A water-damaged drywall quote in Gloucester: which lines should it have?

A quote for water-damaged drywall should spell out exactly what is being removed, what is going back in, and what finish you will get. Here is what to look for line by line.

The scope of removal should name the square footage of board coming out, where the cut lines will be, and what happens to any insulation behind it. Putting the same board and insulation back is not named on the City's no-permit list, so ask the City's Building Code Services whether a permit applies before work starts.

The replacement materials section should name the board thickness and type going back in. The quote should name it rather than leave it open. If the house was built before 1990, the quote should also say who arranges the asbestos test before anyone cuts or sands, and what happens to the schedule if the result is positive. A positive result means abatement work, which is a separate contractor.

For the finishing, ask the quote to name the finish level by number. The quote should say how many coats of compound, whether sanding is included, and whether primer and paint are in scope or separate.

A few other lines worth checking:

• texture matching, if the surrounding wall has any texture, named specifically
• whether WSIB coverage applies or the contractor is exempt, and ask them to confirm that in writing

Too few published figures exist for water-damaged drywall repairs to give a reliable range here; the sources use different units and scopes. Get at least two written quotes that describe the same scope so you can compare them directly.

Ask the City's Building Code Services first, before the contractor starts, because if a permit is needed the City's inspection stages include framing and insulation, and missing an inspection may mean having to uncover and expose the work.