Drywall Repair — Everyone needs it, eventually!
I wrote in a previous blog post about sticking doors, “...If you have doors that are acting up, it's also likely that you may notice some cracks in your walls, be it hardly noticeable or quite noticeable - they are also signs that your house is moving. The root cause usually isn't a sagging door, but a moving house!”
Cracked drywall isn't typically a major issue, but if you have major cracks in your home it probably belies other major issues impacting the structure of your home that need addressed before any drywall repair is done. Minor cracks, however, are very normal and shouldn't be a cause of concern since all structures move in response to moisture, erosion, frost and any amount of other natural factors. Newer homes also very commonly present some level of cracks as the materials and foundation settle in the first few years after construction.
Another common cause for drywall damage is water ingress, typically caused by a leaking roof, leaking pipes or water spilling over a fixture (sink, shower, tub, etc). In rare situations, I've seen water damage caused by water seeping into the exterior walls from unsealed windows and doors. Whatever the cause of the water damage, that issue would always need to be addressed before any drywall repair is done.
Drywall repair isn't often a difficult task and a capable do-it-yourselfer can likely accomplish many repairs themselves, however, there are considerations an inexperienced DIYer should take into account. Firstly, drywall sheets are nicknamed “sheet rock” not only as a product name but because they are essentially just that and thusly are heavy, and so ceiling repairs can be challenging if you need to install large sheets up high often necessitating the need of a drywall lift. Secondly, matching existing texturing on a ceiling or wall is a bit of an art form and takes some studying and experience. Thirdly, it takes some experience to become astute at cutting drywall, applying tape, and understanding drywall compound ‘speeds’ and how to mix well, as well as how to apply it well to minimize the amount of sanding required. Fourth, it is messy by nature and so put down plastic and cover any nearby furniture when doing repairs!
The last thing to consider when doing drywall repairs is paint - it's easy to forget that a repair will need to match the color of the rest of the surface being repaired and that isn't always possible since most homeowners don't keep spare paint around or the room was painted 20 years ago and any spare paint that was stored away is long since dried out inside the can. Sometimes, a paint that matches “well enough” can be used but other times a homeowner will choose to repaint an entire surface (wall, ceiling, room) instead of trying to paint-match a repair.
As owner of Tuxedo Home Maintenance, my interest is to help you take care of your drywall repairs but if you are a capable and adventurous DIYer, I would encourage you to try it yourself since it's a good skill to learn, and you'll likely use the experience again in the future! If you aren't that person or don't have the time, reach out to us for a free estimate!
