Walls, Doors & Cabinets
Drywall Installation & Finishing in South Florida
Board hung tight to the framing and finished to Level 4: joints taped, coated, feathered and sanded so the wall is ready for primer and paint.
Serving Palm Beach County·Broward County·Miami-Dade County
- Drywall hanging and Level 4 finishing: $4.35 per sq ft
Drywall work is judged after it is painted, under the light the room actually gets. Joints that looked fine in a dim room show as ridges when the afternoon sun rakes across the wall. That is why the finishing stage, not the hanging, takes most of the time and skill.
Our public rate covers hanging drywall and finishing it to Level 4, the standard finish for walls and ceilings that will receive flat, eggshell or lightly textured paint. Level 5, texture matching and repairs to existing walls are assessed on site.
Scope
What drywall installation and finishing includes
- Protection of floors and containment of the work area
- Layout of sheets to minimize joints and keep them away from door and window corners
- Hanging board with fasteners set just below the paper surface
- Cut-outs for electrical boxes, fixtures and openings
- Corner bead on outside corners
- Tape embedded in joint compound on all joints and inside corners
- Two further coats of compound over joints, and three coats over fasteners and bead
- Sanding to a smooth surface free of tool marks and ridges
- Clean-up of dust and debris from the work area
Preparation and installation
How we hang and finish
Check the framing
We check that framing is straight, on layout and that blocking is in place where edges need support. Crooked framing produces crooked walls, so problems are raised before board goes up.
Plan and hang
Sheets are laid out to reduce the number of butt joints and to keep joints off the corners of openings, where cracks tend to start. Board is fastened at the correct spacing with heads set just below the surface.
Tape
Joints and inside corners receive tape embedded in compound. Outside corners get bead. This coat is about strength, not appearance.
First finish coat
A wider coat of compound covers the tape and fills the joint. Fastener heads and bead get their second coat.
Second finish coat
A wider, thinner coat feathers each joint into the board so there is no visible ridge. Fasteners and bead receive their third coat.
Sand and inspect
Surfaces are sanded, then checked with a light held close to the wall. Flaws found this way are touched up and re-sanded.
Hand over for primer
The surface is dusted and ready for a drywall primer. Priming and painting can be added as interior painting.
Images shown illustrate service and finish options.
Finish and system choices
Finish levels and board choices
Finish levels describe how much work is done over the joints. The right level depends on the paint sheen and the lighting.
Level 4
Tape plus two additional coats on joints, three coats on fasteners and bead, sanded smooth. Appropriate for flat and low-sheen paints and light textures. This is what our public rate covers.
Level 5
Level 4 plus a thin skim coat over the entire surface. Recommended under glossy paints and where strong side lighting washes the wall. Assessed and priced on site.
Moisture-resistant board
Used in areas that see humidity, such as bathrooms outside the wet zone and laundry rooms. Board type is confirmed in your estimate.
Texture
Where new drywall meets an existing textured wall or ceiling, the texture has to be matched for the repair to disappear. Texture matching is assessed case by case.
Scope boundaries
What is not included, and what we assess on site
These are the points most often left unsaid in an estimate. We would rather you read them here than discover them later.
Not included unless listed in your estimate
- Framing, blocking and structural work
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work inside the wall
- Insulation, unless listed in your estimate
- Level 5 finishing and texture matching
- Priming and painting
- Repair of the leak or other cause of damage
- Demolition and disposal of existing drywall, unless listed
Conditions we check before pricing
- Whether a permit or association approval applies to your scope
- The condition and straightness of existing framing
- Evidence of moisture or mold behind damaged drywall
- Ceiling work, high walls and stairwells that need staging
- Matching the thickness and texture of adjoining surfaces
- Fire-rated or other special assemblies, for example at a garage wall
Public rates
What it costs to start the math
Measured by board surface area, not floor area. A wall 12 ft long and 8 ft high is 96 sq ft of board on one side.
| Item | Public rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall hanging and Level 4 finishingPer square foot of board | $4.35 | per sq ft |
Rate version 2026-10-05.1. Standard complexity shown; Moderate is ×1.18 and Heavy is ×1.35. Preliminary only: final scope and pricing require a site assessment. Applicable taxes and assessed extras are not included.
Finish options and details
Images shown illustrate service and finish options.
What does Level 4 mean?
It is an industry description of how far the joints are finished: tape embedded in compound, two more coats over joints, three coats over fastener heads and corner bead, and sanding. It is the usual standard for walls that will be painted in flat or low-sheen finishes.
When would I need Level 5?
When the wall will be painted in a gloss or semi-gloss finish, or when strong light runs along the surface, for example beside large windows or under long runs of lighting. A full skim coat evens out the difference in texture between paper and compound.
Can you patch a small hole?
Small holes and dents are usually handled as preparation within a painting project. For larger patches and sections, tell us the size and location and we will assess whether a patch or a larger replacement gives the better result.
Is drywall work dusty?
Sanding compound creates fine dust. We contain the work area, cover what stays in the room and clean up at the end. If dust control is a particular concern, tell us and we will plan containment accordingly.
Do you prime and paint the new drywall?
The drywall rate ends at a sanded Level 4 surface. Priming and painting can be added to the same project and are priced under interior painting.
Related services
Often scoped together
Interior Painting
Walls filled, sanded and caulked, then finished in two coats with clean cut lines.
View service
Interior Door Installation
Prehung units set plumb, level and square, with even reveals and a clean latch.
View service
Baseboard Installation & Painting
Measured, cut, fastened, filled and caulked, then painted to a clean line.
View serviceRequest an estimate
Ready to scope drywall installation & finishing?
Send the rooms, surfaces and rough quantities you have. We reply to confirm a visit, assess the conditions on site, and give you a written scope and price before any work is scheduled.