Best Drywall Contractors in San Francisco, CA
Ranked by Google review volume, local category relevance, and an analysis of their digital footprint.
18
Businesses reviewed
16
AI research reports
12
Top picks
San Francisco drywall work is rarely a standard tape-and-mud job. The city's housing stock leans heavily on aging Victorians, Edwardians, and mid-century builds that have settled unevenly on steep hillsides. Contractors here spend as much time matching 100-year-old lath and plaster textures as they do hanging new drywall. The persistent marine layer and heavy fog in neighborhoods like the Sunset and Richmond districts also force contractors to prioritize moisture control and specialized green board in daily material selection.
Seismic retrofitting drives a massive portion of the demand. When a foundation contractor opens up a garage or basement to bolt a house to its foundation, a drywall team has to come in behind them to fire-tape the new structural walls to city code. The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection runs a tight ship on these fire-rated assemblies, and a contractor who does not understand the specific local firewall requirements will fail your inspection and halt your project entirely.
A reliable operator in this market knows how to navigate the narrow stairwells of a Marina flat without damaging the original wainscoting. They pull the right permits for structural modifications and carry the appropriate insurance for working in dense neighborhoods where a dropped tool easily affects the building next door. The businesses below represent a cross-section of operators equipped to handle these specific local conditions.
The verdict
Our Quick Picks
We found a mix of specialized residential plasterers and large commercial outfits shaping the San Francisco market. Viera Reyes Drywall and Detail Drywall and Stucco Inc. earn strong recommendations for specialized finishes and legacy reputation. Landers Drywall leads in raw customer feedback for the broader Bay Area, while niche shops like Gray Lath and Plaster focus on historic home restoration.
- 1Best for Proven Customer SatisfactionLanders Drywall
Homeowners who prioritize extensive, highly-rated recent public reviews.
- 2Best for High-End FinishesViera Reyes Drywall
Homeowners needing flawless smooth walls for modern lighting setups.
- 3Best for Exterior StuccoDetail Drywall and Stucco Inc.
Homeowners needing combined exterior stucco repair and interior drywall finishing.
- 4Best for Minor RepairsGolden State Drywall Repair Pros
Landlords and homeowners needing fast patch-and-paint turnaround.
- 5Best for Historic Plaster RepairGray Lath and Plaster
Owners of historic homes needing period-accurate lath and plaster fixes.
- 6Best for Diverse ProcurementPrecision Drywall
Commercial developers needing MBE/SBE certified subcontractors.
- 7Best for Multi-Family RemodelsA-1 Drywall
Landlords and investors updating apartment building interiors.
- 8Best for Combined PaintingHenson Drywall & Painting
Renovators looking to minimize scheduling gaps between finishing and painting.
- 9Best for Commercial ProjectsHarrison Drywall Inc
Property managers needing standard commercial drywall modifications.
- 10Best for East Bay RenovationsBasco Drywall & Painting
East Bay property owners seeking a single contractor for wall repair and color matching.
- 11Best for Straightforward ResidentialAM DRYWALL
Residents needing a basic, reliable contractor for straightforward hanging jobs.
- 12Best for Local Neighborhood ProjectsRey’s drywall and Sheetrock
Homeowners near Monterey Blvd wanting a nearby crew.
All 18 drywall contractors in San Francisco, at a glance
| Specialty | AI Sentiment | Contact | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for Proven Customer Satisfaction | 58Speaks well of them | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for High-End Finishes | 58Speaks well of them | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Exterior Stucco | 55Speaks well of them | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Minor Repairs | 45Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Historic Plaster Repair | 54Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Diverse Procurement | 52Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Multi-Family Remodels | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Combined Painting | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Commercial Projects | 52Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for East Bay Renovations | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Straightforward Residential | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Local Neighborhood Projects Rey’s drywall and Sheetrock | — | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Also Serving San Francisco Top Rated Drywall Contractors | — | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Also Serving San Francisco | 48Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Also Serving San Francisco | 55Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Also Serving San Francisco | 52Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Also Serving San Francisco | 52Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Also Serving San Francisco | 55Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Reach Landers Drywall
6050 Lowell St Ste 122, Oakland, CA 94608, United States
Reach Viera Reyes Drywall
525 S 29th St B, Richmond, CA 94804, United States
Reach Detail Drywall and Stucco Inc.
Reach Golden State Drywall Repair Pros
344Westline Drive, Alameda, CA 94501, United States
Reach Gray Lath and Plaster
143 Morning Sun Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941, United States
Reach Precision Drywall
184 Mendell St, San Francisco, CA 94124, United States
Reach A-1 Drywall
2386 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94123, United States
Reach Henson Drywall & Painting
1601 Arlington Blvd, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States
Reach Harrison Drywall Inc
447 10th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
Reach Basco Drywall & Painting
829 Estabrook St, San Leandro, CA 94577, United States
Reach AM DRYWALL
3141 Maple Ave, Oakland, CA 94602, United States
Reach Rey’s drywall and Sheetrock
300 Monterey Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94131, United States
Before you hire in San Francisco
Finding a contractor who shows up on time is only half the battle in San Francisco. The real test is whether they understand local building codes and the distinct challenges of working in a damp, seismically active, historically dense city.
San Francisco Building Permits
Structural changes require a permit from the Department of Building Inspection. Simple patching or hanging new drywall over existing framing often skips the permit process, but the moment you alter a fire-rated wall between a garage and living space, you need municipal approval. A contractor who suggests skipping a permit for a firewall job is putting you at serious liability risk.
Seismic Retrofit Follow-up
When homes undergo earthquake retrofitting, foundation crews tear open basements and garages. Drywall contractors come in afterward to close the walls. You must ask a potential contractor if they have experience fire-taping specifically to San Francisco seismic upgrade standards. A sloppy mud job in a garage firewall will fail the final city inspection for the structural retrofit.
Moisture and Fog Concerns
Houses in the Outer Sunset, Richmond, and Pacifica deal with relentless fog and marine moisture. Standard interior drywall easily swells or harbors mold if used in poorly ventilated areas near the coast. Ask your contractor if they plan to use moisture-resistant green board in bathrooms and exterior-facing laundry rooms to mitigate this.
Navigating Older Architecture
Many San Francisco homes feature original lath and plaster walls. Replacing this with modern drywall requires shimming the studs because older, rough-sawn lumber is rarely perfectly straight. A competent contractor explains how they plan to level the framing before they hang a single sheet of rock in a Victorian home.
Parking and Logistics
Moving large sheets of drywall into a third-floor flat in North Beach is a logistical nightmare. Discuss parking and material delivery on your initial quote call. You need to know if the contractor expects you to secure street parking permits for their delivery trucks or if they handle the logistics themselves.
Insurance and Zero-Lot-Line Risks
Houses in this city often sit inches apart. A contractor carrying raw materials up a narrow exterior staircase can easily scratch a neighbor's siding or break a window. Verify that your chosen business carries active general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage before they start loading materials onto your property.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit to replace drywall in San Francisco?
Minor patching and cosmetic replacement usually do not require a permit. Altering fire-rated assemblies, shear walls, or walls attached to new plumbing and electrical work requires approval from the Department of Building Inspection.
What is a Level 5 finish?
A Level 5 finish is the highest grade of drywall finishing. The contractor applies a skim coat of joint compound over the entire wall to create a perfectly smooth surface. You need this if you plan to use glossy paint or modern recessed lighting that highlights minor wall imperfections.
How long does drywall mud take to dry in the Bay Area?
The damp, foggy climate near the coast extends drying times considerably. A standard joint compound might take a full day to cure in the Sunset District, whereas it dries in hours inland. Contractors often use quick-setting mud to keep projects moving.
Can modern drywall match my Victorian plaster?
You cannot easily blend a standard piece of drywall into an existing lath and plaster wall without a visible seam. Contractors usually have to skim coat the entire repaired area or use specialized texturing techniques to match the uneven, hand-troweled look of older homes.
What should I ask during a quote call?
Ask how they handle cleanup and dust containment. Drywall sanding creates massive amounts of fine dust that easily travels through forced-air heating systems if the contractor does not tape off vents and doorways properly.
What is fire-taping?
Fire-taping is the process of sealing the seams between drywall sheets in areas like garages or utility rooms to slow the spread of a fire. San Francisco code strictly regulates these firewalls, especially in multi-unit buildings and homes built over a garage.
Why does my contractor want to use green board?
Green board is a moisture-resistant type of drywall. Contractors use it in bathrooms, kitchens, and basements where humidity is high, preventing mold growth and water damage over time.
Should I hire a drywall specialist or a general handyman?
A handyman is fine for patching a doorknob hole or fixing a minor dent. If you are finishing an entire room, taping new seams, or matching complex textures, a dedicated drywall contractor has the specific tools and speed required for the job.
How we chose
We pulled the current Google Maps listing for drywall contractors in San Francisco and ranked the businesses on review volume, average user rating, and the specific service categories each publishes. We also ran a deep AI visibility analysis on the majority of these contractors. That analysis reads what is publicly published about a business across local directories, trade registries, and its own website. It then estimates how major AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are likely to describe the company when a local homeowner asks for a recommendation. We used those AI visibility findings as context for the profiles below, separating the companies with established digital footprints from those relying solely on local maps. We did not call, license, inspect, or interview any of the businesses listed here.