The use of drywall for the interior walls and ceilings of most modern homes and buildings have lately become prevalent because of its quick installation and affordability compared to the traditional plastering procedure. Moreover, drywalls have been enhanced to be resistant to fire, impact, moisture, and sound, which makes dwelling infrastructures more safe and secure. In terms of aesthetics, the suppleness of drywall makes it easy to bend to for designing arcs and curves. It is also easily decorated with veneer plastics and paint.
When it comes to house renovation, many people tend to make drywall installation a do-it-yourself project because it looks simple to do and doesn't seem to require special skills. While some may have been successful, most DIY projects ended up disastrous costing homeowners more money for repairs and lost time. If you are adventurous and up for a challenging task, then doing your own drywall installation may be a possible option. However, if you are in a serious task to building or renovating a new home, then you should best consider hiring a professional drywall contractor. Here are basic reasons why you should hire professional drywall contractors.
Extensive Coverage. As far as the drywall installation work is concerned, it practically covers around 90% of the visible surface of your interiors. Considering the large coverage of the work, a small mistake or blunder can have enormous consequences. Thus, to ensure a perfect installation, you need to hire a professional drywall contractor and save yourself from any major error that could affect your whole house interior.
Labour intensive work. Contrary to most expectations as commonly depicted in movies, drywall installation is not easy as it seems. It is actually labor intensive. Drywalling essentially involves two work stages. First is the sheetrock installation which includes measuring, cutting and attaching the panels into place. The second stage involves fixing and sealing the layers with drywall compound. The first process is critical because it also takes into consideration the pipes, wires, and cables that entails making holes in the drywall. Actual measuring is also important to achieve the perfect fit of the panels. The latter on the other hand involves coating and sanding to achieve a smooth finish to prime the wall or ceiling for painting. Any imperfections left during installation and sealing will be passed on and may even remain perceptible even after the walls are painted. Professional drywall contractors have the required skills and experience to conduct the detailed work procedures of drywall installation in a fast and efficient manner.
Aesthetics. A well-made and professionally complete wall is vital for the aesthetic and safety. As have mentioned earlier, the drywall installation is very visible and forms part of the aesthetic design of your home or office. As such, it involves a delicate finishing process with keen attention to details to ensure the surface to be smooth and even so that once the drywall is painted, it would look one continuous surface as if it does not consist of panels. Else, any incorrect installation translates to flawed artistic design that can affect the theme and beauty of your home. Nothing is more irritating and annoying than seeing lumps and gaps on your wall because it ruins the beauty of your home, hence you might as well hire a drywall contractor to ensure that picture perfect wall.
The intricate work involved in drywall installation lay emphasis on the importance of hiring a professional drywall contractor to do the work. Taking this into account, the following are some tips to hire the right professional drywall contractor:
Find a Contractor. Finding a professional drywall contractor can be done by getting referrals from friends, home building depots, or by calling the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI). What makes referrals great is you can get immediate feedback from people who have actually experienced the services of said contractors. Another apparently convenient way to find a contractor is through the Internet. You can opt to review the websites of the drywall contractor or get third-party websites that provide information and reviews of drywall contractors.
Compare and contrast. After getting a list of potential drywall contractor, it is time to compare their strengths and weaknesses in order to get the one that best fits your needs. Here are the most common characteristics that you need to compare: work experience, license, insurance, staff/ crew, start and completion date, securing permits, payment schedule, the cost estimate of a project, references and suppliers. You can opt to get information on these concerns via the website or by directly interviewing prospective contractor. Note that professional contractors are transparent and would be more than willing to showcase and take pride in their previous work to attract new clients.
Choose and negotiate. After comparing the prospective contractors, chose the drywall contractor that best suits your preference. In selecting, ensure that you maintain open lines of communication with your contractor so that you clearly convey what you want. Once you’ve received the contract, review it and make sure that the estimated price is properly itemized so that you know completely what you are paying for. This also allows you to understand of any price changes. The contract should contain a full description of services and payment of schedule. You may negotiate a contract by reducing price estimates, removing unnecessary services, extending the payment schedule or shortening work schedule among others.
Finalize. After negotiations, make sure to finalize the terms and conditions of the contract with your chosen drywall contractor. Most importantly, finalize the contract price and sign it. Finalizing the contract is important because some people tend to mistake the bid proposal with the actual contract which doesn’t usually match because of negotiation changes. Most contractors also require a deposit amount before commencing on the work. This amount may be used by the contractor as a commitment or to buy initial materials for the job. At this point, it is also advisable not to pay in full upfront just to facilitate the service because some cunning contractors might subcontract the job.