Top Drywall Contractors in Berkeley, CA

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.