Drywall Contractor Floor By Floor Job Costing

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TL;DR: Drywall job costing by floor and board type reveals production variance that blended totals hide. Floor 1 may run at $1.72 per SF labor while floors 4-6 run at $2.40 per SF due to MEP conflicts, rework, and access constraints. Without floor-level cost codes that variance is invisible until closeout. SPM builds ControlQore cost codes by board type and floor at engagement start so weekly variance is visible in week two.

The Problem

Three Ways Drywall Contractors Lose Margin

Blended Labor Cost Hides Floor-Level Variance

Total drywall labor for the week divided by total SF installed gives a blended rate that looks acceptable. But floor 1 ran at $1.72 per SF and floors 4-6 ran at $2.40 per SF due to MEP conflict removal and reinstallation on three walls. The blended rate of $1.91 per SF does not trigger any action. The floor-level rates tell you exactly where to look.

MEP Conflict Rework Not Tracked to a Separate Code

The mechanical contractor rerouted ductwork through a corridor wall on floor 3. Your crew removed and reinstalled 800 SF of type-X to accommodate the change. That 800 SF of rework was posted to the same cost code as new installation. The rework cost is invisible and the change order is never submitted because there is no documentation of the separate scope.

Board Type Mix Not Tracked by Floor

The specification called for type-X throughout. On floors 4-6 the architect substituted impact-resistant board in the corridors - 2,400 SF at $0.60 per SF more in material cost. That substitution was not a change order because the total SF did not change. The material cost increase was absorbed without documentation because the cost code structure did not separate board types by floor.

The Fix

How SPM Fixes It in 60 Days

ControlQore cost codes by board type and floor. Regular, type-X, moisture-resistant, and impact-resistant each get their own cost code. Within each board type cost codes are split by floor. When floor 4 type-X is running at $2.40 per SF against a $1.85 per SF estimate the cost code detail shows it. The cause - MEP rework, access constraints, or board type substitution - is identifiable in the weekly review.

MEP conflict rework tracked to a separate cost code. When MEP conflicts require drywall removal and reinstallation SPM tracks that scope to a separate cost code in ControlQore. The rework cost accumulates separately from new installation. When it hits the cost code SPM builds the change order documentation and submits it within the contract notice period.

Board type substitution as a change order before work begins. When the specification changes require different board types SPM calculates the material and labor cost difference and submits a change order before the substituted board is installed. Board type substitutions are the most commonly missed change order opportunity in drywall because the SF does not change and the contractor assumes it is included in the original contract.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How should drywall contractors set up job costing?

Job costing by board type and floor level in ControlQore. Regular, type-X, moisture-resistant, and impact-resistant each get their own cost code. Within each board type cost codes are split by floor. Foremen log actual crew hours by board type and floor daily. Weekly: actual labor cost per SF by board type and floor against estimated rate.

What causes drywall labor cost to vary by floor?

Four consistent causes: MEP conflict density varies by floor as more MEP trades compete for the same wall cavity on mechanical floors, access constraints increase on upper floors as the building fills with other trades, rework from MEP coordination is concentrated on specific floors, and board type substitutions sometimes occur on specific floors without formal change orders.

How do MEP conflicts affect drywall job costing?

MEP conflicts require drywall removal and reinstallation when mechanical or electrical trades reroute through walls that are already framed and boarded. The rework cost - typically $2.50-$4.00 per SF for type-X removal and reinstallation - belongs in a separate cost code and should be submitted as a change order. When it is blended with new installation the rework cost is invisible and the change order is never submitted.

What is a good labor cost per SF for drywall installation?

Standard drywall installation (hang, tape, float) runs $1.50-$2.20 per SF on commercial new construction depending on ceiling height, board type, and project complexity. Type-X runs $1.65-$2.40 per SF. Moisture-resistant runs $1.70-$2.50. Impact-resistant runs $1.85-$2.70. The number that matters is your actual cost per SF against your estimated cost per SF on the same board type and floor.

Floor-by-Floor Job Costing forDrywall Contractors.