Top 10 Drywall Contractors in Wauwatosa, WI
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 Wauwatosa Drywall Contractors
We needed numerous projects tackled and have had such a negative view of the home improvement so called professional. Someone recommended Lowes Home Improvement / Porch.com We needed an electrical inspection. We submitted a request on Porch.com. Sev...
I own several rental properties and have worked with many home improvement/handyman repair companies over the past 9 years. Have had pretty good experience with most but not very reliable and not one handled all our needs. We needed to contract with wit...
Called Complete Handyman to help me figure out where the leak is in my attic that 3 other companies came to my home and claimed to locate and repair. one charged us $75 and another, the the last before complete handyman charged $310. Our last heavy sto...
We had Jeff complete some electrical work on our home, in preparation for our home sale. He initially responded very quickly and was very upfront and honest. We met at the store and I purchased all the supplies with him. It was necessary that he came b...
We had Complete Handymen at our home to do grout work. The worker was dropped off at our house by the manager, Jeff, and had to sit and wait to be picked up. When Jeff came, he commented that some of the area had been missed and needed to be redone, which...
He painted my house and it was great service and On time and very friendly and really was giving his all helping me with what I wanted and I am extremely happy on how my house looks now I would for sure suggest This company to anyone
Remodeling my kitchen & dining room! Awesome new paint job, super content with the finish! - very friendly and respectful work! Also for a an awesome price!! Can’t wait until I remodel the bedrooms and bathrooms! Will definitely be contacting Quality Pai...
Showed up on time and did everything he said he would. Was able to continue my work day like he wasn’t even there. Highly recommended.
I definitely recommend Rayados Quality painting for its quality work and responsibility and carrying the project, with elite painters
He does good work , he's a professional painter
Ramon and his team were wonderful to work with. They did a very professional job and went over and above what I had expected. I would definitely call them again for any additional painting project.
My regular painters were booked so the staff at Sherwin Williams recommended Rayado's. They quoted the same day and accommodated us that very weekend because our time frame was so tight--THANK YOU! The next time I needed painters I knew exactly who to ca...
Everything You Need to Know About Wauwatosa Drywall Contractors
I have Drywall Services work that I need done in Wauwatosa. What should my budget be?
Our data on recent drywall contractor projects in Wauwatosa shows that larger drywall services projects in city are often upwards of $0.00. However, this price depends on a number of factors. Cost can increase or decrease based on any/all of the following:
- Location: drywall contractors travel time may factor into the budget.
- Cost of materials. This is an important factor of your drywall services project budget. You can purchase materials yourself, but remember that your drywall contractor professional maybe be able to leverage relationships with other companies to save on material costs.
- Company ratings: Highly-rated drywall contractors tend to be more expensive. Decide what balance between ratings and cost is right for you.
As always, every project is different and you should contact multiple drywall contractors throughout Wauwatosa to ensure your project is done right.
How many drywall contractors does Wauwatosa have?
There are around 50 companies throughout Wauwatosa to help you with your next drywall services job.
- 11 of them have an A or A+ rating from Better Business Bureau.
What should I check for once my Drywall Contractor in Wauwatosa has finished working?
Every drywall services project is going to have different results, but here are a few things to check for once any drywall services company has told you they've finished the job:
- Obviously you want to do a visual inspection. Even if you're unfamiliar with drywall services work, this gives you the opportunity to ask questions (even basic ones like, what did you do?).
- Ask the drywall contractor to describe what they did. Whether your drywall services project was a repair job or a building job, have them run you through what was done.
- Compare the description provided on your drywall services project estimate to the work completed. Did the professional do what was promised?
- Request that the drywall contractor do a follow-up visit to check on the work. Most professionals are willing to do this, especially if you ask them.
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