A doorknob hole, a crack over a door, a water stain on the ceiling: drywall damage is one of the most common home repairs. The patch itself is only part of the job; matching the texture and paint is what makes the repair disappear. On BidHandyman you post your drywall repair once, free, and verified local pros send you bids. Compare them, message the pros and hire the one you like, with no obligation.
Drywall damage and the usual fix
| Damage | The usual fix |
|---|---|
| Nail pops and small holes | Reset or replace the fastener, fill, sand and paint. |
| Doorknob-size holes | A patch with backing, then mud, sand, texture and paint. A door stop keeps it from happening again. |
| Larger holes | Cut out a clean square, add support behind it, fit a new piece, then tape, mud, texture and paint. |
| Cracks at seams and corners | Open the crack, re-tape and finish the joint; a crack only painted over usually comes back. |
| Water damage | Fix the leak first, cut out soft or stained drywall, let the area dry, then replace and finish. |
| Sagging ceiling | Re-fasten or replace the panels; find out first whether water or a loose fastener is the cause. |
For step-by-step detail, read the drywall repair guide.
Fix the cause first
- Water stains: a stain that grows or comes back means the leak is still active. Find and fix it before patching; see water damage restoration.
- Cracks over doors and windows: often normal settling, but long or widening cracks are worth showing to a pro.
- Doorknob holes: add a door stop or wall bumper so the patch does not get hit again.
- Damp or musty walls: moisture behind drywall should be found and dried out, not covered up.
Matching texture and paint
Most walls are smooth or have a texture such as orange peel or knockdown, and ceilings may have their own. A good patch copies the texture around it, then gets primer and paint. Paint from years ago rarely matches exactly, so pros often repaint the whole wall, corner to corner, for an even look. If you have leftover paint or the color name, say so in your post.
How to describe your drywall job
- Photos with scale: a close-up next to a coin or tape measure, and a wider shot of the wall.
- Where it is: wall or ceiling, which room, and the ceiling height.
- How big: the size of each hole or the length of each crack.
- Texture: smooth or textured; a close-up photo shows it best.
- Paint: whether the pro should paint after the patch, and if you have the paint.
- Water: if the damage came from a leak, and whether the leak is fixed.
What a good drywall bid lists
- Each area: the holes, cracks or panels covered.
- The method: patch, re-tape or replace.
- Texture matching: named, not just "included."
- Primer and paint: one spot, the whole wall or not included.
- Dust control and cleanup: covering floors and furniture, and the cleanup after sanding.
- Visits and drying time: mud needs time to dry, so many repairs take more than one visit.
- Warranty: how long the work is covered, in writing.
Painting the room after the repair? See painting bids. Got other small jobs too? Put them in the same post and see hire a handyman.
Get bids on your drywall repair
Add photos of each spot, say whether it should be painted and pick when you want it done. Only pros approved by BidHandyman can bid, you can ask questions by message, and there is no obligation to hire. Post your drywall repair for free.