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Serving Toronto & the GTA

Drywall Installation & Repair

Drywall Installation & Repair

Drywall is the foundation of every finished interior — it defines the look, feel, and quality of your walls and ceilings. Whether you're building a new home, finishing a basement, or repairing damage from water or impact, our team delivers flawless results using professional-grade materials and multi-coat finishing techniques.

We work with every type of drywall board — from standard gypsum to fire-rated, moisture-resistant, and soundproof panels — and finish to any level from basic fire taping to premium Level 5 skim coats. Every project gets the same attention to detail: precise hanging, invisible seams, and a surface that's truly ready for paint.

Pricing

Starting from $3.50/sq ft for standard installation. Taping & mudding from $2.00/sq ft. Final pricing depends on project scope and finish level.

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Professional drywall installation by SQFT Contracting in Toronto

Drywall Types for Every Application

The right drywall board depends on the room's purpose, building code requirements, and your performance goals. We help you choose the best option for your project.

Standard (Regular) Drywall

The most common type used in residential construction, made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper. Available in 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", and 5/8" thicknesses — 1/2" is standard for interior walls, while 5/8" is recommended for ceilings to prevent sagging.

Standard 4×8 sheets cover 32 sq ft each and cost $10–20 per sheet. This is the go-to choice for living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and other dry interior spaces where fire or moisture ratings aren't required.

$10–20/sheet 1/2" & 5/8"
Standard drywall installation

Moisture-Resistant Drywall

Green Board features water-resistant facing paper and a wax-treated core, designed for high-humidity areas. Costs $12–20 per sheet (roughly 20% premium over standard).

Purple Board offers enhanced mold and moisture resistance on both face and back paper — it can be used in wet areas where green board cannot. Costs $18–25 per sheet.

Important: Neither replaces proper waterproofing membranes in direct-water areas like showers. They're designed for elevated humidity, not direct water contact.

Bathrooms Kitchens Basements
Moisture-resistant drywall for bathrooms

Fire-Rated Drywall (Type X & Type C)

Type X contains glass fibers mixed into the gypsum core, providing 1-hour fire resistance at 5/8" thickness. This is the minimum standard required by building code for garage ceilings, walls adjacent to living spaces, furnace rooms, and between attached garages and habitable areas.

Type C is an enhanced version with additional additives like vermiculite that expand when heated, actively filling gaps. It provides up to 2–4 hours of fire resistance depending on the assembly.

1–4 hr rating Code required
Fire-rated drywall installation

Soundproof (Acoustic) Drywall

Constructed with multiple layers of gypsum sandwiching a viscoelastic polymer — a sound-damping compound — between them. Brands like QuietRock achieve STC ratings of 50–80, compared to standard drywall's rating of around 33.

Costs $40–100+ per sheet but dramatically reduces sound transfer. Best for home theatres, music rooms, bedrooms adjacent to noisy areas, shared condo walls, and home offices.

Pro tip: Two layers of standard drywall with Green Glue compound between them can achieve similar sound reduction at lower cost than premium acoustic panels.

STC 50–80 $40–100/sheet
Soundproof acoustic drywall

Specialty Drywall

Flexible Drywall (1/4") can be bent to follow curved walls, archways, and rounded features. Costs $8–12 per sheet — perfect for adding architectural character.

Impact-Resistant Drywall is reinforced with fiberglass mesh for resistance to dents and holes. Ideal for high-traffic areas like hallways, garages, kids' rooms, and commercial spaces.

Paperless Drywall uses fiberglass facing instead of paper, making it highly mold-resistant. Excellent for basements and flood-prone areas where traditional paper-faced boards would be vulnerable.

Curved walls Impact-proof Mold-proof
Specialty drywall for curved walls

How We Install Drywall

Every drywall project follows a proven 7-step process that ensures structural integrity, invisible seams, and a surface that's truly ready for paint.

1

Preparation

Inspect framing for straightness, verify all electrical and plumbing is complete, and plan sheet layout to minimize seams at stress points.

2

Hang Ceilings

Ceilings go first — panels are hung perpendicular to joists using a drywall lift, fastened every 6" with properly dimpled screws.

3

Hang Walls

Wall sheets go up horizontally — top row first, tight to the ceiling. Joints are staggered and kept away from door/window corners.

4

Cut & Fit

Precise cuts around outlets, switches, pipes, and vents using score-and-snap for straight lines and rotary tools for cutouts.

5

Taping

Bed coat of joint compound along all seams, with paper tape embedded for inside corners and flat joints. All screw heads are covered.

6

Mudding

2–3 coats of compound, each feathered wider than the last (4", 8", 12"). Full drying between coats ensures a smooth, crack-free finish.

7

Sanding

Final coat is sanded with 120–150 grit under bright side-lighting to reveal every imperfection. Dust-free and ready for primer.

Drywall Finish Levels (0–5)

The GA-214 standard defines six levels of drywall finishing. The level you need depends on the final wall treatment and the lighting conditions in the room.

0

No Finish

No taping or compound of any kind. Used only for temporary construction or above drop ceilings. Rarely appropriate for residential work.

1

Fire Taping

Tape embedded in compound at all joints — purpose is fire/smoke containment, not appearance. Used in attics, garages, mechanical rooms.

2

One Coat Over Tape

One thin coat over tape and fastener heads. Surface shows tool marks — only for areas receiving tile, panelling, or thick coverings. Behind backsplashes, cabinets.

3

Texture Ready

Two additional coats with light sanding. Suitable for spray-on textures like knockdown or orange peel. Not smooth enough for paint alone.

4

Standard Paint-Ready

Three coats sanded smooth — the standard for most residential walls. Suitable for flat, eggshell, and satin paint. What most homeowners get.

5

Premium Skim Coat

Full skim coat over the entire surface, sanded to uniform texture. Eliminates all joint banding. Essential for high-gloss paint, dark colours, and rooms with strong directional light.

Our Drywall Services

New Drywall Installation

Full-room or whole-home drywall hanging for new builds, additions, and basement finishes. Tight seams, proper fastening, and clean layout to minimize joints at stress points.

Taping & Mudding

Multi-coat joint compound application with professional feathering technique. We deliver Level 4 and Level 5 finishes — invisible seams guaranteed.

Drywall Repair & Patching

From nail pops and hairline cracks to large water-damaged sections. We match existing textures using California patch, mesh patches, and elastomeric compounds.

Ceiling Work

Ceiling drywall installation with lift equipment, popcorn ceiling removal, and smooth ceiling finishing. We handle overhead work with precision.

Basement Finishing

Converting unfinished basements into livable space — moisture-resistant drywall, proper vapour barriers, insulation, and new walls framed against the foundation.

Water Damage Restoration

Fast response to water-damaged drywall — identifying the source, removing compromised panels, inspecting for mold, and restoring walls with matching texture and finish.

Drywall Projects Gallery

The SQFT Drywall Difference

Level 5 Capable

We don't cut corners on finishing. Our team delivers up to Level 5 skim-coat finishes — the gold standard for flawless walls that look perfect under any lighting condition.

Code Compliant

We know Ontario building code requirements inside and out — fire-rated assemblies, sound barriers, moisture protection. Your project will pass inspection the first time.

Fast Turnaround

Efficient scheduling and experienced crews mean your drywall project moves forward without delays. We respect your timeline and keep disruption to a minimum.

Common Drywall Questions

Level 4 is the standard paint-ready finish — three coats of compound sanded smooth. It works great for most rooms with normal lighting. Level 5 adds a full skim coat over the entire wall surface, eliminating the subtle texture difference between joint compound and bare drywall paper. Level 5 is essential for rooms with large windows, glossy paint, or dark colours that show every imperfection.
Nail pops are caused by lumber shrinkage as the house settles — the fastener stays in place while the wood contracts, pushing the compound outward. We fix them by driving a new screw 1–2" above or below the pop, then removing or re-seating the original fastener, patching with compound, and repainting. This is common in new construction and is a normal part of the settling process.
Look for discolouration, bubbling paint, soft or spongy spots, visible mold, and sagging panels. If the damage covers less than a 4-foot section and there's no mold, we can often cut out and patch the affected area. If water rose above 2.5 feet or mold is present, full panel replacement is necessary. The critical first step is always identifying and fixing the water source before repairs begin.
A single room can be hung in a day, but finishing takes time — each coat of compound needs 24 hours to dry before the next can be applied. A standard room with Level 4 finish typically takes 4–5 days from hanging to final sanding. Larger projects like full basements may take 2–3 weeks. We'll provide a detailed timeline during your free estimate.
Building code requires sound-rated assemblies between condo units, but the specific approach depends on your situation. Premium acoustic drywall (STC 50–80) is the most effective single-board solution. However, two layers of standard drywall with Green Glue compound between them often achieves similar results at lower cost. We'll assess your walls and recommend the most cost-effective soundproofing solution.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation estimate on your drywall installation & repair project. We serve Toronto and the entire GTA.