09 - Finishes
Drywall & ceilings bid estimating, without the grind.
The drywall number is set less by the board count than by the finish level (GA-214), the specific UL-rated assembly, and the firestop/head-of-wall scope that's too often a back-charge. Drop in your package and get back a cited first-pass: framing and board by SF, rated assemblies priced per the UL design, the finish-level flag that re-prices the job, and the RFIs that keep an interior-finishes bid from losing on the details.
✓ PE-reviewable✓ Cited to source✓ Your drywall / ceilings workflow
✓
REVIEWED
REVIEWED
Layout + top/bottom trackmeasure SF of wall (or LF of partition by height)— cite
Metal-stud framing — partitions, soffits, bulkheads, shaftsmeasure SF of wall (or LF of partition by height)— cite
In-wall blocking + backing coordinationmeasure SF of wall (or LF of partition by height)— cite
Insulation — acoustic / thermal battmeasure SF— cite
Gypsum board — hang (by layer + type: Type X, mold/moisture, abuse, shaftwall)measure SF (single/double layer counts separately)— cite
6
governing codes
10
line-item groups
6
units of measure
6
risk flags
What it surfaces for drywall / ceilings
Priced for the way drywall / ceilings is actually bid.
The engine reads your package and flags exactly what bites drywall / ceilings estimators — before it costs you.
Governing codes named: ASTM C840 (gypsum board application/finishing), C754/C645 (steel framing), GA-216/GA-214 (spec + levels of finish 0–5), UL/GA fire-resistance designs (rated walls/ceilings), ASTM E90/E413 (STC), IBC Ch. 7/8 (fire-resistance-rated construction + interior finishes).
Line-item groups your bid breaks into: layout + top/bottom track; metal-stud framing (partitions, soffits, bulkheads, shafts); in-wall blocking/backing; insulation (acoustic/thermal batt); gypsum board hang by layer/type (Type X, mold/moisture, abuse, shaftwall); tape+finish by GA-214 level; rated + shaft-wall assemblies (UL designs); suspended ceilings (ACT grid + tile / hard-lid gyp); access panels + trim + reveals; firestopping.
The drywall risks ranked: finish level (GA-214 — a Level 5 skim coat drives finishing labor sharply over Level 4); rated-assembly details (the specific UL design changes the take-off); in-wall blocking coordination (casework/TVs/grab bars back-charges); ceiling seismic bracing (IBC/ASCE 7, often under-scoped in higher SDC); firestop/head-of-wall (top-of-wall deflection gap); board/steel price escalation.
The RFIs drafted (verbatim): "Required finish level (GA-214 0–5) by area — is Level 5 (skim coat) called for at any critical-lighting or high-gloss finish?" "Firestopping at rated assemblies + head-of-wall (top track deflection) — in our scope or a firestop contractor's?" "Confirm the wall-type legend: fire ratings (UL design #), STC sound ratings, stud gauge/spacing, and full-height vs. to-deck vs. to-grid?"
The trade's anatomy
Everything drywall / ceilings needs, structured.
Line-item groups
Layout + top/bottom trackMetal-stud framing — partitions, soffits, bulkheads, shaftsIn-wall blocking + backing coordinationInsulation — acoustic / thermal battGypsum board — hang (by layer + type: Type X, mold/moisture, abuse, shaftwall)Tape + finish (by GA-214 level)Rated + shaft-wall assemblies (UL designs)Suspended ceilings — ACT grid + tile / hard-lid gypAccess panels + trim + revealsFirestopping / joint-firestop at rated assemblies (often coordinated)
Governing codes
ASTM C840 · application + finishing of gypsum boardASTM C754 / C645 · installation + specification of steel framing membersGA-216 / GA-214 · Gypsum Association application spec + levels of gypsum finish (0–5)UL / GA fire-resistance designs · rated wall/ceiling assemblies (e.g. UL U400/U300 series)ASTM E90 / E413 (STC) · sound transmission for rated partitionsIBC Ch. 7 / 8 · fire-resistance-rated construction + interior finishes
Units of measure
metal-stud framing → SF of wall (or LF of partition by height)gypsum board → SF (single/double layer counts separately)acoustical ceiling tile (ACT) → SFsuspended gyp / hard-lid ceilings → SFfinish level → SF by GA-214 level (0–5)insulation (in-wall acoustic/thermal) → SF
The risks that usually bite
Finish level (GA-214)Rated assembly detailsIn-wall blocking coordinationCeiling seismic bracingFirestop / head-of-wallBoard type escalation
“"Drywall is a measured-SF interior bid; my guys hang 800 SF a day."”
The SF rate is the comfortable part. The three numbers that decide whether a drywall bid makes money are the finish level (a Level 5 requirement re-prices finishing), the specific rated assembly (the UL design changes the layers), and the firestop/head-of-wall scope you don't want to inherit as a back-charge. The analysis surfaces all three before you bid. Cited hands clean to review.
Run this on your own drywall package.
30 minutes. Bring a real set — a rated-partition build, a critical-lighting Level 5 finish, or a job with a murky firestop scope — and watch the cited line items, the finish-level flags, and the assembly RFIs on your actual drawings.