Start with what Texas does not license
Many people assume a drywall contractor holds a state license. In Texas, that is not generally true. The Texas Association of Builders states that the State of Texas does not require contractors to be licensed, and it lists electricians and heating and air conditioning professionals as regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and plumbers as regulated by the State Board of Plumbing Examiners. The Department's own list of regulated industries also includes mold assessors and remediators.
The gap puts the burden on you to check. In the City of Austin, the express permit page requires a registered general contractor on qualifying work, and that city registration is one useful check. Ask to see it. The rest of the checking is ordinary diligence, and this chapter lists it.
Ten questions to ask before you sign
- Who will do the work? The person you meet, a crew, or subcontractors?
- Which level of finish and which texture? Use the scale in levels of finish and ask for a sample board.
- Which board, in which thickness? See drywall basics.
- Who pulls the permit? For work over the city's limits, see permits and codes.
- Are you registered with the city? Ask for the registration.
- Is the house older than 1978? If so, ask about lead-safe certification, see older homes.
- What is your plan for dust? Plastic sheeting, floor protection and a clean-up method.
- What is your insurance? Ask for a general liability certificate, not a verbal assurance.
- What is the payment schedule? Tie it to stages of completed work.
- What happens if something changes? Ask how extra work is priced and approved.
What to put in writing
A good quote lists the rooms and the scope, the board type and thickness, the level of finish, the texture and the paint sheen, the start and end dates, the total price and what is excluded. It names who is responsible for permits and for moving furniture, and it describes how changes are handled. If a quote is a single line with a total, ask for the breakdown. The difference between bids is often hidden in the finish level and the number of coats.
References, profiles and reading them honestly
Asking a contractor for references and following up on them is standard advice. A phone call to a past customer, ideally one with a similar house, tells you more than any ad. Business listings such as a Better Business Bureau profile can confirm that a company exists, how long it says it has operated and whether complaints were filed. A profile with no reviews or no rating is thin evidence, not proof of poor work. The same goes for a profile that was never claimed.
Liens, payment and paper
When a contractor or supplier is not paid, Texas law can allow a mechanic's lien claim against the property. Chapter 53 of the Texas Property Code covers these claims. The rules are detailed and change, so get legal advice for anything beyond a small job, and ask for lien waivers when you make payments. In practice, keep copies of the contract, change orders, invoices and proof of payment, pay by traceable method, and ask suppliers or the contractor for written confirmation that bills tied to your job have been paid.
What a good hire looks like
A good hire gives a written, itemized quote that names the level of finish, explains who handles any permit, shows proof of insurance and proposes payments tied to stages. At the end you hold a signed contract, the receipts and a clean job site.
Red flags
- A demand for full payment before work starts.
- No written quote, or a quote that cannot be itemized.
- Pressure to skip a permit that the city lists as needed.
- No answer to the finish-level question.
- Offers to sand a pre-1978 house without any dust plan.
If the job began with water damage, check water and mold first. If it began with cracks that keep coming back, clay soil and cracks explains what to document. When you are ready to compare businesses, the directory lists drywall contractors in and around Austin.
Questions people ask
Does Texas license drywall contractors?
The Texas Association of Builders says the State of Texas does not require contractors to be licensed, while electricians and heating and air conditioning professionals are regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and plumbers by the State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Ask your city what it requires.
What should be in a written quote?
The address and rooms, the board type and thickness, the level of finish, the texture and paint sheen, who pulls any permit, the start and finish dates, the payment schedule and how changes are priced.
How much should I pay up front?
There is no single rule. Be wary of large deposits before materials are bought, tie payments to completed stages, and keep every payment documented.
How do I check a company?
Ask for references and follow up on them. Look for a BBB profile and read what it says, and know that a profile with no reviews is not a verdict either way. Ask for proof of insurance.
Is a very low bid a good sign?
Not by itself. Compare each line, especially the finish level and the number of coats, because a low bid sometimes leaves out work the others include.
What if the contractor does not return after the deposit?
Keep records and contact the contractor in writing. Consumer complaint channels exist at the state level and through the city. A lawyer can advise on payment disputes and liens, which are governed by Texas law.
Sources: [1] texasbuilders.org [2] tdlr.texas.gov [3] austintexas.gov