Framing Guide • Family-Owned Since 1970 • CSLB #265709
Common Wood Framing Problems
Drywall does not straighten a bad wall. Bowed studs, wet lumber, and missing backing show up after paint — especially on a Level 4 or Level 5 finish.
We Hang on the Frame. We Do Not Pretend It Is Straight.
Ron Hogan Drywall has been family-owned since 1970. We hang and finish on wood and metal throughout the Bay Area and Northern California. If the lumber is the problem, we will say so before the board goes up.
We are a drywall and interior metal-framing contractor, not the company that frames the whole house. Flagging a framing issue early saves a callback later.
Problems That Show After Drywall
Bow, twist, and crown
Studs that are not in plane make waves. A skim coat will not flatten a 1/2-inch belly in the wall.
Wet or shrinking lumber
Hang on wet wood and you get fastener pops and joint cracks as it dries. Let it dry. Fix the leak first.
Out-of-square openings
Doors and windows that are racked force ugly cuts and thick mud that flashes after paint.
Missing backing
No block for a rail, cabinet, or TV means a later cut-out in a finished wall.
Uneven stud spacing
Edges that do not land on a stud leave a joint with nothing to fasten to.
Ceiling joists that sag
A ceiling that is not flat will still look uneven after board and texture. Say so before hang day.
What We Can Do vs. What the Framer Must Do
We can: hang and finish on a wall that is acceptably straight; add interior metal studs or a chase where the plan calls for it; tell you the finish level the frame will support.
The framer or GC must: sister or replace badly bowed studs, dry wet lumber, add missing backing, and square openings that are too far off. Covering that with mud is how jobs come back.
Level 5 Does Not Fix Framing
A smooth spec on a wavy wall is money spent on the wrong problem. If you want Level 4 or Level 5, the plane of the studs has to be close first. Level 4 & 5 →
Have Us Look Before You Hang
1. Send Photos
Text (925) 791-9099 a long shot of the wall and a close-up of any bow.
2. Get a Straight Answer
Hang as-is, fix framing first, or change the finish level.
3. Hang and Finish
Licensed crews. 12-month warranty on our work.
Framing FAQs
Can you sister studs?
Small corrections sometimes happen as part of making a wall hangable. Rebuilding a wall is framing work. We will tell you which one you have.
Will texture hide bowed studs?
A little. Not a wave you can see from the doorway.
Is steel better if the wood is bad?
Interior metal studs are a good answer for new partitions and commercial work. They do not replace a crooked house wall by themselves. Wood vs. steel →
Not Sure the Studs Are Ready?
Text a photo. The family-owned Bay Area crew since 1970 will tell you if the wall can take board.
Call / Text (925) 791-9099