Drywall installation · NH & ME
Drywall Installation & Finishing
Hanging, taping and finishing for new builds, additions, basements and gut renovations across New Hampshire and Maine.
What does drywall installation include in New Hampshire and Maine?
J&B Drywall & Paint installs and finishes drywall across New Hampshire and Maine, covering new construction, additions, finished basements, attic and garage conversions and gut renovations. The price includes board, screws, corner bead, tape and compound, hanging ceilings and walls, taping to a level 4 or level 5 finish, sanding with dust control and debris removal.
Drywall is the last trade that can hide someone else's mistakes and the first one a homeowner notices when it is done badly. Every seam, every corner bead and every screw line shows up the moment paint goes on and the afternoon light rakes across a wall. That is the standard we work to: the job is not finished when the board is up, it is finished when the surface reads flat under a work light.
We install drywall on new construction, additions, finished basements, attic conversions, garage conversions and full gut renovations. Residential is most of our work, but we also handle multi-family units, offices and small commercial build-outs. We hang ceilings and walls, build out soffits and chases, wrap beams, cut in for archways and niches, and run bullnose or square corner bead depending on the look you want.
Board selection is part of the job, not an afterthought. Standard 1/2 inch for most walls, 5/8 inch where code or fire separation calls for it, moisture-resistant board in bathrooms and laundry rooms, and cement board where tile is going over it. Ceilings get 5/8 inch on 24 inch centers so they do not sag. If your framing spacing or plan calls for something different, we will tell you before we order material.
Finishing is where jobs separate. We tape with paper tape in a bed of compound rather than relying on mesh and a quick coat, then work through fill and finish coats, sanding between them. Most rooms get a level 4 finish, which is the residential standard. Where you have long walls with raking light, glossy paint or a large open ceiling, we recommend level 5 — a thin skim over the whole surface so joint compound and paper face absorb paint the same way and you do not see flashing later.
We work as a single crew from the first sheet to the final sanding. Nobody gets subbed out mid-job, so there is no argument later about whose seam is telegraphing through. We coordinate with your electrician, plumber and HVAC contractor so rough inspections are signed off before we cover anything, and we will hold off on a wall if something still needs to go inside it.
How the work is done
How does a drywall crew hang and finish a room?
J&B Drywall & Paint hangs drywall in six stages: check the framing, protect and stage the room, board the ceilings and then the walls, set corner bead and bed paper tape, apply two to three finish coats with sanding between them, then inspect the whole surface under a raking work light before priming.
- 01
Walk the framing
Before we order a sheet we check stud and joist spacing, look for bowed framing that needs shimming or planing, confirm blocking is in place for future fixtures and grab bars, and verify that rough inspections are done. Fixing framing first is far cheaper than fixing it through finished drywall.
- 02
Protect and stage
Floors get covered, finished surfaces get masked, and material is stocked where it will be used so nothing gets dragged across your house twice. On tall ceilings and stairwells we bring in staging rather than working off a stack of buckets.
- 03
Hang ceilings, then walls
Ceilings first so wall sheets support the edges. We keep sheets running perpendicular to framing where it makes sense, stagger butt joints away from the middle of long walls, and screw to spec — no overdriven screws breaking the paper face.
- 04
Bead and tape
Outside corners get metal or bullnose bead set tight, inside corners and flats get paper tape bedded in compound. Butt joints get floated wider than most crews bother with, because a narrow butt joint is the seam you will still see in five years.
- 05
Fill, finish, sand
Two to three coats depending on the finish level, each one wider than the last, with drying time between coats instead of forcing it. Sanding is done with dust containment and a light held at a low angle so nothing gets missed.
- 06
Inspection under work light
We walk the whole job with a bright light before calling it done, mark anything that reads high or low, and correct it. Then we prime if priming is in your scope, because primer is the honest test of a finish.
What is included in a drywall installation estimate, and what is not?
A J&B Drywall & Paint estimate includes all board and finishing materials, hanging, taping to the stated finish level, fixture cutouts, sanding with dust control, daily cleanup and a three month workmanship warranty. Framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC rough-in, insulation, permits, trim carpentry and painting are quoted separately or handled by others.
What is included
- All drywall board, screws, corner bead, tape and joint compound
- Hanging ceilings, walls, soffits, chases and beam wraps
- Moisture-resistant board in wet areas where the plan calls for it
- Taping and finishing to level 4, or level 5 when specified
- Cutouts for outlets, switches, cans, vents and fixtures
- Sanding with dust control, plus daily cleanup and debris removal
- Final walkthrough under work light before invoicing
- Three month warranty on our workmanship
What is not included
- Framing, structural work, and shimming beyond minor corrections
- Electrical, plumbing or HVAC rough-in and inspections
- Insulation and vapor barrier, unless quoted separately
- Priming and painting, unless added to the estimate
- Permits, engineering and inspection fees
- Asbestos or lead testing and abatement in older homes
- Trim carpentry, doors and casing
Typical timeline
How long does drywall installation take?
A single room or basement bedroom takes 2 to 4 working days, a 600 to 1,000 square foot finished basement takes 1 to 2 weeks, and a full floor of a house takes 2 to 3 weeks. A level 5 finish adds 2 to 3 days. Written estimates arrive within 24 hours of the site visit.
- Single room or basement bedroom
- 2 to 4 days
- Finished basement, 600 to 1,000 sq ft
- 1 to 2 weeks
- Whole floor of a house
- 2 to 3 weeks
- Level 5 finish
- Add 2 to 3 days
- Estimate turnaround
- Within 24 hours of the site visit
Pricing
How much does drywall installation cost in New Hampshire and Maine?
J&B Drywall & Paint prices drywall by the square foot of board installed and adjusts for the conditions that slow a crew down, so no honest fixed rate exists before a site visit. Estimates are free and written, state board type and finish level, and payment is 50% to schedule the work and 50% on completion.
Drywall is priced by the square foot of board installed, then adjusted for the parts of the job that slow a crew down. Straightforward eight foot walls on standard spacing are the cheapest square footage on any job.
What raises the price: ceiling height above nine feet, cathedral and sloped ceilings, stairwells that need staging, curved walls, archways, a lot of small closets and cuts, 5/8 inch board, moisture or fire-rated assemblies, and level 5 finishing.
What lowers it: open rooms with long uninterrupted runs, clear access for material delivery, framing that is already straight, and being able to work without other trades in the same space.
Every estimate is written with the scope, board type, finish level and schedule stated. If something in the field changes the scope, we tell you and re-price it before we do the work — no surprise line items at the end.
Our work
Installation jobs across NH and ME
Every photo below is a drywall installation completed by J&B Drywall & Paint in New Hampshire or Maine — cathedral ceilings, stairwells, new construction great rooms and bonus rooms over garages. These are our own job site photos, not stock photography or renderings. Select any photo to view it full size.
Questions we get
Common questions about drywall installation
Homeowners most often ask J&B Drywall & Paint about the difference between a level 4 and level 5 finish, how soon new drywall can be painted, how the dust is controlled, how the schedule works around electricians and plumbers, and which towns in New Hampshire and Maine are covered.
What is the difference between a level 4 and level 5 finish?
Level 4 means seams, corners and fasteners are coated and sanded smooth, which is the normal standard for residential walls with flat or eggshell paint. Level 5 adds a thin skim coat over the entire surface so the whole wall absorbs paint uniformly. We recommend level 5 for long walls with strong side light, for glossy or deep colors, and for large open ceilings.
How long before I can paint new drywall?
Once the final coat is fully dry and sanded, the surface is ready for primer, usually the day after we finish. In cold or humid conditions we allow more drying time between coats rather than rushing, because compound that is painted before it cures will shrink and show later.
Do you clean up the drywall dust?
Yes. We cover floors and mask openings before sanding, use dust containment while sanding, sweep and vacuum daily, and haul away scrap and debris. Drywall sanding is never completely dust free, but your house should not be coated in it.
Can you work around my electrician and plumber?
That is normal on our jobs. We schedule hanging after rough inspections pass, and we will leave a wall open if a trade still needs access. Tell us who else is on the job at the estimate stage and we will build the sequence into the schedule.
Do you install drywall in all three states you serve?
Yes. We work throughout New Hampshire and Maine, including Hampton, Dover and Londonderry NH, and Portland, South Portland and Wells ME. If you are not sure whether your town is in range, call and ask.
Free estimate
How do I get a written estimate?
Send the job details through this form and J&B Drywall & Paint replies the same day, then provides a free written estimate within 24 hours of the site visit. Payment is 50% to schedule the work and 50% on completion. Call (978) 805-8654 if it is urgent.