Project size, materials, and labor are the main drivers of cost for drywall repair. Here is a deeper dive into what affects the cost of drywall repair.

Materials

The materials needed to complete a drywall repair affect the cost of services. According to 2 Man Crew, the average price of one 4 x 8 foot sheet of drywall is $15–$20, so the square foot measurement of your repair size will impact drywall costs. Drywall ceilings require double thickness on the drywall, which means twice as many sheets for ceiling repairs. Adequate plastic is also necessary to protect furniture when spraying texture, and on average, that costs about $40. Other common materials needed include seam tape, mud, backing, shims and other tools. Here are examples of total costs for materials on a small job:

• 2 Man Crew: $40–$60, including drywall, plastic, tape and other materials
• Rey Painting and Drywall: $75, including drywall, tape, plastic, screws, joint compound, etc.

Time

Drywall repair pros consider how long a job will take when making an estimate. The more intricate the work and extensive the project, the higher the cost. Much of the time involved in drywall repair is spent prepping the site. If residents live in the home, everything (furniture, etc.) needs to be covered before walls and ceiling can be sprayed with a hopper gun to texturize. Your zip code and local labor costs will also impact the total cost of your overall project.

Company versus individual repair services

A drywall-specific company may charge higher rates than a handyman or individual contractor because the company has more business overhead to maintain.

Minimum service call

Some drywall repair pros have a minimum fee for services, while others may charge solely by the hour. Minimum service fees are often more prevalent in cities or other areas where arriving at a location involves crossing bridges, paying tolls and finding metered street parking—all of which take time and financial resources. For example, 2 Man Crew charges a minimum service fee of $150. In the San Francisco Bay Area, where the company is located, traffic, city navigation and parking are challenging.

Repair size

The larger the area to be repaired, the higher the overall cost. A larger area means more materials and more labor.

Drywall repair and texture ranges in price depending on how large your repair needs, labor costs, and drywall material costs. Nationally, the average cost ranges between $260-$450, but prices for small repairs hover between $125-$225. The size and type of drywall repair to be done directly affect the cost—based on the amount of labor and materials needed to do the work. Ceiling work is more expensive than wall work. Here are some examples of cost from Thumbtack Top Pros in Texas and California:

• Water damage. If you’ve had flooding or leaking, it’s important to replace wet drywall. Left unattended, it can lead to mold, health problems, and costly cleanup
• Patch job. Door knobs that broken the drywall, overzealous nail holes, or larger holes from accidents can all be easily fixed with drywall repair
• Roof leaks. Water damage on your ceiling due to a roof leak can be easily remedied with drywall repair. Just be sure to have the roof repaired if roof leaks are an ongoing issue
• Remove popcorn ceiling. Drywall repair pros can re-texture your ceiling to get rid of that outdated popcorn look
• Ceiling patch. Holes in the ceiling happen—either from repair work or due to accidents. A drywall contractor can repair or replace damaged ceiling drywall

When hiring a drywall contractor, do online research first to ensure they have a solid track record, that they are properly insured, and that they are experienced with your type of drywall repair needs. After you’ve identified qualified pros, be sure you understand pricing. Some pros may quote labor costs only, while others offer estimates that include labor costs and material costs. The pros at 2 Man Crew include the cost of materials in their quotes to make the total project cost as clear as possible for the customer. Always be clear on what is included in the price when communicating with a pro. Submit photos to get the most accurate quotes. 2 Man Crew has over- or under bid on jobs because the homeowners didn’t quite know how to explain the drywall damage. They encourage homeowners to provide as many details, because the more information they have the more accurate their cost estimate will be.