Production Expectations For Boarders/tapers/finishers

dandy andy

Hi Guys,

I'm a fairly new GC and I'm looking to take my in-house drywall crew off of hourly wage to a piece rate wage. I suspect they are taking their time on a lot of projects and need to go to incentive based pay.

I guess before I do this I need to know how much in sq ft production good journeymen guys should be expected to do. Now I know this will vary for complexity of work, so I guess I should specify different categories. Could you give me general numbers for spec homes, more elaborate custom built homes with curved walls, coffered ceilings etc., warehouse and commercial?

So what would a good boarder, taper, and finisher be expected to do in a day in these different situations?

In your answers, could you specify what your definition of boarding, taping, finishing is, and to what level finish you are referring to?

This would be a huge help to me.

Thanks,

Andy

Brockster

This is a joke, right? Did you somehow not see the thread under this one you opened?

.38 per square foot. Curved walls, high, coffered ceilings , round beads, wrapped windows, all extra's. Scrapping will cost you too.

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Tony Rio

Andy.. what type of production rate are you looking for? One to use for bidding, one to use for budgeting, union, non-union, location, et?

dandy andy

,

Thanks Brock, sorry didn't see the thread. I guess what I'm wondering about is volume of work not rates. I'm running into bottlenecks because of my drywall crew. I want to set performance goals, and give them bonuses for meeting them. So worded differently, how many square feet does a good taper do a day (obviously depending on the complexity of work), and finisher. Ie. My understanding is that 1500 ft is pretty good for hangers doing spec residential.

Thanks,

Andy

dandy andy

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the reply. My apologies. I don't think I worded things well. I meant how many sq feet would a good taper do a day (please provide expectations of different complexities), and how many sq ft does a good finisher finish in a day? Ie. I'm told I should crack the whip on my crew and tell them that they are expected to hang 1500 sq feet for residential spec homes.

Thanks,

Andy

CrazyTaper

a "GOOD" taper should be able to atleast do 200 sheets a week by himself. TAPE, COAT,SKIM, TOUCH-UP, SAND.-in a good work week.

thom

You don't tell us where you are so i will give you albuquerque rates. It really doesn't matter how fast or slow they are when you pay piece rate. Other guys will do it for this price.

Start with $.35/sf labor to hang, tape, texture, load up debris in dumpster and scrape the floors. the guys supply their own tools.

Subtract 10% for your P&O so you've got $.315 for labor. Subtract 15% for WC and 2% for liability and you have $.26145 for actual labor. Divide that by two.

Hang, bead, trash the place out and sweep for $.13/sf
Tape, float, sand, texture, scrape the floors for $.13/sf

There are many guys who will do a great job at that price, and do it fast.

tnt specialty

As a GC, we do some small drywall projects in-house. Now, remember, my guys do it all; Framing, drywall, roofing , finish carpentrry....

We're doing a remodel project now; (2) guys just hung and nailed on bull-nose; 89 sheets, (4x12), lot's of can lights, low-vaulted ceilings, 5 new skylights. Took them two days. 32 hrs for 89 sheets

The guy taping/filling/finish, (no texture), will finish tomorrow; 4 days for him. 32 hrs. for 89 sheets.

Hey, I just realized it's the same man hours! (Hanging & taping). Is that how it's supposed to turn-out? I remember 20 yrs ago the going pc. rate in our area was .06/sf to hang as well as tape, (very simple 8' walls.flat ceilings...tract type stuff).

Brockster

Andy, I'd say to start with 3 to 4 sheets an hour average. That's to hang rock, cut butt joints, install bead, scrap and sweep. Remember they are hourly so it's of their nature to fluff off when the boss is gone. Ten minute breaks turn into twenty...

I've also seen bosses take averages to crews like this and add it up per house and let the guys decide how long it takes. Maybe work into something like this with your guy's.

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NYBuilder

My guys usally hang 60 boards and a few closets a day on 5/8 rock straight ceilings and walls standard multi can lighting open floor plans 80 boards a daybreaks down to them getting about $5 a board hung my taper can run out a 300 board house in 5 day max I usaly work out a flat rate on the total job.

dandy andy

Hi Brockster et al.,

Thank you so much for the feedback. I gives me a good baseline to work with. BTW, I'm in Seattle.

Andy

Tapingfool

Any taper that has been doing it for at least full time for two years or more should be able to do straight 8ft work 200-300 boards in 3 1/2 days.. That is of course provided the rock job is very good and there are minimal repairs..I have done up to 400 boards on commercial jobs with stand ups with a crew of 3..At one job I had two bazooka runners and 4 wipers, we split up and worked towards the middle and taped 700 boards in 8 hrs with 1/2 hr for lunch..complete..I had the wipers sweating profusely...that is mass production and I was literally running with the bazooka..most others maybe 200 per day..aaaahhhhh those were the days...

AARC Drywall

Hey Guys...just caught on to your site....great info from all
I have a small company in PG BC and according to these sheet rates and wage rates...its all about right.
We as a company have 3 borders and 3 Finishers.. We do the break down by foot ,not by sheet. I have done the conversion and it works out to be close. We are non-union, but are wanting to go into commercial work as well,
2 of my guys are expected to board, 3000 board feet day, 62.5 sheets/ pair
Finishers are expected to complete 5000 Bf week.
For both its 8 or 9 foot celings, maybe one small vault simple home. no window returns, basic. average home we load in between 10000 and 12000 bf of rock.