What do drywall contractors do

Sheetrock, a trademarked name, is the best-known brand. Drywall work involves measuring, marking and cutting the panels according to the design plan. The drywall specialist then fastens the panels with glue, nails or screws; matches and trims rough spots; seals the joints and layers the drywall with sealant; and then sands the joint and holes to make it smooth.

Becoming a hanger doesn't require any particular education or certification. The time-honored approach to learning the job is to become a helper to an experienced drywall specialist, carrying materials and cleaning up after them. Over a year or so, the experienced hanger teaches you to use the tools of the trade and install drywall. Your first drywall work will be in less visible areas such as closets.

In the construction industry, drywall contractors are professionals who own their own companies. Drywall contractors and their partners, if any, run the business, submit bids on projects and hire workers for jobs.

Twenty-five states require that contractors, unlike hangers, take out a license. Depending on the state, residential and commercial drywall work may require two separate licenses or one. Some states require your business to exceed a certain minimum level before you need a license. The specialist who trains you can fill you in.

Florida requires licensing for drywall or gypsum contractors. If you want to start a drywall business of your own in Florida, you have to meet the license requirements:.

One of the things licensing boards worry about is that a contractor will take their customers' money and skip town or run out of money to complete the job. Financial requirements are a standard part of licensing. Those with experience in the construction industry will have the best job prospects. What Do Drywallers Make a Year?

By Chron Contributor Updated July 27, Construction Industry and Its Workers. Related Articles. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers with similar occupations. Drywall installers and ceiling tile installers hang wallboard and install ceiling tile inside buildings.

Tapers prepare the wallboard for painting, using tape and other materials. Many workers both install and tape wallboard. Drywall and ceiling tile installers place panels over the walls and ceilings of interior rooms in buildings. The panels cover insulation, electrical wires, and pipes; dampen sound; and provide fire resistance.

Tapers prepare the drywall for finishing. Workers may use mechanical lifts or stand on stilts, ladders, or scaffolds to hang and prepare ceilings. After hanging wallboards, workers use trowels to spread coats of sealing compound over cracks, indentations, and other imperfections.

Some workers use a mechanical applicator, a tool that spreads sealing compound on the wall joint while dispensing and setting tape at the same time. Drywall installers are also called drywallers or hangers. They cut and hang the panels of wallboard. The tools they use include tape measures, straightedges, utility knives, and power saws. Ceiling tile installers hang ceiling tiles and create suspended ceilings. Tiles may be applied directly to the ceiling, attached to furring strips, or suspended on runners that are connected by wire to the ceiling.

Workers are sometimes called acoustical carpenters , because they also install tiles that block sound. Tapers , also called finishers , prepare the drywall for covering by paint and wallpaper.

Tapers apply paper or fiberglass mesh tape to cover drywall seams. They also smooth the tape after affixing it and apply a finishing compound to the tape. In addition to performing new installations, many installers and tapers make repairs such as fixing damaged drywall and replacing ceiling tiles. The wall coverings applied to the finished drywall are installed by painters, plasterers, and paperhangers.

Drywall and ceiling tile installers held about , jobs in The largest employers of drywall and ceiling tile installers were as follows:. The work is physically demanding. Workers spend most of the day standing, bending, or reaching, and they must often lift and maneuver heavy wallboard. There are no educational credential requirements for becoming a drywall installer, ceiling tile installer, or taper, although some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or equivalent.

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for workers starting an apprenticeship. Most drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers learn their trade on the job by helping experienced workers and gradually taking on more duties.

They start by carrying materials and cleaning up and then learn to use the tools of the trade. They learn to measure, cut, and install or apply materials. They may start out working on less visible areas, such as closets. Their on-the-job training typically lasts up to 12 months. A few groups, including the United Brotherhood of Carpenters , International Union of Painters and Allied Trades , and contractor associations, sponsor apprenticeship programs for drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers.

Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with technical instruction and typically last 2 to 4 years. Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers may advance to become supervisors, general superintendents, project managers, or estimators. Workers may also choose to start their own business after gaining experience in the occupation. Workers who join a union may also find career advancement opportunities within their union, such as becoming the business manager for a local chapter or becoming an instructor for the apprenticeship program.

Ability to work at heights. Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers may be required to work on ladders, scaffolding, lifts, or stilts. Attention to detail. Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers must take precise measurements, follow specific instructions, and be meticulous in their work. Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers often wear stilts. They must be able to move around and use tools overhead without falling. Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers work with hand tools on every job.

Math skills. Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers must be able to estimate the quantity of materials needed when cutting panels. Physical stamina.

Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers routinely lift and move heavy materials into place, so workers should be physically fit.