the past. They have shown that they are exper...
Worst experience ever. Owner Luis Martinez showed up with his son. his son wrote the contract to do stone work on our house. This was April,2017. They also required over $ 3,000 down money for material. Well, 9 months later no work was completed other tha...
The K and K crew have done many renovations for my family and I. They have done all of the work on budget and finished on time as promised. All of the crew is friendly and professional. I am extremely satisfied with all there work and will continue using ...
On 4/9/2017, we signed a contract with K & K LLC to install stucco on two concrete walls, install capstone on these two walls, spray paint one side of one of the concrete walls with the same color as the stucco, install capstones on three columns. Install...
Everything You Need to Know About Allentown Drywall Contractors
Does the drywall contractor I want to hire need to be licensed in Allentown?
Before you start any project, it is crucial to learn about the certifications and licenses that you or your Drywall Contractor need to have. There are 2 drywall contractors in Allentown that are licensed.
Here are the types of license(s) Drywall Contractors need to have to work on Drywall Services jobs in PA:
- Accreditations/License: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- Accreditations/License: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
Can I browse unscreened Drywall Contractors in Allentown?
We do our best to screen all of our drywall contractors. However, there are still some drywall contractor professionals in Allentown that have not been pre-screened. This means that their licenses may not be up to date to operate in Allentown or PA. Always be sure to pre-screen them yourself before hiring. Here are some unscreened professionals offering drywall services:
- R L Reppert Inc:
- Services Offered: Drywall Contractors
- Active/Verified License: No, current status is inactive
- DA Snyder Interior Specialists:
- Services Offered: Drywall Contractors
- BBB Rating: A+
- Active/Verified License: No, current status is inactive
- Alpha Drywall:
- Services Offered: Drywall Contractors
- BBB Rating: A+
- Active/Verified License: No, current status is inactive
Who should I hire if I need Drywall Services in Allentown?
Right now there are about 33 companies in and around Allentown ready to help you with your drywall services project.
- Of the 33 Drywall Contractors in the Allentown area:
- 2 have a state level accreditation
- 2 have BBB accreditation.
Below we've listed a few of the top Drywall Contractors on Porch:
- McElderry Drywall Inc.
- Whitemountain Drywall Inc
- The Wallologist
All Drywall Contractors in Allentown, PA
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