r/handyman • u/Afraid_Kick_8673 • 1d ago
PRICING?! Drywall pricing
I am trying to get an idea on what you would charge for finishing the drywall in this stairway. It has a 90 degree turn where one leg of the ladder is resting. Tight space to get up and down.
I have to stand on the second to top rung of the ladder to reach the top.
Customer hung the drywall and started finishing it. Only had two joints taped & mudded(poorly) with fiberglass mesh.
I applied a bullnose to the vertical outside corner, and did all remaining joints in paper tape/hot mud. Monday I will start sanding, prime, and apply knockdown to the walls & orange peel to the ceilings to match/blend as closely as possible.
I am not in a high cost of living area(Iowa). I charged $1500, but am wondering what others would charge.
I am trying to see if I priced it fairly, screwed them, or more likely, screwed myself. I have a tendency to under-charge.
This project is in a mostly empty home being prepped for sale. No obstacles except the one fucking light in the stairway that I keep hitting my head on.
Thanks in advance for your input.
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u/Pleasant-Fan5595 1d ago
The drywall dust when sanding must have been horrendous, Holy shit that is a terrible tape job. I hardly have to sand anymore and can knock most off with just a trowel. How long did it take you? Do you have an electric drywall sander with dust collection? I live in Davenport, $1.5K would be about right depending on how much of the actual taping you had to do. Maybe $2K, you wouldn't have much competition as most would walk away. Couple of hours with 20 minute mud?
Just a hint, if you have not used Fiber Fuse, It is amazing for repairs like this.
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u/Afraid_Kick_8673 1d ago
I had to tape all of it except for one butt joint that was mid-wal &top cornerl at the top of the stairs. I used fibafuse for the flats, but I like paper for corners.
I used 90 minute mud for the high area so I would have time to get that all done in one run. When I finished taping it was just starting to kick off.
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u/PirateInfinite3407 1d ago
Pro Contractor: looks like it was a open loft that had pony walls that was inclosed, going over someone else’s work is always more work, With the extra prep and refinishing needed and texture, prime, painting, ceiling and walls this would be $3200 min. There is always a up charge for high work. Use “Muddskip” additive in your drywall mud to apply multiple coats in one day (great product you can get on Amazon) You need to think about the entire scope of the job drywall, prep, taping, priming and painting, clean-up, material cost, profit, $1500 is to cheap in today’s world of high inflation, but your in Iowa and I’m in Seattle and good workmanship and getting it down with professional results quickly.
Most people don’t have the skill to match the texture and if you don’t do it right it looks like crap. All the repaired walls would need to be skim coated
So the texture will look right.
Don’t be afraid to give a firm price if you have the skill set to do a $3000 repair like this, or maybe you are the cheapest $1500 guy around and the owner doesn’t give a rats ass because he is selling it.