J. Perry & Sons hangs and finishes drywall for renovations, additions and commercial build-outs in Broward and Palm Beach counties, and finishes to the level the job calls for: Level 3 under heavy texture, Level 4 under flat and eggshell paint, and Level 5 under gloss, dark colors and the raking light from a wall of impact sliders. The finishing is done by our stucco and drywall finishing crews. Most of the Level 5 calls we get are from owners who paid for Level 4 and can see every joint at 4 p.m.; this page explains the difference so you order the right finish the first time.
Drywall Finishing Cost in South Florida: $2.50–$4.50 per sq ft Level 4, +$1–$2 Level 5
| Scope | Typical size | Installed range |
|---|---|---|
| Hang, tape and finish to Level 3 (under texture) | 500–2,000 sq ft of board | $2.00–$3.50 per sq ft |
| Hang, tape and finish to Level 4 (standard paint-ready) | 500–2,000 sq ft | $2.50–$4.50 per sq ft |
| Level 5 skim coat added to new Level 4 | 500–2,000 sq ft | +$1.00–$2.00 per sq ft |
| Skim existing painted walls to Level 5 (prep, bond, two coats) | 300–1,500 sq ft | $3.00–$5.50 per sq ft |
| Remove knockdown or orange-peel texture and skim smooth | 300–1,500 sq ft | $3.50–$6.00 per sq ft |
| Ceiling finishing, Level 4 or 5 | per room | +15–25% over wall rate |
| Patch and blend, per opening or damage area | up to 4 sq ft | $150–$400 each |
Rates include board, screws, tape, compound, corner bead, sanding and dust control, with the painter doing primer. Moisture-resistant or fire-rated board, 5/8-inch board on ceilings, and metal framing are priced in the estimate. Minimum charge for a patch call is typically $350–$500.
Free Estimate
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.
What each drywall finish level means
The levels come from the industry standard GA-214 and tell the finisher how many coats go where.
Level 3. Tape embedded and one coat over joints and fasteners, two coats on corner bead. Surface is left ready for a medium or heavy texture, such as knockdown or orange peel. Not acceptable under flat paint; the joints will show.
Level 4. Tape plus two coats over joints and three over fasteners and bead, sanded. The standard paint-ready finish for flat and eggshell paint in normal light. This is what most builders deliver and what most residential drywall quotes mean.
Level 5. Everything in Level 4 plus a thin skim coat of compound over the entire surface, so joints and field have the same porosity and texture. Required under gloss and semi-gloss paint, dark colors, metallic finishes, and anywhere light rakes across the wall: long hallways with a window at the end, great rooms with sliders, and ceilings next to clerestory glass. See drywall Level 5 finish explained.
Smooth skim over existing texture. Converting a textured wall to smooth is a Level 5 skim done over the old finish after prep. It takes two or three coats because the first one only fills the texture.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Send a photo of the room and tell us the paint sheen you want and we'll return a range the same day.
How we finish drywall to Level 4 and Level 5
- Framing check. Studs and furring are checked for plane before board goes up. A finish level cannot fix a wall that is out 1/4 inch between studs; we shim or plane first.
- Hang. Board is hung perpendicular to framing, factory edges together, with ends staggered and screws 12 inches on center in the field. Ceilings get 5/8-inch board.
- Tape. Paper tape in setting compound at flats, paper-faced metal bead on outside corners. Setting compound on the first coat on all joints to limit shrinkage.
- Fill and finish coats. Two more coats on joints, three on fasteners and bead, each feathered wider and sanded between. This completes Level 4.
- Skim for Level 5. A thin, full-surface coat applied with a wide knife or sprayed and back-troweled, then sanded with a pole sander and a raking light to find ridges.
- Dust control. Vacuum-attached sanders and plastic containment in occupied homes.
- Prime. The painter applies a high-build or PVA primer. On Level 5 we recommend a high-build primer, which is where the finish shows its value.
Drywall in South Florida: humidity, block walls and condos
Humidity and drying. Compound dries slowly in a closed house in August. We run dehumidifiers and air movers between coats and do not sand a coat that is still dark in the middle. Rushing is what produces the joints that show after paint.
Furring over block. Most exterior walls here are CBS with 1x or metal furring and 1/2-inch board. Furring is rarely straight, and a Level 5 finish on a furred wall starts with shimming the furring. We budget for it.
Moisture-resistant board. Bathrooms, laundry rooms and garage-side walls get mold-resistant board. Behind tile in a shower we use cement board or a foam board, never drywall.
Condos. Fire-rated assemblies at demising walls and ceilings have to be rebuilt to match, and the association will want to see the permit. We pull it and schedule inspections around building hours.
Permits. Replacing drywall in kind during a renovation typically falls under the renovation permit. Structural or fire-rated changes always need one.
Related stucco and drywall services
- Curved walls, arches and radius ceilings: flexible board and bending techniques, finished to Level 5.
- Drop ceilings, soffits and ceiling details: trays, coffers and soffits built in drywall.
- Plaster repair and Venetian plaster: older plaster homes and decorative finishes.
- Interior painting: primer and paint matched to the finish level.
- Kitchen renovation and bathroom renovation: the projects most of this drywall goes into.
What a drywall finishing estimate includes
- Board square footage by wall and ceiling, board type and thickness
- Finish level per room, and which rooms get Level 5
- Framing or furring correction needed before hanging
- Corner bead type and count
- Texture removal, if converting to smooth
- Dust containment in occupied spaces
- Primer recommendation for the painter
- Permit and inspections, if fire-rated or part of a renovation permit
Drywall finishing by city
Stucco & drywall in Fort Lauderdale · Stucco & drywall in Miami · Stucco & drywall in Boca Raton · Stucco & drywall in West Palm Beach · Stucco & drywall in Weston · Stucco & drywall in Delray Beach · Stucco & drywall in Parkland · Stucco & drywall in Wellington
Planning guides: Drywall Level 5 finish explained · Curved drywall walls and ceilings · Drop ceiling vs tray ceiling · Interior painting cost guide · Kitchen remodel cost
Drywall finishing — FAQ
How much does a Level 5 drywall finish cost? $1–$2 per square foot on top of a Level 4 finish on new board, or $3–$5.50 per square foot to skim existing painted walls to Level 5.
Do I need Level 5 in every room? No. Level 5 belongs in rooms with gloss or dark paint and rooms with raking light from large windows or sliders. Bedrooms with flat paint and normal light are fine at Level 4.
Can you remove knockdown texture and make the walls smooth? Yes. The texture is scraped or skimmed over in two or three coats and sanded to Level 5, at $3.50–$6 per square foot depending on how heavy the texture is.
Why can I see the seams after the painter finished? Either the finish was Level 3 or 4 under a sheen or light that needed Level 5, or the primer was a thin PVA instead of a high-build. A skim coat and the right primer fixes it.
How do I get an exact price? Call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with photos and rough dimensions. A written estimate is typically ready within 24–48 hours after a site review and scope confirmation.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699. Serving Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Permits and compliance handled. J. Perry & Sons pulls the permit, schedules the inspections, and builds to the city and county codes that apply — Broward and Palm Beach municipal building departments, HVHZ requirements where they apply, and HOA/condo association rules. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699.
Free Estimate
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.