The average cost to repair drywall is $450-500. This includes patching up holes in the drywall and getting the surface ready for a finishing coat of paint.
Common problems with drywall that require repair include things like: nail holes, hairline cracks, big holes, failed corners and seams, cracked joints and water damage.
Depending on the complexity of the job and the extend of damage you many need to hire a professional contractor or just a handyman, which will be significantly cheaper.
Average Drywall Repair Cost
Homeowners report spending $270-550 on small to medium size dry wall repairs. An extensive repair, where there are many large holes can start at $1,200 or more.
The bigger the area that needs to be repaired, the higher the overall cost.
Keep in mind that different pros have different ways they price jobs. The majority of reputable contractors will charge a flat service fee to come out to do a small repair.
Typically a small job takes under 3 hours. The flat service charge is usually between $150-250, depending on where you live, because labor rates vary greatly from region to region.
Some contractors and especially handymen will charge you on an hourly basis. For a small job, this may turn out to be a cheaper option. On average, a handy man may charge $50-65 per hour, while a licensed contractor may charge $75-90 per hour.
To find the best deal, we recommend contacting 3-4 local pros and getting a price quote for your project.
If you need to replace large sections of drywall, you can estimate drywall installation prices.
$625 - $970
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How To Do Drywall Repair / Patching [VIDEO]
The majority of time is spent on prepping the site. If there is a lot of furniture that will need to be covered, the total cost will go up.
If the holes are located in a hard to reach area, a contractor will charge you 25-35% more.
Sometimes, the hole is so small (less than 1 inch in diameter) that it can be patched with a special compound, without the need to replace a portion of the drywall. In this case you may safely hire a handyman and save some money, because professional labor is a 30-40% more expensive.
However, if you have major damage or large holes, and parts of drywall need to be cut out and replaced, it is best to hire a pro.
Drywall Patch Repair Materials Prices
The overall repair cost will depend on the amount of materials you will need.
Drywall is a gypsum plaster panel for finishing walls and ceilings. It is used to cover nail holes and dents, as well as to repair water or mold damage. It is also used to patch larger holes and repair stress cracks.
There are two types of drywall you can use:
Lightweight sheetrock costs about $11.48 for a 4 by 8 foot sheet at Home Depot. If you buy more than 34 sheets, you will get reduced bulk pricing of $9.76 per sheet.
Sheetrock can be used on both walls and ceilings. However, its lightweight makes it an ideal option for ceilings specifically. Other benefits of this material include
– resistance to breaking and sagging during installation
– reduced dust
– more flexible than traditional drywall
– easy to cut
– there will be less material waste if you use it for both walls and ceilings
All purpose drywall costs about 20% more. It works well for taking on paint and texturing. Its also easier to repair, energy efficient, and there are both fire resistant and mold resistant products available (they cost about $1 more per sheet).
It is also possible to install specialty fire-resistant Gypsum Board, priced at $13.47 each ( 4 by 8 ft board) at Home Depot.
Ceilings require double sheets to be installed, so the cost of materials for a ceiling repair will be higher.
Container of joint compound and a roll of tape are $15-25
Causes Of Drywall Damage
There are a number of common causes that damage drywall. These include:
1. Doorknob banging against the wall: Over time this will create a dent or a hole in the drywall. Once you repair that spot, it is a good idea to put a door stopper there and everywhere else in the house, where the doorknob hits the wall.
2. Leaking roof: water from a roof leak can infiltrate the ceiling drywall and damage it. One way you can notice this is happening is if you have some water stains on the ceiling. Similarly, water damage can also be caused by leaking pipes.
3. Making home improvements: sometimes repairs or home improvements, such as removing old wiring, or installing a new electrical outlet can create holes in the drywall.
4. Mold sometimes your drywall may be damaged by mold. In this case, you will need to spend money on mold remediation, in addition to the cost of fixing the drywall itself. This can run anywhere from $1,500-3,000 depending on the size of the area affected by mold and the extent of the damage.
