If you suddenly need to replace drywall in your home, you're probably already stressing about the cost. No matter how necessary something is, most of us aren't looking for opportunities to spend money on something unexpected. However, just as you'll need replace a faulty refrigerator, HVAC system, or another home appliance, there will probably come a time when you'll have to replace your drywall, like it not.
There are several variables that you will need to consider when determining how much drywall replacement is going to cost. Different contractors are going to charge different amounts. While it may be tempting to choose the contractor who offers the lowest estimate, that may not always be the best option. Remember, in most cases, you get what you pay for. Opting for the cheapest contractor may lead to shotty work.
You also need to consider what type of materials you want your contractor to use. You can probably find a cheap contractor who comes in and uses budget materials. However, those cheaper materials may need to be replaced sooner rather than later, putting you right back in this same situation again in only a few years.
It's also worth noting that some contractors will raise their prices based on demand. Unfortunately, many contractors will take advantage of bad situations, like flooding. If your area has recently suffered flooding and everyone in the community needs new drywall, many contractors will charge a premium for their services. While we could debate whether this is right or wrong, whenever there is a greater demand for any service, the people who perform that service can and will charge more.
There are also regional considerations. Most drywall installers are small business owners who own a contracting or carpentry business. By and large, their prices are dictated by what competitors are doing. Obviously, a contractor probably isn't going to charge twice as much than his local competitors are charging for the same service. Doing so would lead to contractors pricing themselves out of the local market.
Finally, you will need to consider the size of your home and how much drywall is going to need to be replaced. Virtually every contractor charges for drywall replacement and installation based on the square footage of the job. Obviously, this means that if you're having all the drywall in a 3,000 square foot home replaced, it's going to cost more than replacing the drywall in a 100 square foot room. Contractors calculate supplies, labor, and other factors when determining what to charge, so bigger jobs will always cost more money.
What Is The Average Cost to Replace Drywall?
Based on information published by HomeAdvisor, the average drywall installation in the United States currently runs between $1.50 and $3.00 per square foot. The same study indicates that most drywall installation jobs cost between $993 and $2,930 with an average cost of $1,885. Low-end drywall replacement can be as little as $400 while more high-end work can cost as much as $5,400.
The age of your home will also come into play when determining the cost of your drywall replacement, as older homes are more apt to have other drywall issues than newer ones. For example, if you live in a home built before 1980, the contractor replacing your drywall may run into asbestos. While materials containing asbestos are now illegal for builders to use, they were once the industry norm. Removing asbestos can cost an additional $1,200 to $3,000. Similarly, lead paint was once common and is now illegal. Drywall contractors will almost always charge more when removing drywall that has lead-based paint, since the disposal process is different. If you have lead-based paint on your current dry wall, you can expect to spend another $1,600 to $5,700 during the process.
Finally, if mold is discovered on your old drywall, there will be an added cost of mold remediation. Most contractors are not professional mold remediation specialists, so this will probably involve working with another industry professional. This typically costs anywhere between $1,200 and $3,400.
Now that we have established some industry averages, let's look at a hypothetical pricing situation to better understand what you should expect.
Let's assume that you live in a home that is 1,500 square feet. You have discovered a widespread mold problem that results in all of the drywall in your home needing to be replaced. First, we will need to factor in the price of mold remediation. For the sake of this example, we will price this exactly halfway between the prices mentioned above, meaning that it would cost around $2,300 for mold remediation. Please note that this does not include any cost associated with remedying the cause of the mold. If you have a leaky roof that is allowing water into the drywall of your home, you will need to pay for roof repair or replacement as well.
Since the national average for drywall replacement is $2 per square foot, we can simply multiply your 1,500 square-foot job by 2 and determine that you will be looking at around $3,000 for the drywall replacement. The total cost for the job (without repairing the cause of the mold's growth) would be around $5,300.
This also does not include the cost of painting your new drywall. You will have to choose between performing that job yourself or paying another professional.
Stop Replacing Drywall and Invest in EnduraFlood
There is no doubt that paying for drywall replacement and mold removal or remediation is a hefty cost. However, you can look at it as an investment into the long-term stability and functionality of your home. Choosing the right kind of drywall can put you in a position to not have to worry about replacing it again in the future. There are other benefits to consider, as well. For instance, you can opt for EnduraFlood drywall, which is waterproof and mold resistant.
Replacing the drywall in your home isn't going to be cheap. However, if you make the right choice regarding the contractor you choose and the materials that he or she uses, you can rest assured that you're investing in your home's safety and your family's health.