Drywall Repair vs Replacement: How to Know What Your Walls Need

Nail and screw holes and small dents are filled with joint compound, sanded and painted. Nail pops are reset with a screw first, otherwise they come back.

Holes up to a few inches, like a doorknob hole, are usually fixed with a patch and several coats of compound feathered out wide so the repair disappears under paint.

Larger damage is cut back to the nearest studs and a new piece of drywall is screwed in, taped and finished. Done well, it is invisible once painted.

Hairline cracks at corners of doors and windows are common as houses move with the seasons. If cracks keep returning, the joint may need new tape and mesh. Wide or growing cracks, or doors that start sticking at the same time, can point to structural movement and should be looked at.

Drywall that has been soaked often stays soft, crumbles and can grow mold. After the leak is fixed and the area is dry, the damaged section should be cut out and replaced. Painting over a water stain without fixing the cause only brings the stain back.

A ceiling that sags between joists has lost its hold on the fasteners or has been wet. That needs re-securing or replacement, not paint.

Drywall repair and painting usually go together, so it makes sense to have the same crew do both. PG Solutions repairs and installs drywall around Springfield, Worcester and Milford and can paint the room when the patch is done. Send us a photo for a free estimate.