How Long Does It Take To Install Drywall?
The Drywall Process Explained
If you’re planning a remodel or new construction in Northern Indiana, a common question is: how long does drywall take? The answer depends on project size, rooms, and finish level. Whether it’s a single office or full home, every drywall job follows the same sequence.
Here’s what to expect from the moment the first sheet arrives to the final, paint-ready wall.
Step One: Getting Ready for the Work
Before installing screws, crews prepare by delivering materials, organizing tools, and staging spaces. For homes, this process takes less time for small rooms but longer for larger ones, especially when moving furniture in a garage. Commercial spaces may require several days for deliveries and heavy lifts.
Good preparation prevents delays. Once materials are ready, surfaces are cleared, and framing is inspected, the hanging crew can move efficiently. Skipping or rushing this phase causes bottlenecks that impact the schedule.
Step Two: Hanging the Boards
Installers measure and cut sheets, then secure them to studs and joists with screws arranged for maximum strength and stability. A small bedroom can be finished in under a day, while constructing a whole house typically takes two or three days.
Large projects may take over a week for drywall hanging, with crews working section by section. Multi-story buildings are done in phases: taping one floor while hanging another, maintaining a steady pace without sacrificing quality.
By the time the last sheet goes up, your rooms will have a clear definition.
Step Three: Taping and Mudding
Every seam, screw hole, and joint now needs to be hidden. That’s where the taping and mudding process comes in. Installers carefully embed paper or mesh tape along each seam, then cover it with the first layer of joint compound, also known as "mud." Once it dries, they add two or three more coats, each slightly wider and smoother than the last, to create a beautifully seamless surface just waiting for paint.
This stage requires patience as each coat needs to dry, usually overnight, but humidity can extend this to 24 hours or more. For homeowners, it often takes three days.
Contractors on commercial builds use quick-setting “hot muds” for multiple coats in a day, but for most homes, it’s better to avoid rushing. Quality finish relies on dry, fully cured layers.
Step Four: Drying and Sanding
If taping is the science of drywall, sanding is the art. Finishers sand joints, corners, and screw heads until smooth after the final mud coat. It’s dusty. Pros use pole sanders with vacuums and plastic sheeting to protect your space.
In an average-sized house, sanding and final touch-ups take about a day. Larger commercial spaces may need multiple crews to sand in sections over several days. No matter the scale, this is where the walls begin to look truly finished, flat, uniform, and ready for texture or paint.
Step Five: Texture or Smooth Finish
Some property owners love the sleek, modern look of a perfectly smooth wall. Others prefer a subtle orange-peel or knockdown texture that softens light and hides minor imperfections.
If you choose texture, your drywall repair crew will mix and spray it evenly, then let it dry for at least 24 hours. While the application is quick, drying takes an extra day. Commercial spaces may skip this step for a smooth finish, especially in well-lit offices and retail spaces.
A full skim coat for a high-end “Level 5” finish can take just as long as applying texture, but it results in that flawless, glass-smooth surface seen in modern homes and showrooms.
Step Six: Priming for Paint
Fresh drywall and joint compound are extremely porous. Before you can paint, the surface must be sealed with a coat of primer. This evens out absorption and ensures the final color goes on consistently.
Priming is a quick process, often completed in half a day, and is sometimes handled by the drywall crew. Once primed, walls are "paint-ready,” allowing painters or contractors to start the next day. For homeowners, this marks the point when the space begins to look like home again.
Timelines in Perspective
Drywall projects progress at varying speeds, depending on their size and scope, but each step builds upon the previous one. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Small projects (1–2 rooms): Usually 2–3 days from start to finish.
Whole homes: Typically 1–2 weeks, allowing for multiple coats, sanding, and drying time.
Commercial builds: Often several weeks to a few months, moving through each phase section by section.
Keeping Projects on Track
Before drywall begins, make sure plumbing, HVAC, and electrical rough-ins are complete and inspected. If an outlet or pipe gets added later, it means cutting into freshly finished walls is a costly and time-consuming setback.
Climate control also matters. Northern Indiana’s humidity can slow drying times, so running air conditioning or dehumidifiers during the summer months can make a real difference. And if you’re living or working in the space during construction, expect a little dust and disruption.
Ready For The Pros?
From delivery day to the final sanding pass, drywall work typically takes one to two weeks for residential projects, but can be longer for large commercial builds.
When done right, results show in flat, clean walls and ceilings, ideal for whatever comes next.
If you’re planning a project in Northern Indiana, let Custom Paint & Finish handle your drywall from start to finish. We’ll keep your timeline realistic and space clean.
Call (574) 370-2646 or send us a message to schedule a meeting!
