How to determine how much drywall is needed to build home?

11/3/2014 at 9:35:49 AM

Regarding drywall requirements, I am assuming you are contemplating a new build from plans. Then it's easy. Take your plans to a drywall supplier for a material take-off.

There is information you have left out, eg. the wall height for the basement, first floor and upper level. How much interior walls do you have? Ceiling dimensions. Are you drywalling a garage?

Once you have all the dimensions required, then you can calculate the sheets needed.

11/3/2014 at 7:23:05 PM

For the walls you need to know the height of the ceiling and the length of every wall in the house, remember the inside walls have two sides. Ignore any door or window opening. Height times the total wall length gives you the total sqft. Now divide that by 32, will give you how many 4x8 sheets you need. Now add 10% to that for waste. Ceilings just take width and length of the whole house and divide by 32 again and add 10%.

12/9/2014 at 11:02:21 PM

I have always found this technic very close or within reason if you don't trust it which I never at first take it to a supplier to do a take off for you.

Take your overall square footage of your house 1870 times it by 4 = 7480 is your total board feet for up stairs now you just have to figure out if you want to use 4x8 sheets = 32 sqft , 4x10 sheets =40 sqft or 4x12 sheets = 48 sqft and now just divide it by which ever one you decide to go with. Probably if it's a new build a combination of them all.

Now do the same for the basement 1600 x 4 if it is a flat ceiling or 3 if it's a dropped ceiling.

Steve