Cost to install alternative wall panels to drywall?
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Cost to install alternative wall panels to drywall?
Adrian Baerlocher
Nov. 12, 2021Last updated: Nov. 12, 2021
We were hoping to usenon-toxic, plywood wall panels for interior walls instead of drywall. I read your article about using 'UV Wood' from Columbia Forest Products(hyperlinked). These panels are available locally for around $30 for 2x4' panels (maybe cheaper if purchased in bulk?).
只是想知道安装这些有多贵?我们的设计师强烈反对我们走这条路，因为安装成本更高。这些需要特殊的衣架/硬件来安装吗?我认为切割这些面板(用于窗户、插座等)将比石膏板更耗时。Apparently drywall/painting costs with materials/labour would likely not be much more than $3-5/sq ft.
Thanks!
Drywall is not the only way to finish walls, though it is the most common, and in most cases the cheapest. But not always by much! The suggestion of usingPureBond finished grade plywood for interior wallsis not at all a badone, we’ve done it and quite liked it. Given the wild fluctuations in material costs that we’ve seen in 2020 and 2021 it would be difficult for us in one location to help with a price comparison in any other area because supply and demand has been so erratic, but I don't think your designer is factoring all the variables. This page will help you calculate –
Installing wood ceilings and walls - cost comparison to drywall
That article is written about mostly about ceilings but the cost variables you will need to input (into your noggin) to figure out the cheapest method are the same. Material cost on one hand, labor on the other. Wood may be more expensive to purchase that drywall, but the surface is finished.
另一方面，干墙需要涂泥、胶粘、砂光(反复)，然后底漆和油漆。你可以安装木头，然后就完成了。成品胶合板是一个非常好的成品外观，虽然它是很难确保干净光滑的接缝，所以你会想要一个装饰板。This page here has an image of afinished plywood ceiling with wood trim on jointsas I mentioned, have a look and see what you think, it's not super expensive and we think it looks pretty swanky.
I just don’t think the cost of choosing one material compared to the other will be so much that it should sway your decision. Certainly price it out accurately before you are talked out of something you want by your designer.
You may have also stepped on this persons 'design' toes, they simply may not like the look and would prefer drywall for their portfolio but they can't convince based on that so that leaves dissuading you based on cost. You're the one that will live there so YOU should make the final choice.
我这么说的原因是——你可能最终要多花几百，也许是一千，甚至是两千，但这是你的家，生活质量很重要。这个决定对房屋建设预算来说只是杯水车薪，但它是你每天都在看的东西，所以要确保你喜欢它。如果你以一种你觉得愉快的方式完成它，你将更少倾向于在未来做美容翻新。只是一些值得思考的食物，希望能有所帮助!
Thanks for the info, Mike! I think the big worry was labour costs but it sounds like this might be a bit overblown. Do you know if there are any fire code issues when using plywood panels on interior walls?
我们避免讨论任何建筑规范问题，因为它们会因地区而改变，但我不认为这是一个问题。你的设计师应该能够确认这一点。至于成本，我认为木板墙更劳动密集型的想法是非常过分的。我自己做过这两件事，老实说，我认为选择木板会比石膏板花更少的时间，而不是更多。
But to get a more informed opinion than mine or your designer, you could get the opinion of a local general contractor. If you don’t have one already, this really is the time to get an GC onto the design team for exactly this reason. A designer may know what looks nice, but a builder knows how easy or difficult something is to build, which equates directly to cost. And to help the vetting process, here is a page aboutwhat to look for when choosing a home building contractor.
The ‘downside’ of wood panels is that you are limited in design ideas, where drywall you can paint an entirely different color anytime. Good luck Adrian, happy to help!
Thanks again! We'll definitely pursue this and find out actual costs from a GC (once we have one!).