At this point in the construction phase, we need to get our walls upstairs closed up. We looked into doing stucco walls just because everyone around here uses stucco on their block constructed houses, but we really didn’t want to have all cement style walls. We both grew up with with drywall and we really think it would feel more like home with drywall. The only problem down here with using drywall in such a humid climate is we could potentially have moisture/mold problems in a couple of years. Our solution is to use “green board”, the same type of material used on the walls of bathrooms. It is moisture resistant and has the same finish as drywall once it is in. It costs about $1.50 more per sheet (4×8) but is well worth the extra couple of hundred bucks once all is said and done.
We have contacted 3 drywall contractors for estimates, but two of them have been hard to tie down for an estimate. The one guy that showed up last week gave us an estimate yesterday. For supplies, we are looking at about $3,000. Here is where it gets kinda screwy, he wants $12,000 for the labor. When he told us, I though we may have lost something in translation, but when he handed over the paperwork, there it was…a 12 with three zeros. With that said, we NEED to get more estimates or consider doing the work ourselves. There is no way we are going to be able to drop $15k on this phase of the house. If we did that, we would have to skip one of the other steps…like the kitchen!
Popularity: 11% [?]
Did you get a plaster wall bid? That used to be the way to go but when drywall came out it was a cheap way to go but with the humidity, I would worry even with green board. Gary drywalled first phase but then mudded like plaster for a smooth wall. His last house he did plaster. If you want to go with dry wall, call Dave Richards in Utah (sometimes in SD), he is always looking for a work adventure. We put him up for about a month and he did phase two drywall with Gary. He is one of Mike Hogan’s high school buds. Let me know if you want his number.
We would love David’s number!
$100 bucks an hour seems kind of extreme. Time for a drywall party. If the humidity destroys drywall then why are they any drywallers down there? Theres lots of very humid bathrooms all over the world finished in drywall. A vapor barrior and 4 coats of paint might be prudent but WTF do I know? Down there labor should run about 35 cents a Sq. ft. not $4 Do I smell gringo soup? The same size job [ plus or minus ], 3 months ago here cost us 6k for labor and material and they made excellent money.
Dave just called yesterday. His new # 435 469 0421
Gary thinks green board should not be trusted in humidity but now there is a “mold resistant” drlywal: USG Humitek Moisture-, Mold-, Fire-Resistant Gypsum Panels. Cost about 30% more. New product don’t know if there are reviews. Of, course, Gary prefers plaster since drywall came about for cheap houses to be built quickly in the 60’s. He said he would more go with a Hardy Board cement panel (4×8) or some other cement fiber board. But he always does everything heavy duty.
Do it yourselves. You don’t need dodgy-quote-rogue-traders. When it’s all done you guys can stand back and say to yourselves proudly “We did that.”
I even mangaged to do it in a couple of rooms a while back.
Stefan - Make sure I call Diego and Dave this week. Remind me if you think about it!