Will I be able to see the patch?

Not once it is painted, if it is done in thin coats and sanded properly. Textured walls take a little more work to blend, and the handyman will match the texture as closely as the wall allows.

How long does a drywall patch take?

The work itself is short, but compound needs time to dry between coats. A small patch may be finished in one visit with quick-setting compound; a larger one may need a second visit for the final coat and paint.

Can you fix water-damaged drywall?

Once the source of the water is fixed and the wall is dry, yes: the damaged section is cut out and replaced. If the leak is from plumbing or the roof, that part is for a licensed plumber or roofer first.

Drywall holes, cracks and dents, patched

A hole in drywall is one of the most common handyman jobs there is. Done properly it is patched, taped, built up in thin coats and sanded so it disappears under paint.

Call now · (888) 471-8212

Phones answered around the clock · free estimate

Got more than one job? Build your list with the free honey-do list builder and send it with one request.

What people call about

A doorknob that went through the wall because the door stop was missing.
Holes left by old TV mounts, shelves, curtain rods and wall anchors.
Hairline cracks at the corners of doors and windows, or along a seam.
Nail pops: small round bumps where a fastener has worked loose.
Dents and gouges from furniture, moves and kids.

Before the handyman arrives

Do not cut into a wall near an outlet, a switch or where pipes may run. If the damage is next to one, leave it for the handyman.
If a crack is wide, keeps growing, or the door beside it has started sticking, mention it. That can be the house moving, and it is worth a proper look.
Water stains or soft, crumbling drywall mean there has been a leak. The leak gets fixed first; patching over it only hides it.

What the handyman does

The damage cut back to sound drywall, with a mesh patch, a backed patch or a new piece depending on the size.
Joint tape and compound in thin coats, each one left to dry.
Sanded flat and feathered out so the edge does not show.
Texture matched where the wall has orange-peel or knockdown texture.
Primed and ready for paint, or painted if you book the painting too.

South Florida and beyond

In Florida many interior walls are drywall over furring strips on concrete block, and humidity slows drying, so each coat of compound needs longer before it is sanded. In older homes across the country you may find plaster rather than drywall, which is repaired differently; the handyman will tell you which you have.

Free tools for this

Drywall patch materialsWhat do I need to patch this hole in the wall?Open →

Questions people ask

Will I be able to see the patch?: Not once it is painted, if it is done in thin coats and sanded properly. Textured walls take a little more work to blend, and the handyman will match the texture as closely as the wall allows.
How long does a drywall patch take?: The work itself is short, but compound needs time to dry between coats. A small patch may be finished in one visit with quick-setting compound; a larger one may need a second visit for the final coat and paint.
Can you fix water-damaged drywall?: Once the source of the water is fixed and the wall is dry, yes: the damaged section is cut out and replaced. If the leak is from plumbing or the roof, that part is for a licensed plumber or roofer first.

Get a handyman out

Free estimate. The price is agreed before the work starts.

Find your city

Florida: Miami

Other handyman jobs

One Call Handyman Repairs arranges the visit; the handyman does the work and gives you the price.