In 1916, USG (United States Gypsum Company) invented drywall. Initially, it was sold in small fireproof tiles. But after a few years, it was manufactured in multi-layer paper and gypsum sheets.

Even though it took only a few years for drywall to evolve into what it still is today, it took 25 years for builders to become drywall contractors and to begin using it in large quantities.

Drywall was advertised itself by focusing on the fact that it was fireproof, and didn’t require any extra time or different installation techniques. It became a more convenient alternative to plaster because builders also didn’t have to wait for it to dry.

In this day and age, what should you look for if need to hire a drywall contractor? Keep reading for a guide all about drywall.

What Is Gypsum and How Is It Used in Drywall?

Gypsum is a powdery grey or white sulfate material. It’s noncombustible and is much cheaper and lighter than materials such as wood and plaster.

Drywall consists of a dense layer of gypsum that is sandwiched between two pieces of thick paper. It’s extremely popular as a building material all across the United States.

In fact, every year in North America, over 20 billion square feet of drywall is manufactured.

Is It Environmentally Friendly?

While it wasn’t that environmentally friendly to begin with, there are drywall companies who do everything they can to make it so in their manufacturing of drywall.

New ways of educating workers are being implemented. With proper recycling measures, many of the scraps can be turned into agricultural products instead of waste.

And when you look for a drywall contractor, something you may want to ask them is what they do to reduce their carbon footprint.

Ask Around Before You Hire a Contractor

You might not even have to that much of your own research if you have friends or family who have recently build or renovating a home.

Ask people who you trust who they’ve used and what they thought. You can also ask your neighbors or check on social media.

Make a List and Do Your Research

As friends, family, and neighbors give you their recommendations, write them down on a list. If you search online and find any others that you might want to hire, add them to your list.

Then you can start researching the different companies and figuring out which one works best for you.

Find out how long they’ve been around, what organizations they’re a part of, and what materials they use.

Check out Some of Their Past Work

Any reputable drywall contractor should be able to provide examples of the work that they’ve done. They might have a portfolio on their website, they might have an Instagram account, or they might have photos that you can look at in person.

Check for reviews and ratings too. It’s the age of the internet, and you can find reviews for almost anything and everything online.

The same way that you’d want to hire the best professional to paint your home, you want to hire a pro drywall contractor.

How Do They Communicate?

While a lot of your decision-making will have to do with research and reputability, it also has to do with the vibe that you get. Start calling your top options and rate your experience on the phone with them.

Are they good at listening? Do they seem to understand what you need and do they address any concerns that you have? Depending on the job, they might be working at your property for quite some time so you want to make sure that you’re on the same page and can communicate efficiently.

A good drywall contractor should be more than happy to answer any questions you have. They should know the answers well, and if not, be willing to find out.

What Are Some Questions to Ask?

Do you just want to get the job done? Are you not sure what questions you might want to ask? Things will come up along the way, and you want to work with someone that you feel comfortable approaching about any concerns you may have.

Some of the questions you may want to ask a potential drywall contractor are as follows:

• How long have you been in business?
• Can you provide proof of insurance?
• Do you have your own crew that you use regularly?
• Can you tell me how you’ll go about the job so I can better understand it?
• Are you licensed according to state or federal laws?
• Will you obtain and show me the proper permits?
• What’s your estimate of how long the job will take?
• Will you be able to provide me with start and end dates?
• What will the payment schedule be?
• How do you calculate the payment?
• Do you have any references or testimonials you can show me?
• Will you clean everything up when you’re done?
• Will you provide me with a written contract outlining everything we agreed upon?

Even if all you’re looking for is a drywall crack repair, don’t be afraid to ask questions for your peace of mind.

Take Your Time to Hire the Right Drywall Contractor

When you begin your search to find the right drywall contractor, don’t be afraid to ask questions and check out past work and reviews. It’s your home, and it’s your money, so any reputable drywall contractor won’t have any issue answering your questions.

Are you curious how much the job might cost for your home? Contact us for a FREE quote!