[switchblade74]

I am new to bidding and would like to know if anyone can explain to me the difference between board feet and square feet. Also, what are some of the going rates for hanging, floating, texturing, and painting minus materials? Thanks!

[Glasshousebltr]

Board feet is the area of the board, be it wood or gypsum. Square feet is the area of the floor. Be careful some fellas don't even use the term board feet. They just call the surface square feet, square feet.

Also I might add, I've seen fellas use board feet as a term for pricing according to whats purchased.

Bob

[Tom R]

Far as I can tell, - - a 'board-foot' of drywall is the same as a 'square-foot' of drywall (any thickness), - - whereas a 'board-foot' of wood is a square foot that is 1" thick.

Could be wrong, - - I rarely work with anyone else, - - and don't discuss these things with myself very often!!

[Teetorbilt]

Board ft. is a reference applied to lumber. The definition is rather simple, one board foot is a piece of lumber that is 1 foot wide, 1 foot long and 1 inch thick, or its volumetric equivalent.

Square ft. can be applied to anything. It is 12 X 12 ins. or 144 sq. ins. Volume (3D) does not apply.

[Grumpy]

It's my understand that teetor has the correct definition. At least that's what I have always thought it to mean.

[K2]

I agree with Tettor and Grump but would note that the nominal sizes,(dressed sizes), are considered full sizes. So a 1x12x1'=1bd ft. A 2x6x1'= 1 bd ft. A 2x4x1.5'= 1bd ft... 200 2x8x14'= 3733 bd ft. Which was nice when a lumber yard gave you a price of $.475 a board ft. for demensial lumber you could price your lumber pack pretty quick.

[Bob Kovacs]

With reference to the drywall trade, a "board foot price" could indicate a price per SF based on actual SF of board required to hang all the walls and ceilings, while a "square foot price" may mean a price based on the SF of floor area of the house. The SF price would be much higher, since there's typically 4-5 SF of actual board per SF of floor area once you factor in the wall coverage.

As far as "going rates", don't bother with them- you're sure to go bankrupt. I say this because we have no idea where you are (and there's a big difference between the "going rate" in San Francisco and in Hot Springs, Arkansas), and the only number that matters is one based on your actual productivity rates and costs of doing business. Working based on anything else is foolish.

Bob

[Zendik]

I've never used the term "board foot" in drywall. Square footage would be the total square feet in a sheet of drywall whatever the size. Board footage, I've always thought was lineal footage......??

[Teetorbilt]

I figured that I'd let you pro's hammer it out. I do small amounts (1-2 rooms) and charge by the sq. ft.

I don't see a price by anyone. I'm getting $1.10 - 1.72.

[housedocs]

When I'm doing strictly drywall work for a client (hang, finish, texture) we charge by the ftg of the rock actually used. That is the ftg of the sheets delivered and handled by my crew. This will in just about all cases be slightly higher than the actual s/f of the walls & ceilings of the work space. We base the bill on the total sq ftg of all sheets delivered and used for the job.

I never give bids for labor only, or very rarely anyway, but for myself here in the sticks of north central MO, price will run from $1 - $2 a s/f for the whole ball of wax. Material costs generally run about $0.35 per s/f for the board, mud, bead, etc. The total costs I figure based upon the specifics of the job at hand, where it's slick finished or textured, how high the lids are, etc.

As was previously noted, rates vary widely depending upon your location in the world.