How much does it cost to repair drywall?

Drywall ¹ is a great way to finish your walls, less expensive and easier to install than plaster ², many homes these days have drywall ¹ installed throughout them. Unfortunately, drywall ¹ is not an extremely durable material, and it may require repair from time to time. It's easily damaged by water due to leaks, nail holes may get enlarged over time, lack of a door stop could cause damage from a doorknob, and the house settling naturally over time could lead to cracks.

Just as there are many ways to damage your drywall ¹, there are also a lot of factors that can influence the cost of repairing it. The accessibility of the damage, as well as the complexity of the walls (vaulted ³ ceilings are more difficult to reach, for example), the extent and type of damage.

The average cost of reparing drywall ¹ will cost between $200 and $280.

Drywall repair

There are many ways that drywall ¹ can be damaged, and many ways that it can be repaired. Generally, repairs fall into two categories, minor and more severe, which will impact how they are treated.

• Minor repairs are necessary for things like cracked joints ⁴, hairline cracks, or nail holes. These repairs are relatively simple and require only a few materials such as joint ⁴ tape and spackle ⁵. Minor repairs can generally be taken care of in 1 to 2 hours by a handyman at around $60 to $90 an hour.
• Major repairs are necessary for things such as water damage, larger holes, and failed seams ⁴ and corners, and will require more work. With water damage, large sections of drywall ¹ may need to be removed and replaced. One piece of sheetrock ¹ runs around $9-$14. In addition, you will need joint tape, screws, and spackle ⁵. Installation for drywall ¹ is $10-$15 per sheet, plus labor at around $30 a sheet, making a total of $50 to $60 for the removal and replacement of one sheet. With water damage, you may expect to see three to four sheets removed at a minimum for around $150 to $240.

The table below details the materials and associated costs needed to repair each of the specific types of damage.

Types of drywall

There are essentially two types of drywall ¹ that you'll find within the home. Lightweight sheetrock ¹ is available at around $8.98 for an 8 foot sheet . It's lighter weight makes it ideal for ceilings, but it can also be used on walls as well; there will be less waste using one product that will finish both the walls and ceilings.

Lightweight sheetrock ¹ has several other benefits as well. It has more flexibility so it is less prone to breakage and is sag resistant. Because it is not so heavy there is reduced risk of fatigue and injury during installation. In addition, lightweight sheetrock ¹:

• Is easier to cut
• Has reduced dust
• Has greater strength-to-weight ratio over traditional drywall ¹
• Comes in a variety of lengths: 8, 9, 10, 12 feet

In most homes, you'll likely find the traditional, all-purpose drywall ¹. This is one of the most common building materials used, costing $10.96 for an 8 foot sheet. It also has several benefits, including:

• Appearance: much better than the old lath and plaster ²
• Energy efficient
• Fire resistant
• Cost efficient
• Easy to repair

Labor

A handyman will charge $60-$90 per hour to repair minor damage such as cracks, nail holes and such. This would include installation of a small piece of sheetrock ¹ if necessary and the finishing.

Drywall ¹ contractor prices range from $0.40-$0.80 per sq.ft., with an average of $30 per sheet. Depending on your region either price model could be used. This labor includes hanging the sheetrock ¹ and finishing. For example, installing, finishing and painting 3 sheets of drywall ¹ would average $90 plus materials.

Enhancement and improvement costs

• Adhesive patches made of aluminum screen are available to patch walls and ceilings. The patch eliminates the need for pre-plastering and should make the patch job much easier. It gives you a strong, durable repair. The patches typically come in a 6'x6' size and cost $38.
• Once your repair is complete you will want to paint it to match the surrounding area. It is the best idea to prime the area first to give it a good base coat and  help the paint adhere better. The price of primer ⁶ ranges from $15-$42 per gallon and the price of paint ranges from $10-$69 per gallon. Typical labor costs for painting are $20-$35 per hour.

Additional considerations and costs

• Difficult areas including archways, vaulted ceilings, tray ceilings, or any area that is not a standard flat installation will require equipment such as scaffolding ⁷ to reach the area. For these complex areas contractors are going to charge about ⅓ more than a typical straightforward job, which would be around $0.53-$1.06 per sq.ft

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Drywall: (Also known as Sheetrock) Type of plasterboard, commonly used to build walls and ceilings, composed of gypsum that is layered between sheets of heavy paper

² Plaster: A paste composed of sand, water, and either lime, gypsum, or cement, which forms a smooth hard surface on walls, ceilings, and other structures upon drying

⁵ Spackle: A paste, composed of gypsum plaster, glue, and water, used to repair holes and cracks in plaster before painting or wallpapering

⁶ Primer: Preparatory coat applied to materials (drywall, wood, metal, etc.) before painting to ensure paint adhesion, extend paint durability, and help seal and protect the surface to be painted

⁷ Scaffolding: A temporary structure used during construction/maintenance/painting projects to raise and support workers (or one worker), required materials, and equipment