What's included
Every patch gets the same steps: we protect the floor, cut back to solid material, patch, tape and mud, sand, match the texture and prime. If you have leftover wall paint, we can touch up the patch the same day once it is dry enough.
- Door knob holes, anchor holes and dents from furniture or moving
- Nail and screw pops on walls and ceilings
- Cracks at the corners of doors and windows and along ceiling seams
- Water-stained or soft drywall after an AC drain or supply line leak, once the leak is fixed
- Texture matching: knockdown, orange peel or smooth
- Primer on every patch, and touch-up paint if you have the can
Common South Florida problems
AC leaks are the big one. A clogged condensate line or a sweating air handler can drip onto a ceiling for weeks before a brown ring appears. We cut out the stained or soft section and replace it, but the AC itself needs an HVAC technician first, or the stain comes right back.
Many homes here are concrete block with drywall fastened to furring strips on the inside of exterior walls. Those walls can show nail pops and long hairline cracks along the strips, and a hole there has block close behind it, which changes how we back the patch.
Texture is the part people notice. Knockdown and orange peel are common in Florida homes, and a smooth patch on a textured wall stands out once the sun hits it. We match the texture by hand and feather it into the wall around the patch.
Humidity matters too. During the rainy season, joint compound dries slower, so a larger patch may need a second short visit before it is ready for primer.
How a visit works
Text us a photo of the damage with something for scale, like a hand or a dollar bill. We will tell you which size it falls into and give you a starting price before we book.
On the day, our tech lays down drop cloths, checks the area with a moisture meter if water was involved, and gets to work. Small patches are finished, textured and primed in one visit. Medium and large patches may need a return trip for dry time, which is included in the price.
In homes built before 1978, we check painted surfaces for lead before we cut or sand them. If it tests positive, we refer the job to an EPA lead-safe certified firm.
We clean up the dust before we leave and tell you when the patch is ready for a full coat of paint.
What affects the price
Size is the main driver. After that, it is how many patches, where they are and how much texture work is needed. Stacking several small patches into one visit is the cheapest way to handle them.
- Small patch up to 6 inches, textured and primed: starting at $149
- Medium patch, 6 inches to 2 feet: starting at $249
- Large patch, 2 feet up to a 4 by 4 foot section: starting at $399, second visit for dry time included
- Ceilings and high walls take longer than walls at eye level
- Extra time past the first hour is $85 per hour, and materials are billed at cost plus 20%
What we don't do
We do not fix the AC, the roof or the pipe that caused the water damage. We will tell you what we see and point you to the right trade. Electrical boxes, outlets and wiring inside a damaged wall are also off limits, so if a patch involves any of those, we'll point you to a licensed contractor.
If a wall is still wet, has a large area of mold, or is cracking because something structural is moving, patching is not the fix. We will say so plainly instead of covering it up.
Questions we get about drywall repair
How much does it cost to fix a hole in drywall?
A small hole up to about 6 inches starts at $149, textured and primed. A patch from 6 inches to 2 feet starts at $249, and a large section up to 4 by 4 feet starts at $399. Several small holes can usually be done in the same visit.
Can you match the texture on my wall?
Yes. Most homes here have knockdown, orange peel or smooth walls, and we match the pattern by hand and blend it into the area around the patch. A close-up photo in daylight helps us bring the right tools.
My ceiling has a water stain from the AC. Can you fix it?
Yes, once the leak is fixed. Have an HVAC technician clear the drain line or repair the unit first. Then we check the drywall for moisture, cut out anything soft or stained, patch it and prime it so the stain does not bleed through.
Why do the same cracks keep coming back?
Cracks at door and window corners often return when they were only filled with compound. We open them up, use tape over the joint and refinish them, which holds much better. If a crack is wide or growing, it may be a structural issue, and we will tell you to have it looked at.
Do you paint the patch too?
We prime every patch. If you have the leftover paint, we can touch it up once it is dry. Older paint often does not match exactly, so sometimes painting the whole wall corner to corner looks better, and we can quote that as well.
Where we do this most
We do drywall repair across Palm Beach and Broward. These are some of the cities where we get asked for it most.