Interior & Finishes

How Much Drywall Do I Need? (How to Estimate Sheets)

Add up wall and ceiling area, divide by the sheet size, and add 10% for waste. Here's how to figure drywall sheets for any room.

Drywall Installation Cost (Per Square Foot & Per Sheet)

Installed drywall costs about $1.50–$3.50 per square foot to hang, tape and finish — roughly $45–$60 per sheet. Costs by room and how pros bid.

Sheetrock vs Drywall: What's the Difference?

Sheetrock is a brand of drywall, not a different product. Drywall, gypsum board, wallboard and Sheetrock all mean the same gypsum panel.

Drywall Thickness Guide: 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 or 5/8 Inch?

Use 1/2 inch drywall for walls, 5/8 inch for ceilings and fire-rated assemblies, 3/8 inch for repairs, and 1/4 inch for curves.

Drywall Sheet Sizes (Dimensions, Weight & Price)

Drywall sheets are 4 feet wide and come in 8, 10 or 12 foot lengths. A 4×8 sheet is 32 ft², weighs ~50 lb, and costs about $12–$18.

How Much Joint Compound (Mud) Do I Need for Drywall?

Plan on about 4.5 gallons of joint compound and 370 feet of tape per 1,000 square feet of drywall for a standard taped finish.

How Many Screws Per Sheet of Drywall?

Plan on about 32 screws per 4×8 sheet on walls and 36+ on ceilings. Here's the spacing that drives the count.

Standard Wall Thickness (Interior & Exterior)

A standard interior wall is about 4.5 inches thick — 2×4 studs plus 1/2 inch drywall on each side. Exterior walls run 6.5 inches and up.

What Is a Board Foot?

A board foot is a volume of lumber 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide and 1 foot long — 144 cubic inches. Here's how to calculate and use it.

Board Feet to Square Feet: How to Convert

Board feet measure volume and square feet measure area, so converting needs the thickness. For 1-inch (4/4) lumber they're equal.

Lumber Sizes: Nominal vs Actual (2x4, 2x6 and More)

A 2x4 is actually 1.5 × 3.5 inches. Here's the full nominal-vs-actual lumber size chart and why the numbers don't match.

Hardwood Lumber Prices Per Board Foot

Poplar runs $4–$6, red oak $5–$8, white oak $7–$12 and walnut $12–$20 per board foot. A species-by-species lumber price guide.

Doyle Log Scale: Estimating Board Feet in a Log

The Doyle log rule estimates board feet from a log's small-end diameter and length: BF = ((D − 4)² ÷ 16) × length.

How to Install a Drop Ceiling (Grid Layout & Steps)

Snap a level line, install wall angle around the perimeter, hang main tees 4 ft apart on wires, lock in cross tees, then drop in the tiles. Full step-by-step.

How Much Does a Drop Ceiling Cost? (Per Square Foot)

A drop ceiling costs about $2–$5 per ft² in materials, or $5–$12 per ft² installed. A 12×12 ft basement room (144 ft²) runs roughly $300–$700 DIY in materials.

2×2 vs 2×4 Drop Ceiling: Which Should You Use?

2×4 ceilings use fewer parts and cost less; 2×2 ceilings look more finished and hide seams better. Both use the same 4-ft main tees — here's how to choose.

How Much Paint Do I Need? (Coverage & Room Sizes)

One gallon of paint covers about 350 ft² per coat. Most rooms need 1–2 gallons for two coats. Formula, coverage chart and gallons by room size.

How Long Does Paint Take to Dry? (Coats & Recoat Time)

Latex paint is dry to the touch in ~1 hour and ready to recoat in ~4 hours; oil-based needs ~24 hours between coats. Most walls need 2 coats. Full timing chart.

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Room or House?

Painting a room costs about $300–$1,000, or $2–$6 per square foot of floor. A whole house interior runs $2–$6/ft²; cabinets $900–$3,800. DIY cuts it sharply.

Paint Finishes Explained (Flat, Eggshell, Satin, Gloss)

From flat to high-gloss: what each paint sheen looks like, how durable it is, and where to use it. Eggshell and satin are best for most interior walls.

Do You Need Primer? (When, How Many Coats & How Much)

Prime bare drywall, new wood, stains, glossy surfaces and big color changes. One coat of primer is usually enough; it covers ~200–300 ft² per gallon.

How Much Paint to Paint a House Exterior?

An average 2,000 ft² house needs about 6–10 gallons for the body plus 1–3 for trim. Exterior paint covers ~250–350 ft² per gallon on siding. How to measure.

How Much Is My Timber Worth? (Value Per Acre & Per Tree)

Standing timber is typically worth $500–$2,000+ per acre depending on species, volume and access. Value is board feet × stumpage price — here's how to estimate it.

How to Calculate Angle Cuts (Miter Angle Chart)

To join two pieces, each gets a miter cut of half the corner angle. A 90° corner = two 45° cuts. Here's the formula plus a miter chart for common angles.

How Much Attic Insulation Do I Need? (R-Value Chart)

Most attics need R-30 to R-49, and up to R-60 in cold climates. Here's the R-value by climate zone, the depth that means, and how to top up existing insulation.

Spray Foam Insulation Cost (2026 Price Guide)

Spray foam runs about $1–$1.50 per board-foot for open-cell and $1.50–$3 for closed-cell. See cost by area, open vs. closed cell, and DIY kit pricing.

How Much Tile Do I Need? (Calculate Tiles & Boxes)

Find how much tile you need: room ft² ÷ tile coverage, plus 10–15% waste, rounded up to whole boxes. Includes a coverage chart by tile size.

Thinset & Grout Coverage (How Many Bags?)

How many bags of thinset and grout you need: thinset covers ~40–90 ft² per 50 lb bag by trowel size; grout depends on tile size and joint width.

Tile Installation Cost (Per Square Foot, 2026)

Tile installation costs about $7–$25 per square foot installed — $1.50–$8 in materials plus $5–$15 labor. Full breakdown by tile type and project.