New drywall makes everything brand new. However, I have two pieces of advice for those hiring out drywall work. #1. Be crystal clear about your expectations for clean up. The drywaller had asked me if they should do anything special to “protect” the floors. I said no, that they floors were cheap and were going to go. When they loaded up and split, they left the biggest damn mess you ever saw. They did not vaccuum. They did not sweep. Nothing. They left all that cleaning to a 8-month pregnant woman. I NEVER said, “Oh, shit no! Don’t clean up the floor!” I’m actually still mad. They were not invited back to do the basement kitchen, nor will they be invited back to do any other work. Ok, I’m done kvetching.
Where was I? Ah, yes. #2. Make double sure that you put all your outlet and switch boxes at the correct depth. If you don’t, a few unsightly and annoying results – idiot contractors won’t say anything, but they will dremel all around them so the drywall fits… and then just try to put on a switch or outlet cover. Impossible.
And #3. I know I said two, but I thought of another one. Ask to see their work in a house somewhere. If you can clearly see their seams, you might as well do it yourself. Find another contractor. Do not look too closely in my basement, please. I have strategically placed art and furniture…
Anyway, here are some dreamy pictures of new drywall.
Before the drywall went up in the family room, Don took down the bulky and inefficient fluorescent T-12 fixtures and put up recessed can fixtures. This dramatically improved the visual height of the 7-ft ceilings.
Richland Rd. Ranchette 
February 20, 2015 at 12:29 am
Inform the contractor right up front that you are keeping 20% of the fee until the job is completed to your satisfaction. If they balk, tell them to walk. You can say, “Well, I know that you are a topnotch contractor and will do a professional job and clean up after yourselves, so you won’t have any problem with me withholding 20% of the fee until the end of the job and final inspection, will you? Of course, a BAD contractor would leave a mess, not show up on time, and do shoddy work, but we know you aren’t that kind of contractor, so this should be no problem right?”
My mom did this with a roofer, then used the 20% (knucklehead could never get the roof to quit leaking) to hire my brother to find and fix the leaks.
Several times I forgot to use this rule and regretted it. They get their money, they don’t give a shit about quality after that.