Drywall repair
Compare local pros who patch holes, fix cracks and replace water-damaged drywall. 3,099 pros listed in 1,318 cities across 50 states.
Reviewed and updated by the Fixerlane editorial team · How we research
Drywall Repair by city
What drywall repair involves
Drywall (also called sheetrock, wallboard or gypsum board) is the panel behind the paint on most interior walls and ceilings built in the last few decades. Repair covers anything from filling nail pops and hairline cracks to cutting out and replacing whole sections.
A typical repair has three stages: getting the damaged area back to a solid surface (cutting out soft or broken board and fitting a new piece, or backing a hole with a patch), taping and coating the joins with compound in several thin layers, and sanding and matching the texture so the repair disappears under paint. The waiting is between coats — compound has to dry before the next one goes on — which is why a small patch can still take more than one visit.
Many drywall pros will also prime and paint the repair. Ask whether that is included, and whether they will paint the whole wall: touching up only the patch often shows, because the existing paint has faded.
Common repairs
- Nail and screw pops — fasteners working loose and pushing through the surface.
- Doorknob holes, furniture dings and holes left when a TV mount or shelf comes down.
- Cracks at the corners of doors and windows, and along taped joints.
- Sagging or stained ceiling board after a leak from a bathroom, roof or HVAC unit.
- Openings cut by a plumber or electrician that now need closing.
- Texture matching — orange peel, knockdown or skim-coated walls.
When to call — and when it is not just drywall
Cosmetic damage can wait for a convenient day. A stain, a soft spot or a sagging ceiling cannot: it means water got in, and the leak has to be found and fixed before the board is replaced. EPA advises drying water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, and says “the key to mold control is moisture control” (EPA). If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people out from under it and call a plumber or roofer first.
Cracks that keep coming back, doors that start to stick, or diagonal cracks running out from corners can point to movement in the structure rather than the wall surface. A drywall pro can patch them; a foundation or structural specialist can tell you why they are there.
How to choose a drywall pro
- Describe the damage with photos and say whether you need texture matching and painting — it changes who is the right fit and how they quote.
- Ask how they will contain dust. Sanding compound produces a lot of it.
- Ask about licensing. Many states require a contractor licence above a job-size threshold, and some small patches fall under it; check with your state board.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance before anyone works in your home.
- For water damage, ask whether they check the cavity for wet insulation and mold before closing it up.
What affects the cost
- Size and number of repairs — several small patches in one visit cost less than several visits.
- Ceilings versus walls, and how high the work is.
- Texture matching, which takes skill and time to get invisible.
- Whether priming and painting are included.
- Water damage that needs insulation replaced or the leak fixed first.
- Older homes where lead-safe or asbestos precautions apply.
Remodeling & Carpentry cost guide: the factors pros price on →
DIY or pro — and older walls
Filling small holes and nail pops is a reasonable first DIY job. Large patches, ceilings and texture matching are where a pro’s finish is hard to reproduce.
If the home was built before 1978, EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting rule applies: anyone paid to disturb paint in it must be Lead-Safe Certified, work lead-safe and give you EPA’s “Renovate Right” pamphlet before starting. Small jobs — six square feet or less per room inside, or 20 square feet or less outside — are exempt (EPA).
Older walls can also contain asbestos: EPA lists textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings among the places it can be found (EPA). Its advice, if in doubt, is to treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone — removal is a job for a trained, accredited professional (EPA).
Common questions
- Can a small hole in drywall be patched, or does the sheet need replacing?
- Most holes are patched. A section is cut out and replaced when the board is soft, crumbling, wet or badly broken.
- How long does drywall repair take?
- The work itself is often short, but each coat of compound has to dry before the next, so a smooth finish can take more than one visit. Ask the pro for the schedule.
- Will the repair show after painting?
- A well-feathered patch with matched texture should not. Repainting the whole wall, rather than just the patch, usually hides it best.
- My ceiling has a water stain. Who do I call first?
- Whoever can stop the water — a plumber or roofer. Replacing board over an active leak only means doing it twice.
- Does a drywall repair need a licence?
- It depends on the state and the size of the job. Many states license contractors above a dollar threshold; check with your state board.
- Is old drywall dangerous to sand?
- In older homes it can be: paint may contain lead and some patching compounds and textures contained asbestos. Have it checked before sanding, per EPA guidance.
Related services
Sources
Safety and standards advice on this page comes from these publishers. Dates are the ones each page shows.
- US EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home (last updated February 18, 2026)
- US EPA, Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors (last updated March 31, 2026)
- US EPA, Learn About Asbestos (last updated July 13, 2026)
- US EPA, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos (last updated June 25, 2026)
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