Drywall Contractors Columbus Ohio
Licensed General Contractor | Family-Owned Since 2016 | Fully Insured
From Studs to Seamless
Paint doesn’t hide drywall problems. Its like taking a highlighter to them. Every nail pop, bad patch, rough seam, and texture mismatch shows through the moment a fresh coat goes on. The flaws that were invisible under old builder grade flat paint suddenly show up the day the new color goes on. Whether you’re building new walls, finishing a basement, remodeling a bathroom, or fixing damage from a leak, the drywall work has to be right before anything else goes on top of it.
PaintWerks handles the full drywall scope for homes across Columbus and Central Ohio. Hanging, finishing, texture matching, and repairs. We are a licensed general contractor with professional crews that have been doing this every day for over a decade. Whether it is a small patch before paint or a full basement buildout from bare studs, every job gets finished to the standard your paint demands. One contractor from studs to seamless. No deposit required. BBB A+ rated since 2016.
Full-Scope Contractor
Most drywall projects touch other trades. Framing before the board, painting after it's finished. Flooring, tile, and trim to complete the room. We handle all of it in-house. No matter the scope, we likely have the crew in place to take your project from start to finish without hiring another contractor.
Licensed, Bonded and Fully Insured
Ohio general contractor license. General liability and workers comp on every project. BBB A+ rated since 2016. Your home is protected and so is every person on the job site. We carry the credentials most drywall companies and handymen don't.
Drywall Services
Drywall hanging, finishing, and repairs for homes throughout Columbus and Central Ohio. From bare studs to paint-ready walls, we handle the full scope.
Drywall for Any Scope
Basement Finishing
Framing, board, tape, mud, texture, and paint. We take unfinished basements from bare studs to move-in ready. Moisture-resistant board where it's needed, proper insulation, and finishes built for below-grade conditions. See our full basement finishing services.
Remodels and Additions
Kitchen updates, bathroom remodels, room additions, and layout changes. Walls get moved, built, or rebuilt. We hang the new board, finish it, and tie it into the existing surfaces so old and new match.
New Construction
Full house hangs, garage builds, and new room framing. We hang board tight to the framing with proper fastener patterns and staggered joints, then finish to the level your paint sheen requires.
Water Damage Restoration
Leaks, floods, and burst pipes destroy drywall from the inside. We cut out the damaged sections, check for mold and structural issues, replace with new board, and finish it ready for paint. Full drywall repair from diagnosis to final coat.
Pre-Paint Repairs
Nail pops, cracks, failed tape joints, and old patches that show through paint. We fix the walls before the paint crew rolls. Standard prep and repair included with most painting projects.
Why Process Matters
Finish Levels
Level 4 works for most walls under flat or eggshell paint. Level 5 adds a full skim coat for high-gloss finishes or walls with harsh lighting. We finish to the level the room demands, not the level that's fastest.
Board Selection
Standard 1/2" for most walls. 5/8" for ceilings and fire-rated assemblies. Moisture-resistant board for bathrooms and kitchens. The wrong board in the wrong spot leads to sagging, mold, and failed inspections. We match the board to the application every time.
Fastener Patterns
Overdriven screws break the paper face and lose holding power. Underdriven screws pop through paint within months. We fasten at the right depth and spacing so the board stays tight to the framing and nail pops don't show up six months after the job.
Texture Matching
Orange peel, knockdown, skip trowel, stomp, smooth. A bad texture match catches light differently and shows through every sheen. We match what you have by hand so repairs and new work blend into the existing walls.
Priming
Bare drywall and patched areas absorb paint differently than the surrounding wall. Without primer, you get flashing, uneven sheen, and patches that show through the finish coat. We prime every repaired and new surface so the paint goes on even and stays even.
Our Drywall Process
Every drywall project follows the same framework whether it’s a single patch or a full basement buildout. We scope the work, prep the surface, build to standard, and check everything before paint goes on. No skipped steps, no shortcuts.
Walkthrough and Estimate
We walk the space and check every wall, ceiling, and surface included in the scope. Existing conditions, framing, damage, and what needs to happen before board goes up or repairs begin. You get a detailed written estimate before any work starts. No deposit required.
Prep and Frame
Damaged material gets removed. Framing gets checked, shimmed, or replaced if needed. Backing goes in for cabinets, fixtures, and anything that mounts to the wall. The structure has to be right before any board goes up. Skipping this step is how walls end up wavy and screws pop through paint.
Hang, Tape, and Finish
Board gets hung tight to the framing with proper fastener patterns and staggered joints. Tape and mud go on in multiple coats, sanded between each one. We finish to Level 4 or 5 depending on your paint sheen and lighting. Texture gets matched to the existing walls so new and old blend together.
Prime and Final Check
Every surface gets primed so paint absorbs evenly across repaired, new, and existing areas. We check every wall and ceiling under working light before the paint crew starts. Ridges, missed spots, and texture inconsistencies get caught now, not after the finish coat. Your walls are paint-ready when we hand them off.
What Our Clients Say
Columbus homeowners have trusted PaintWerks with their homes since 2016. We've completed jobs ranging from single drywall repairs to full basement buildouts across Central Ohio. Here's what they say about the results.
Drywall Services FAQ
How much does drywall installation cost in Columbus?
Drywall installation costs in Columbus depend on the scope, board type, and finish level. These are 2026 averages based on real project bids we have completed across Columbus and Central Ohio.
| Project Type | Typical Cost Range | Typical Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Patch and Repair | Priced by the job | Holes, cracks, nail pops, water damage, texture matching |
| Single Room | $960 – $1,800 | Hang, tape, finish, prime. Standard board, Level 4 finish |
| Basement Finish | $6,400 – $14,400 | Framing, moisture-resistant board, full hang and finish, prime |
| Addition / New Room | $1,600 – $4,800 | New board on new framing, full finish, fire-rated where required |
| Whole House | $16,000 – $38,000 | Full hang and finish, new construction or gut remodel |
| Level 5 Upgrade | Add-on over Level 4 | Full skim coat, required for high-sheen paint or critical lighting |
Final pricing depends on ceiling height, number of cutouts, board type, and how much framing prep is needed. Repairs are priced by the job since a single doorknob hole and a water-damaged ceiling are completely different scopes. We provide a detailed written estimate that breaks down every trade before any work starts. No deposit required. Call 614-582-4227 or request a free estimate.
What is the difference between Level 4 and Level 5 drywall finish?
Level 4 means all joints, corners, and fastener heads are taped and coated with three coats of compound, sanded smooth. This is the standard for most residential walls painted with flat, matte, or eggshell sheens. Level 5 adds a full skim coat over the entire surface so the texture is completely uniform, not just smooth at the joints. Level 5 is required when walls will be painted with satin, semi-gloss, or high-gloss finishes, or when harsh lighting like recessed cans or large windows will rake across the wall and expose any inconsistency. We finish to the level your paint sheen and lighting demand. Skipping Level 5 when the room calls for it is one of the most common reasons a fresh paint job looks wrong. See the level of finish we delivered on a custom coffered ceiling project in Lewis Center.
What type of drywall board do I need?
Standard 1/2" drywall covers most interior walls. 5/8" board is used on ceilings to resist sagging and on walls where fire-rated assemblies are required by code, like garage-to-house walls and furnace rooms. Moisture-resistant board goes in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and any space exposed to humidity or water. Using standard board in a wet area leads to mold, soft spots, and failure behind the surface. We select the right board for every application during the estimate and explain why each area gets what it gets.
How long does a full drywall project take?
A single room with hanging and finishing can be done in 3 to 5 days. A full basement finish typically runs 2 to 3 weeks for the drywall phase alone, not counting framing, electrical, or plumbing that may need to happen first. Our 1,400 sq ft basement buildout in Worthington is a good example of a full-scope timeline. Larger remodels and additions can take 3 to 6 weeks depending on scope and how many rooms are involved. The biggest variable is dry time between coats. Each coat of mud needs to fully dry before the next one goes on. Rushing that step is how joints crack and seams show through paint. We give you a realistic timeline during the estimate based on the actual scope, not an optimistic guess to win the bid.
Do you handle framing before drywall?
Yes. As a licensed general contractor, we handle framing and drywall under one roof. New walls get framed square, plumb, and properly backed before any board goes up. If existing framing has bowed studs, missing backing, or spacing issues, we fix it first. Hanging drywall on bad framing means wavy walls, cracked joints, and fastener pops that show through paint within months. Most drywall-only companies skip the framing check because it's not their trade. We catch it because it is ours.
Should I replace plaster walls with drywall?
It depends on the condition of the plaster and what you're trying to accomplish. If the plaster is solid with minor hairline cracks, a skim coat or targeted repair may be enough. If the plaster is crumbling, pulling away from the lath, or the walls need to be opened for electrical or plumbing work, replacing with drywall is usually the better investment. Many Columbus homes built before 1960 still have original plaster that has held up well. Others have been patched so many times with different materials that the surface is beyond saving. We completed a full interior repaint with drywall repairs in Worthington on an older home that needed exactly this kind of assessment. We don't push full replacement when a repair will do, and we don't patch over plaster that needs to come down. Call 614-582-4227 or request a free estimate and we will give you honest options.
Do I need a permit for drywall work in Columbus?
Drywall itself does not require a permit. But the work that often goes with it does. New wall construction, structural changes, electrical rough-in, and plumbing modifications all require permits and inspections in Columbus and most Central Ohio municipalities. If your project involves framing new walls, adding a bathroom, or finishing a basement, permits are required before drywall can go up. As a licensed general contractor, we handle permits, schedule inspections, and make sure everything passes code before we close up walls. Skipping permits creates problems when you sell the home and the work has no record on file.
Why hire a general contractor for drywall instead of a drywall company?
A drywall company handles one trade. If they find bad framing, water damage, rot, or mold behind the wall, the job stops. They call you, you call another contractor, and the schedule blows up. A licensed general contractor carries the trades to fix what they find. When we open a wall and discover damaged framing or an active leak, we fix the cause and rebuild the surface under the same contract. One contractor, one schedule, one point of accountability. We also handle the painting after the drywall is done, which means the person who finished the wall is the same person who primes and paints it. That's how repairs disappear and finishes look right. See how we handled a full multi-trade basement buildout in Worthington where drywall was just one piece of the scope.