What to Look For & How to Avoid These Drywall Estimating Mistakes
1. Cutting Corners
Cornerbead that is…don’t forget that every outside corner needs a piece of cornerbead to show a true corner! Cornerbead goes on interior walls, bulkheads, soffits, archways, and walkthroughs. They can be 90 degrees, bullnose, chamfer, even decorative and can cost anywhere from $1.50 – $10+ in material alone!
Be sure you’re not cutting corners by using a COUNT tool for wall corners and a LINEAR FEET tool for soffits and bulkheads.
2. Not Accounting for Fancy Layouts
Ever see a small gap between the wall and the ceiling in a hotel lobby or fancy restaurant? Maybe down a long hallway? Well a drywaller is responsible for that and that kind of fanciness is not cheap! Some of the products used for those types of wall treatments require a lot of layout details – extra studs, cutting down drywall, installing at odd angles, tons of extra finishing… Point is, a lot of work goes into these beautiful cut-outs, but they sure do look good when they’re finished.
Be sure to account for fancy finishing using a LINEAR FEET tool during your takeoff.
3. Not Knowing Your Type
From banks to judge’s chambers to federal buildings; from hospitals to hotels to office buildings – they all require different types of drywall. Are you installing type X, type C, anti-abuse, greenboard, densboard, leadlined, bulletproof or something else? What used to be $0.30 / sqft could turn into $30 / sqft really quickly if you don’t know your type.
Be sure to check the specs, details, general notes and draying notes. Reach out to the GC, Owner or Architect if you’ve got questions and check whatever drywall software you use. Know what you’re building!
Need more than counts and linear feet? Learn about all of the measurement types that STACK takeoff & estimating software supports.
Contributed By: Cory Dan, 7+ Years Construction Project Manager, STACK Software Expert & Certified BA
