Custom Drywall

What Custom Drywall does

Custom Drywall, Inc. is a privately held Minnesota-based commercial specialty trade contractor founded in 1969 by Will Carlson, operating from its Saint Paul headquarters at 488 Atwater Circle. The company provides eight integrated service lines: complete drywall systems, cold-formed metal stud framing (light gauge, heavy gauge, and load-bearing), thermal and acoustical insulation, lath and plaster (including historical ornamental restoration), exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS/DEFS), spray-applied fireproofing, air and vapor weather barrier systems, and scaffolding. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales — direct engagement with general contractors, developers, and building owners on commercial construction projects — with revenue generated through project-based, quote-driven contracts that bundle multiple trades. The company is a union employer whose workforce includes Carpenters, Tapers, Plasterers, Lathers, Laborers and Tenders, with several craftsmen holding three decades of field experience.

The company targets eleven vertical market segments across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest: casinos and gaming, education, government and municipal, healthcare, hospitality, multi-housing, office and corporate, religious and cultural, retail, sports facilities, and tenant improvements. Notable project credentials include Mystic Lake Casino, Treasure Island Resort, University of Minnesota Pioneer Hall, Fairview Southdale Hospital, Allina Healthcare, SMSC Cultural Center, The Hotel at Vikings Lake, Scheels, Von Maur, Knollwood Mall, Moxy Hotel, Hudson High School, and the Minnesota Vikings TCO Performance Center. Differentiated technical capabilities include EIFSmart Contractor and AWCI certification for EIFS, certification as a Baustein applicator for starsilent and baswaphon acoustical plasters, welder and OSHA 10 certifications, and a niche practice in historical ornamental plaster restoration (Pantages Theater, St. Mark's Church, Minneapolis Institute of Arts). The company is a member of the Steel Framing Industry Association, the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, and the Minnesota Drywall and Plaster Association.

The business model is purely services-led and physical: revenue derives from one-time project contracts on commercial job sites, with no software, subscription, or recurring revenue component. Distribution is direct-to-project-owner with no intermediaries or channel partners. The company maintains a digital presence via customdrywall.net that functions primarily as a portfolio and recruiting vehicle rather than a demand-generation engine, and it recruits union field labor through an active careers page. No revenue, EBITDA, funding, or M&A history is publicly disclosed, and ownership remains with founder Will Carlson with no institutional investors or parent company identified. The firm is positioned as a long-tenured regional incumbent whose primary growth lever is sustained participation in the Minnesota commercial construction cycle rather than geographic or vertical disruption.

Name

Custom Drywall

Legal name

Custom Drywall, Inc.

Website

https://customdrywall.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Custom Drywall is a privately held Minnesota union specialty contractor, founded 1969, delivering eight integrated commercial services — drywall, metal framing, insulation, plaster, EIFS, fireproofing, weather barriers, and scaffolding — across 11 verticals including casinos, healthcare, education, and sports facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Trade Contracting

NAICS

Drywall and Insulation Contractors (23831)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Drywall, Partitions & Suspended Ceilings (IMAFANAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Drywall Installation & Replacement (Hang, Tape, Finish) (HSAPAHAC)

Keywords

• Commercial drywall installation
• Metal stud framing
• Spray applied fireproofing
• Exterior insulation systems
• Specialty trade contracting

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Construction Project Contracts: Revenue is generated through project-based contracts for commercial construction work. The company serves as a specialty trade contractor providing drywall, metal stud framing, insulation, plaster, fireproofing, and scaffolding services on construction projects. Projects range from tenant improvements to large-scale new construction across multiple market segments including casinos, healthcare, hospitality, education, and government facilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Custom Drywall is a full-service commercial specialty trade contractor providing drywall installation, cold-formed metal stud framing, thermal and acoustical insulation, lath and plaster (including historical restoration), Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS), spray-applied fireproofing, weather/air/vapor barrier systems, and scaffolding. The company delivers these services on new construction and tenant improvement projects across commercial market segments including casinos, healthcare, hospitality, education, government, retail, multi-housing, office, religious/cultural, sports facilities, and tenant improvements in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

Product overview

Custom Drywall is a full-service commercial specialty contractor offering an integrated suite of construction services. Their core portfolio consists of eight specialized service areas: Complete Drywall Systems (commercial drywall installation with specialty products like GFRG column covers), Metal Stud Framing Systems (cold-formed metal framing for light/heavy gauge and load-bearing applications), Thermal Insulation (batt, rigid, and spray foam insulation), Lath and Plaster (including historical restoration), Exterior Finish Systems (EIFS/DEFS), Spray Applied Fireproofing, Weather Barrier Systems, and Scaffolding Systems. These services are designed to work together as part of complete building envelope and interior construction solutions, with the company serving markets including casinos, healthcare, hospitality, education, and commercial office.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Complete Drywall Systems

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years of continuous operation since 1969 with sustained growth through economic fluctuations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Steel Framing Industry AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in Steel Framing Industry Association supporting cold-formed metal framing expertise. Custom Drywall is an industry leader in cold-formed metal framing with capabilities including light gauge and heavy gauge framing, load-bearing wall systems, and light gauge trusses.
• Association of the Wall and Ceiling IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry supporting drywall and finishing expertise. Custom Drywall specializes in commercial drywall installation with reputation for highly skilled workers and quality work.
• Minnesota Drywall and Plaster AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in Minnesota Drywall and Plaster Association supporting regional industry expertise and standards. The association supports the company's specialization in drywall and plaster services.
• AWCI (Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry) - EIFS TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWCI trained, tested, and certified installers for Exterior Insulation Finish Systems. Custom Drywall goes above and beyond manufacturer certifications with AWCI trained installers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Performance Contracting Group: One of the largest U.S. specialty contractors providing drywall, metal stud framing, insulation, firestopping and related building-envelope services to commercial and industrial customers. Most direct comparable in scale and service mix to Custom Drywall.
• Precision Walls: Commercial drywall, metal framing, acoustical ceilings, and specialty finishes contractor serving a broad range of institutional and commercial customers. Comparable in customer-mix and trade-bundle scope to Custom Drywall.
• Marek Brothers Systems: Texas-based specialty trade contractor providing drywall, metal stud framing, insulation, acoustical and specialty finishes on commercial projects. Comparable multi-trade regional specialty contractor model.
• Baker Triangle: Commercial drywall, plaster, EIFS, and acoustical specialty contractor with deep expertise in plaster systems and exterior finishes. Closely aligned to Custom Drywall's plaster/EIFS/fireproofing capabilities.
• F.L. Crane & Sons: Full-service commercial drywall, stucco, EIFS, and insulation specialty contractor serving commercial and institutional customers across the South. Strong overlap in plaster/EIFS trades.
• Brady Companies: Upper-Midwest commercial specialty contractor providing drywall, framing, plaster, and related services. Geographic overlap with Custom Drywall in Minnesota and Wisconsin markets.

Broad incumbents

• Southland Industries: National MEP and specialty building systems provider with significant wall/ceiling and insulation scope. Overlaps Custom Drywall on drywall and insulation within broader mechanical and specialty contracting portfolio.
• The Walsh Group / Walsh Construction: Large national general contractor with self-perform drywall/framing capabilities in MN and beyond. Competes for the same project labor pool and bid lists on commercial work.

Regional players

• AP Acoustics: Midwestern specialty contractor focused on acoustical ceilings, drywall, and insulation. Regional peer with similar customer profile (commercial, healthcare, education).

Emerging players

• National Plaster & Drywall: Smaller union drywall and plaster specialty contractor active in commercial construction. Comparable trade-mix but smaller scale; illustrates the competitive set of regional drywall/plaster subs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Custom Drywall