Your home · 10 guides
Drywall Repair: problems and fixes, explained by John
John Tack is the only drywall repair member of BNI Preston Center. These guides are written for a Dallas–Fort Worth reader who has the problem right now: what is happening, what to check, when to call, and what it costs.
- Will insurance pay to fix the drywall after a leak? What Texas homeowners should know Sudden leaks are often covered; slow ones usually are not. Here is how insurance generally treats water-damaged drywall in Texas, what to photograph before anything is removed, and how to keep it from happening again. The general rule: sudden is often covered, gradual usually is notWhy the cause matters so muchWhat to do in the first hoursDocument before anything comes out
- Will anyone see the patch? Myths about matching texture and paint on a repair Yes, a patch can match orange peel, knockdown and the color on your wall, but not by the methods most people assume. Here are the common myths about texture and paint, and what actually makes a repair disappear. Yes, it can match, but not the way most people thinkMyth: the original can of paint will match perfectlyMyth: if the color is right, the patch will not showMyth: a can of spray texture from the hardware store will do
- What a drywall repair costs and why two quotes for one hole can differ The size of the hole is rarely what sets the price. Here is what does, from the number of separate spots to texture, paint and drying time, and how to get an accurate quote before anyone visits. The straight answer on priceWhy the size of the hole matters less than you thinkThe seven things that actually set the priceWhy water damage costs more than a dent of the same size
- The same crack keeps coming back: why North Texas houses reopen drywall seams If you have filled the same crack above a door twice and it is back again, the filler was never the problem. Here is why North Texas houses move, which cracks are harmless and how a repair that lasts is done. Why the crack returnsWhat is moving underneath your wallsOther causes that have nothing to do with the soilHarmless crack or warning sign
- Ten questions to ask a drywall repair company before anyone cuts into your wall Most drywall repairs look fine the day they are finished. The questions below tell you, before you hire, whether yours will still look invisible in raking light a month later. What to find out before you say yesWhy the small-repair market needs extra screeningThe first five: about the repair itselfThe next five: about the job, the house and the paperwork
- Patch it yourself or call a pro: where a DIY drywall repair stops working Nail holes and small dents are fair game for a weekend. Textured walls, ceilings, water and anything larger than your hand are where homemade patches start to show. Here is how to tell which side of the line you are on. Yes for small and smooth, no for textured, wet or overheadRepairs most homeowners do wellWhere DIY patches usually go wrongStop and call someone if any of these are true
- From photos to fresh paint: how long a drywall repair takes and what repair day looks like A small drywall repair usually takes a few hours; a larger one can take a few days because each coat has to dry. Here is the full timeline, what happens on repair day and how to get your home ready. How long it really takesStage one: the quote, usually from your photosBefore we book: the cause has to be fixedHow to get the room ready
- Cracked plaster in an older house: repair what is there or tear it out for drywall Most plaster walls with cracks and a few loose spots can be repaired for far less disruption than a tear-out. Here is how to tell which kind of wall you have, and when replacement really is the better call. In most cases, repair the plasterWhat makes plaster different from drywallReading the condition of your wallsWhen repair is the right call
- A leak soaked the wall: how to tell if the drywall can stay or has to come out Some wet drywall can be dried, sealed and repainted. Some has to be cut out no matter how good it looks. Here is how to tell the difference, and what to do in what order. Short answer: firmness, shape and timeWhy drywall does not bounce back from waterThe touch test and five other checksWhen the drywall can usually stay
- Holes, cracks and brown stains on drywall: what they mean and how a repair disappears Doorknob holes, hairline ceiling cracks and the brown ring left by a leak all get fixed the same way in the end: with a patch nobody can find later. Here is how to read the damage and what a proper repair involves. The three kinds of damage I get called aboutWhy North Texas homes crack more than you would expectWhat to check before you call anyoneWhen a weekend patch kit is fine, and when it is not