Cost to Remove and Replace Drywall: Professional Insights

Understanding the Real Cost to Remove and Replace Drywall

For construction professionals, understanding the cost to remove and replace drywall is crucial. The average cost ranges from $2.50 to $4.80 per square foot for walls, and $3.20 to $6.10 per square foot for ceilings. This includes labor, materials, and a standard level-4 finish. Factors such as room height, specialty drywall, and texture matching can increase costs. CountBricks provides precise estimates using real-time market prices from regional suppliers.

Key Factors That Shape Your Drywall Budget

• Square footage and sheet size needed
• Height and accessibility of the wall or ceiling
• Existing finish level and desired final texture
• Extent of demolition and disposal required
• Local labor rates and union requirements
• Material grade—standard, moisture-resistant, fire-rated, or sound-proof

These variables are captured automatically with the CountBricks app, translating verbal walk-throughs into line-item costs.

Typical Residential Price Range

For most single-family homes, the cost to remove and replace drywall is between $2.50 and $4.80 per square foot for walls, and $3.20 to $6.10 per square foot for ceilings. This includes labor, materials, and a standard level-4 finish. CountBricks provides precise ranges by pulling today’s market prices from regional suppliers.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Labor (45-55%)

Skilled installers typically hang and finish 30-40 sheets per day. In Boston, the average residential labor rate is $68 per hour. Ceilings and intricate cut-outs can increase labor costs.

Materials (35-40%)

• ½-inch standard drywall: $0.45–$0.65 per sq ft
• Moisture-resistant “green board”: $0.60–$0.90 per sq ft
• Fasteners, tape, compound, corner bead: $0.25–$0.35 per sq ft combined

Visit CountBricks.com for real-time pricing.

Disposal & Site Prep (5-10%)

Debris hauling fees, dust protection, and final cleanup add costs often overlooked. Our estimating engine flags these line items automatically.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

• Electrical and plumbing fixtures needing temporary removal
• Asbestos or lead paint abatement in older homes
• Upgrading insulation once walls are open
• Change orders from unexpected framing repairs

CountBricks stores job photos, voice notes, and blueprint mark-ups, documenting surprises instantly.

Step-by-Step: How CountBricks Calculates Your Drywall Replacement

1. Open the CountBricks app and start a voice conversation.
2. Describe the damaged area while your camera captures dimensions.
3. The AI identifies wall versus ceiling, calculates square footage, and selects matching drywall type.
4. Live material feeds and local labor rates generate a line-item budget within seconds.
5. Approve or tweak quantities, then export a branded PDF quote.

Five Pro Tips to Trim Your Drywall Budget

• Combine multiple small repairs into a single visit to reduce mobilization fees
• Opt for standard finish levels in garages and utility rooms
• Schedule work mid-week when labor demand is lower
• Use 12-foot sheets where possible to cut seams and finishing time
• Leverage CountBricks AI takeoffs to order exact material quantities—no overage waste

Why Professionals Choose CountBricks

CountBricks is more than estimating software; it is a construction partner. Our team has completed over 450 drywall replacement projects, from single bathroom ceilings to full-house renovations. Clients see average savings of 11% compared to traditional quotes thanks to:

• Accurate, waste-free material orders
• Transparent labor breakdowns before work starts
• Digital change-order approvals that reduce delays
• Integrated invoicing that syncs with your preferred payment platform

Ready for a Precision Quote?

Visit CountBricks.com or tap “Start Estimate” in the app to learn your exact cost to remove and replace drywall today. Our experts are standing by—no spreadsheets required.

Case Spotlight: Master Bedroom Ceiling Overhaul

When the Rodriguez family discovered a slow roof leak had ruined their 260 sq ft master bedroom ceiling, they used the CountBricks app instead of calling multiple contractors. A two-minute voice walk-through produced a detailed scope: remove textured ceiling, install 5/8-inch fire-rated drywall, finish to level-5, and repaint.

AI Estimate vs. Final Invoice

• Initial AI estimate: $1,580 including materials, labor, disposal, and paint
• Approved change order for minor framing repair: +$120
• Final CountBricks invoice: $1,700—within 1.3% of the original projection

The accuracy stemmed from live pricing and automated labor calculations matched to Boston wage data. No surprise up-charges, no paper change-order slips.

Lessons Learned

• Fast voice capture cut site-visit time by 40% for both client and crew
• Using 12-foot sheets reduced seams, saving six labor hours
• Disposal fees were locked in early, preventing dumpster overages

Extend Savings Across the Home

Planning a larger renovation? CountBricks AI scales from single-room drywall to entire home additions. Feed your digital plans into our blueprint module, and the platform will:

• Tag every drywall surface by type and thickness
• Auto-generate assembly-specific labor rates
• Bundle material lists for bulk purchase discounts

Next Steps

Download the CountBricks app or schedule a virtual walkthrough at CountBricks.com. In less time than it takes to mix a bucket of joint compound, you will know your precise cost to remove and replace drywall—plus every other scope item on your project wish list.