Drywall, Plaster, Acoustic & Insulation Contractors

The drywall contractor industry in the US includes over 20,000 businesses with combined annual revenue of $25 billion. Large companies include Performance Contracting Group, Masco Contractor Services, and US Builder Services. Nearly 60 percent of the companies in the industry are small with fewer than five employees. The average company brings in about $2 million in annual revenue.

New construction accounts for about 70 percent of total industry revenue, the rest is from renovations. Commercial construction accounts for 60 percent of revenues, especially construction of office buildings, commercial space, schools, apartments, hospitals, and hotels; single family residential construction accounts for the rest.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven heavily by new building construction. The profitability of individual companies depends on a steady volume of work, accurate job estimating, and good cost controls. Large companies have an advantage in bidding on large jobs. Small companies can compete effectively by specializing in either residential or commercial work. Residential contractors have competition from a large number of independent workers. The industry is labor-intensive: average annual revenue per employee is just over $100,000.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Commercial contractors install the metal framing that underlies walls in commercial buildings and the gypsum wallboard that covers it. They also install other types of walls (such as movable partitions or stone veneer), acoustic and specialty ceilings, and various types of insulation and fireproofing. Many commercial contractors are sales representatives for manufacturers of floor, wall ...