Drywall and Insulation Contractors
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in drywall, plaster work, and building insulation work. Plaster work includes applying plain or ornamental plaster, and installation of lath to receive plaster. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Establishments primarily engaged in providing firestop services are included in this industry. Illustrative Examples: Acoustical ceiling tile and panel installation Lathing contractors Drop ceiling installation Plastering (i.e., ornamental, plain) contractors Drywall contractors Soundproofing contractors Firestop contractors Fresco (i.e., decorative plaster finishing) contractors Taping and finishing drywall Gypsum board installation Wall cavity and attic space insulation installation
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Construction 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Construction sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering projects (e.g., highways and utility systems). Establishments primarily engaged in the preparation of sites for new construction and establishments primarily engaged in subdividing land for sale as building sites also are included in this sector. Construction work done may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. Activities of these establishments generally are managed at a fixed place of business, but they usually perform construction activities at multiple project sites. Production responsibilities for establishments in this sector are usually specified in (1) contracts with the owners of construction projects (prime contracts) or (2) contracts with other construction establishments (subcontracts). Establishments primarily engaged in contracts that include responsibility for all aspects of individual construction projects are commonly known as general contractors, but also may be known as design-builders, construction managers, turnkey contractors, or (in cases where two or more establishments jointly secure a general contract) joint-venture contractors. Construction managers that provide oversight and scheduling only (i.e., agency) as well as construction managers that are responsible for the entire project (i.e., at risk) are included as general contractor type establishments. Establishments of the "general contractor type" frequently arrange construction of separate parts of their projects through subcontracts with other construction establishments. Establishments primarily engaged in activities to produce a specific component (e.g., masonry, painting, and electrical work) of a construction project are commonly known as specialty trade contractors. Activities of specialty trade contractors are usually subcontracted from other construction establishments, but especially in remodeling and repair construction, the work may be done directly for the owner of the property. Establishments primarily engaged in activities to construct buildings to be sold on sites that they own are known as for-sale builders, but also may be known as speculative builders or merchant builders. For-sale builders produce buildings in a manner similar to general contractors, but their production processes also include site acquisition and securing of financial backing. For-sale builders are most often associated with the construction of residential buildings. Like general contractors, they may subcontract all or part of the actual construction work on their buildings. There are substantial differences in the types of equipment, work force skills, and other inputs required by establishments in this sector. To highlight these differences and variations in the underlying production functions, this sector is divided into three subsectors. Subsector 236, Construction of Buildings, comprises establishments of the general contractor type and for-sale builders involved in the construction of buildings. Subsector 237, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, comprises establishments involved in the construction of engineering projects. Subsector 238, Specialty Trade Contractors, comprises establishments engaged in specialty trade activities generally needed in the construction of all types of buildings. Force account construction is construction work performed by an enterprise primarily engaged in some business other than construction for its own account, using employees of the enterprise. This activity is not included in the construction sector unless the construction work performed is the primary activity of a separate establishment of the enterprise. The installation and the ongoing repair and maintenance of telecommunications and utility networks is excluded from construction when the establishments performing the work are not independent contractors. Although a growing proportion of this work is subcontracted to independent contractors in the Construction sector, the operating units of telecommunications and utility companies performing this work are included with the telecommunications or utility activities. |
| 238 | Specialty Trade Contractors 3-digit subsector | The Specialty Trade Contractors subsector comprises establishments whose primary activity is performing specific activities (e.g., pouring concrete, site preparation, plumbing, painting, and electrical work) involved in building construction or other activities that are similar for all types of construction, but that are not responsible for the entire project. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. The production work performed by establishments in this subsector is usually subcontracted from establishments of the general contractor type or for-sale builders, but especially in remodeling and repair construction, work also may be done directly for the owner of the property. Specialty trade contractors usually perform most of their work at the construction site, although they may have shops where they perform prefabrication and other work. Establishments primarily engaged in preparing sites for new construction are also included in this subsector. There are substantial differences in types of equipment, work force skills, and other inputs required by specialty trade contractors. Establishments in this subsector are classified based on the underlying production function for the specialty trade in which they specialize. Throughout the Specialty Trade Contractors subsector, establishments commonly provide both the parts and labor required to complete work. For example, electrical contractors supply the current-carrying and noncurrent-carrying wiring devices that are required to install a circuit. Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors also supply the parts required to complete a contract. Establishments that specialize in activities primarily related to heavy and civil engineering construction that are not normally performed on buildings, such as the painting of lines on highways, are classified in Subsector 237, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction. Establishments that are primarily engaged in selling construction materials are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade, based on the characteristics of the selling unit. |
| 2383 | Building Finishing Contractors 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the specialty trades needed to finish buildings. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. |
| 23831 | Drywall and Insulation Contractors 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 238310. |
| 238310 | Drywall and Insulation Contractors 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in drywall, plaster work, and building insulation work. Plaster work includes applying plain or ornamental plaster, and installation of lath to receive plaster. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Establishments primarily engaged in providing firestop services are included in this industry. Illustrative Examples: Acoustical ceiling tile and panel installation Lathing contractors Drop ceiling installation Plastering (i.e., ornamental, plain) contractors Drywall contractors Soundproofing contractors Firestop contractors Fresco (i.e., decorative plaster finishing) contractors Taping and finishing drywall Gypsum board installation Wall cavity and attic space insulation installation |
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Classification References
- 01Applying stucco--are classified in Industry 238140, Masonry Contractors; and
- 02Insulating pipes and boilers--are classified in Industry 238290, Other Building Equipment Contractors.
Index Items
Acoustical ceiling tile and panel installation
Acoustical foam (i.e., sound barrier) installation
Attic space insulating
Blown-in insulation (e.g., cellulose, vermiculite) installation
Building fireproofing contractors
Building insulation contractors
Ceiling tile installation
Cellulosic fiber insulation installation
Drop ceiling installation
Drywall contractors
Drywall finishing (e.g., sanding, spackling, stippling, taping, texturing)
Drywall hanging
Drywall installation
Exterior insulation finish system installation
Fabric wall system, noise insulating, installation
Finishing drywall contractors
Fireproof flooring installation
Fireproofing buildings
Firestop contractors
Foam insulation installation
Fresco (i.e., decorative plaster finishing) contractors
Glass fiber insulation installation
Gypsum board installation
Insulation contractors
Lathing contractors
Mineral wool insulation installation
Panel or rigid board insulation installation
Plastering (i.e., ornamental, plain) contractors
Polystyrene board insulation installation
Roof insulation contractor
Soundproofing contractors
Styrofoam insulation installation
Suspended ceiling installation
Taping and finishing drywall
Urethane foam insulation application
Wall cavity and attic space insulation installation
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External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 238310.
National Contractors Association
A major trade association for general contractors and their subcontractors, including drywall and insulation professionals.
NAICS Directory and Code List
Official resource providing the North American Industry Classification System code 238310 and detailed industry definitions.
Contractor.com Industry Directory
An extensive online directory listing verified contractors specializing in drywall and insulation installation across the United States.
