New drywall is going up – maybe in a remodelled kitchen, a garage conversion or a room rebuilt after a leak. The crew will handle the boards, tape and compound. What happens inside the rest of your house, though, is largely up to you.
This checklist covers what homeowners should do in the days before a drywall installation so the work goes faster and your home stays clean and safe.
One week before
Confirm the plan with your contractor
Ask for clarity on:
- Which rooms and surfaces are included
- The expected number of days and visits
- Working hours
- Where materials will be stored and cut
- How dust will be contained
- Whether texture, primer or paint are part of the job
Sort out access and parking
Drywall sheets are big and heavy. Make sure the crew can get them from the truck to the room without tight turns. Clear the driveway, and if you live in an HOA or condo, check whether trucks, deliveries or work hours need approval.
Plan for pets and children
Drywall work involves open doors, ladders, tools and dust. Plan where pets and young children will be during work hours.
Two or three days before
Empty the room
Remove everything you can from the work area: furniture, rugs, electronics, books, plants. Anything that stays should be moved to the centre and wrapped in plastic.
Take down wall and ceiling items
- Pictures, mirrors and shelves
- Curtains, blinds and rods
- Ceiling fans and light fixtures in the work area, if your contractor or electrician has asked you to
Clear adjacent rooms and pathways
The crew will carry sheets and tools through hallways and doorways. Move fragile items off nearby tables and walls, and clear a wide path.
The day before
Protect floors
Your contractor will usually lay down protection in the work area, but it helps to cover the path from the door too. Floor protection paper or heavy drop cloths are better than thin plastic, which can be slippery.
Seal off the work zone
Fine drywall dust travels. Close doors to other rooms, and consider plastic sheeting over doorways that cannot be closed. Cover AC return vents in or near the work area so dust is not pulled into the system. Ask whether the contractor uses HEPA dust extraction – at The Patch Guyz, it is standard on every job.
Check the AC
Florida humidity slows joint compound drying. Keep the AC running throughout the project to help each coat dry and to keep the house comfortable. Let your contractor know if the unit serving that area is being replaced or worked on.
Make sure utilities are ready
Any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work behind the walls should be finished and, where required, inspected before drywall goes up. Once the board is on, changes mean cutting holes. If you are unsure what needs to happen behind the walls first, see our companion guide on what must be done before drywall is hung.
During the installation
- Keep pets and children out of the work zone
- Leave a clear route to a bathroom if the crew will be on site all day
- Expect some noise from cutting and screwing boards
- Do not move or lean anything against fresh compound
- Keep the AC on overnight between visits
After the installation
Drywall finishing happens in coats, and each coat has to dry. Expect several visits for taping, finishing, sanding and texture. Once the final coat is sanded and primed, you can paint.
At the end, walk through the room with your contractor. Check the surface in natural and artificial light, look along walls for ridges and confirm that floors and vents are clean.
A note on older Tampa homes
If the project involves removing old ceilings or walls in a house built before the mid-1980s, popcorn texture and some older materials should be tested for asbestos before demolition begins.
How we can help
The Patch Guyz don't hang new drywall for remodels or garage conversions; that work belongs with your drywall installer or general contractor, and this checklist works for any crew. Where we come in is repair: cutting out and replacing damaged sections of existing walls and ceilings, with background-checked technicians, HEPA dust control and a walkthrough before payment. See our damaged drywall replacement service, read about what to expect on the day, or visit our Westchase drywall contractors page if you are in northwest Tampa.
