A drywall repair is judged by whether you can find it afterward. Filling the hole is the easy part. The skill is in feathering joint compound wide enough that there is no ridge, and in matching the wall's texture — most Sacramento homes have a sprayed orange-peel or knockdown finish, not smooth walls. A patch on a textured wall that is left flat shows from across the room.

  • Small holes from anchors, doorknobs and nail pops
  • Larger holes cut out and patched with new drywall
  • Stress cracks at corners, doors and ceiling joints
  • Water-damaged sections replaced after the leak is fixed
  • Texture matched and the area primed for paint

How repairs are done by size

Small dents and screw holes are filled with compound and sanded. Holes up to a few inches get a mesh or metal patch, or a plug cut from scrap drywall. Anything larger is cut back to a clean rectangle, backed with wood or framing, and filled with a new piece that is taped, coated two or three times and sanded. Each coat has to dry, which is why a proper repair often takes two visits or a long day with fast-setting compound.

Cracks that keep coming back

A hairline crack that returns after patching is usually movement, not a bad patch. Houses flex with seasonal moisture, and Sacramento's wet winters and dry summers expand and contract the framing. Recurring cracks at the corners of doors and windows need to be opened, taped with paper or mesh tape and re-coated; compound alone will crack again. Cracks that are wide, growing or accompanied by sticking doors and sloping floors deserve a look by a foundation specialist.

Water damage and older walls

Drywall that has been wet should be replaced if it is soft, swollen or stained through, and only after the source of the water has been repaired and the cavity has dried. In homes built before about 1980, have textured ceilings and old joint compound tested for asbestos before any sanding or demolition.

Common drywall repair situations in Sacramento

  • A doorknob-sized hole behind a door
  • Holes left by a removed TV mount or shelving
  • A ceiling stain and sagging drywall after a leak
  • Cracks radiating from the corners of doors and windows
  • Nail pops showing through paint

Keep in mind: Putting new drywall over old is sometimes done on ceilings, but it does not solve the cause of damage underneath. Wet, moldy or crumbling drywall should come out.

Drywall Repair FAQs

How much does drywall repair cost?

It is usually priced by the hour or by the patch. At HomeAdvisor's handyman rates of $60 to $125 an hour, a single small patch often costs the minimum service charge, while a large hole or a water-damaged section needing several coats and texture matching takes several hours. Painting the repaired wall is typically a separate line.

Is there a difference between drywall and Sheetrock?

No practical one. Sheetrock is a brand name for drywall, the gypsum panel used for interior walls and ceilings. Plasterboard and wallboard mean the same thing.

Can I repair drywall myself?

Small holes, yes, with a patch kit, compound and patience. Larger repairs and anything on a textured wall are harder than they look; the result usually shows unless the compound is feathered wide and the texture is matched.

This content is reviewed by the Sacramento CA Handyman editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Handyman. Read our editorial standards.