Basement drywall · Calgary, AB
Basement drywall for Calgary basement developments
Boarding, taping and finishing the walls and ceilings of a basement development. The drywall is one of the last steps, so the checklist for what has to be done before it is just as important.
Free estimate · No obligation
Common requests
- New basement developments
- Basement suites and rec rooms
- Bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry rooms
- Bulkheads around ducts and beams
- Stairwell walls and ceilings
- Finishing an older partial development
- Comes after
- Framing, services, insulation, vapour barrier and inspections.
- Watch for
- Existing moisture, access to valves and panels, low ceilings.
- Priced by
- Square footage, ceilings, bulkheads, corners and finish level.
Before the drywall
What has to be finished first
Once drywall is up, anything behind it means cutting it open again. Most basement drywall headaches come from something that was not ready.
Before booking drywall, walk the basement with the framing still open and check that everything that will live inside the walls and ceiling is in its final place. Take photos of every wall: pipe, wire and duct locations are hard to remember once they are hidden.
Ready-for-drywall checklist
- Framing complete, straight, with blocking for TVs, cabinets, railings and grab bars
- Electrical, plumbing and ductwork roughed in, including future pot lights
- Insulation and vapour barrier installed and sealed
- Any required inspections passed
- No active dampness, efflorescence or leaks on the foundation walls
- Access planned for shut-offs, cleanouts and junction boxes
Framing done and waiting on inspections?
That is a good time to request a drywall estimate, so the contractor can plan around your schedule.
Basement specifics
The parts of a basement that take the most time
Basements are rarely a simple box. These are the areas that add work, and what to decide about each.
| Area | Why it takes time | Decide early |
|---|---|---|
| Bulkheads | Why it takes timeBoxes around ducts, beams and pipes create many corners and edges to tape. | Decide earlyWhere they go, and whether they can be combined. |
| Ceilings | Why it takes timeOverhead work, around joists, pipes and lights. | Decide earlyDrywall, dropped ceiling, or open and painted. |
| Stairwell | Why it takes timeTall walls, sloped ceilings and a tricky working platform. | Decide earlyHandrail blocking and lighting positions. |
| Window wells | Why it takes timeDeep returns around basement windows need careful corners. | Decide earlyDrywall returns, or trim. |
| Bathroom and laundry | Why it takes timeDifferent board near water, and tile backer where needed. | Decide earlyTub or shower type, and tile height. |
| Mechanical room | Why it takes timeOften left unfinished, or partly finished for access. | Decide earlyWhether it is enclosed at all. |
Typical sequence
How a basement gets drywalled
Step 1: Walk-through
The contractor checks framing and services, measures and prices the job.
Step 2: Board delivery and hanging
Ceilings first, then walls, with openings cut for every box and fixture.
Step 3: Corner bead and taping
Bulkheads, window returns and the stair get bead; every seam gets tape.
Step 4: Finish coats and sanding
Coats built up and dried in between, then sanded with dust control.
Step 5: Primer, then your painter or flooring
Primed and ready for paint. Flooring usually goes in after the messy work.
In Calgary
Calgary basement developments
Developing the basement is a common Calgary renovation, whether for a rec room, extra bedrooms or a secondary suite. Many basements are developed years after the house was built, so the concrete has had time to show whether it stays dry. Take that seriously: finishing over a damp foundation wall traps moisture and can ruin the new drywall.
Permits and suites
Check with The City of Calgary about permits and inspections for your project, and be clear up front about who is responsible for them. If the basement will be a secondary suite, there may be additional requirements, including for walls and ceilings between units. Ask the contractor what they need from you on that front.
Water in the basement before?
If the basement has had water, dampness or musty smells, solve that first. Drywall over a wet foundation wall is a common source of hidden mould. See water-damaged drywall for the sequence.
Common questions
Basement drywall questions
Question not answered here? Ask it in your estimate request.
When in a basement development does drywall go in?
Should the basement ceiling be drywalled?
Do I need moisture-resistant drywall in a basement?
Do basement developments need permits in Calgary?
How long does it take to drywall a basement?
Related
Also worth reading
- ServiceDrywall installationHow drywall is hung and which board goes where, in more detail.
- ServiceTaping and muddingBulkheads and stairwells mean a lot of corners. How they are taped.
- ServiceDrywall finishingChoosing a finish level for rooms with low windows and pot lights.
- ServiceWater-damaged drywallIf the basement has had water in it, start here before finishing it.
Free, no-obligation estimate
Get a free basement drywall estimate
A floor plan or rough measurements, and where the project is up to, let the contractor give you a useful number quickly.
Useful to include
- Approximate square footage, or the floor plan
- Ceilings: drywall, dropped, or open
- Where the project is up to (framing, wiring, inspections)
- Any history of water or dampness
Get a free drywall estimate
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