A service everyone needs at some point!

Drywall repair is a task most homeowners can take on. Although it does take some practice, an effective job can be done with inexpensive materials at Menards, Lowes or Home Depot. For busy homeowners however, hiring a pro is a great investment. Some damaged drywall jobs area  bit more tricky. Remodels often require many patches and restoring your walls to their original appearance may require the help of an expert. Here’s what you need to know about drywall, the patching process, and how much you can expect to spend.

Drywall, the most common way to finish interiors today! 

In the vintage homes of Stillwater and Hudson, there is some beautiful woodwork, some still well preserved. The fanciest homes had wood paneling of course, but here, and all over this country, plaster and lath was the standard for finishing walls. This method stood the test of time and you’ll still find it in homes that haven’t had major remodeling. However, drywall was invented in 1916 as a good solution for fire prevention and a poor man’s answer to plaster and lath. It didn’t really become popular though until WWII when rationing limited lumber accessibility and builders began using it in earnest. Today nearly every new home is finished with drywall. 

Sheetrock finishing is an art. 

Although large panels can cover space quickly, every joint needs to be filled and finished. Anyone who’s seen a poor finishing job understands, finishing drywall is an art. A good finishing contractor will make a huge difference in the final result of the home build. To make imperfect, man-made materials look perfectly flat is a true talent which I’m still honing! Add to that texturing such as orange peel or the now popular “knock down” you do have options with a talented tradesman. 

What if there’s damage, nail pops or seam tears? 

Over time, houses settle in our area. Homes move during the freeze/thaw cycles we all experience. Nail pops (where drywall “mud” pops off the screw head) or tears in seams are common. Add to that, damage through just normal daily use can occur. A door is opened too fast, the couch gauged the wall going up the stairs or something stuck to the wall damages the outer layer of drywall as it is removed. Often during a remodel or repair, holes are left by plumbers or electricians and they will run from the restoration part of the job, and that’s OK. Not everyone has the skill set to make that damage LITERALLY disappear! That’s where Finely Fix It comes in! 

Experience and attention to deal matters on drywall repair. 

There are different tactics to handle each drywall repair. Torn paper requires a specific preparation tactic. If a seam is cracked there’s the RIGHT and many WRONG ways to tackle it… with hundreds of options in between shown on YouTube videos. Patching a textured area is half the battle, blending in a matching texture is also part of the process. The goal of drywall patching is to make the hole or damage completely disappear… modern magic! 

How long does a repair take? 

Of course, that answer depends on the size and complexity of the repair. An experienced handyman knows how to use ”hot mud” which can take as little as 5 minutes to set up. He also understands what you can and can’t do with certain versions of tape. Paper, mesh, Fibafuse all have their place. A correct drywall patch will require a minimum of 3 layers of mud, and the final layer, which is floated out way beyond the repair should be easily sandable to take care of any remaining imperfections. This last layer will require a return trip the next day to allow for proper curing. Once sanded or wet sponged smooth, and approved under proper lighting, it can be primed and painted on the second trip as well. Although some in the handyman world insist they can do an expert job in one day, from what I’ve researched, professional drywall finishers typically wouldn’t endorse this method.  

What about painting to match? 

There’s a saying among people who specialize in drywall repairs… “wall to wall or not at all!” That is because once the wall was originally painted, that paint, even if stored correctly has begun to change. It begins to oxidize, even evaporate a bit in the can. Pigments can settle out and leave a fraction more of one color before the paint is reused for a patch. While it’s true that at times a patch can be made, primed and painted with existing left-over paint, there is no guarantee it won’t be noticeable. The way to handle that? Paint the whole wall with the matching paint, floor to ceiling and corner to corner. This will not be noticeable next to the adjoining wall. 

How much to repair drywall correctly? 

With two trips, and potentially painting wall to wall, a minimum, basic drywall patching job would be in the $250-500 range. If texture is involved or some other challenging circumstances, the price could potentially rise significantly. If you want Finely Fix It to make your drywall damage disappear, contact me today. Send a few photos with an explanation of your predicament and I’m happy to give you a ballpark estimate over the phone, text or e-mail on your drywall patching job. 

Mike-Finely Fix It 

651-308-5212