A doorknob hole, a plumber's access cut, a crack over a door, a ceiling stain from an AC leak or a wall opened after water damage: this is the small work most contractors skip. J. Perry & Sons handles drywall repair in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade as part of our drywall services, from a single patch to whole rooms of new board. Homeowners will find the bigger-picture options on residential drywall, and property managers on commercial drywall and ceilings.
Drywall repair cost: $175–$350 per patch, $650 minimum visit
| Scope | Unit | Installed range |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum service visit, covers several small patches in one trip | per visit | $650 |
| Drywall patch, nail-hole cluster to roughly 2 ft square, taped, finished, textured | each | $175–$350 |
| Hang, tape and finish new board to Level 4 (flood cuts, remodels) | per sq ft of board | $4.50–$7 |
| Level 5 finish for gloss paint, dark colors or raking light | per sq ft of board | $6.50–$10 |
| Skim coat to flatten a damaged or uneven ceiling | per sq ft | $4.50–$8 |
About these prices. These ranges are starting points based on typical South Florida projects. Your final price depends on the condition of the property, access, the materials or system specified and the full scope of work. We confirm every number after we review your project in person or from the drawings, and the price in your signed proposal is the one that applies.
Flood cuts, mold-resistant board and anything above 10 ft are scoped after a site visit. Larger repairs are priced by the square foot of new board rather than per patch. Sheetrock is a brand of drywall, so sheetrock repair is priced the same way, and so is wallboard repair, an older name for the same thing. Paint is quoted separately.
What we repair
Holes and dents. Anchors pulled out, doorknob holes and furniture dings. Hole in the wall repair is the most common call we get. Small ones get a backed patch; anything larger gets a new piece screwed to blocking or studs.
Cracks. A crack at a door or window corner, or along a ceiling seam, usually means failed tape or framing movement. We cut out the loose tape, re-tape and float wide so it doesn't come back in a month.
Access cuts. Plumbers and electricians leave square holes. We frame the edges, set new board and finish flush.
Water damage and flood cuts. Water damaged drywall rarely dries back to full strength. After a leak from above, AC overflow, burst pipe or storm water, wet board loses strength and can grow mold. The standard fix is a flood cut: we cut the wall level a few feet above the water line, remove wet board and insulation, let the cavity dry and get checked, then hang and finish new board. If your situation calls for mold remediation, a licensed remediator handles it, not us.
Ceiling repairs. Sagging board from a leak, a line of nail pops (screws or nails pushing through the surface), stained sections. Ceiling repair takes 5/8-inch board and extra fasteners so the new piece doesn't sag. We replace or re-fasten and then skim.
Snap a few photos of the damage, note the rough size and send them through our project form. We'll send you a free range the same day.
Ceiling water damage repair after a leak
Is there a brown ring on your ceiling, or a spot that sags when you press it? Ceiling leak repair happens in two steps, and the order matters. First, the leak source gets fixed by the right trade: a plumber for a pipe, an AC technician for a clogged condensate line, a roofer for the roof. We do not do roofing. Once the source is stopped, we take it from there.
For the ceiling water damage repair itself, we read moisture with a meter to find how far the water spread, because the stain is usually smaller than the wet area. Board that sagged or stayed wet is cut out to sound material, wet insulation is pulled, and the space is left to dry. New 5/8-inch board goes up with extra fasteners, then tape, three coats and the texture matched to the rest of the ceiling. A stain on board that stayed firm and dried out gets a stain-blocking primer instead of replacement.
The same steps apply to sheetrock wall repair under a leaking window once the window is sealed.
Got a stain overhead and the leak already fixed? Send a photo through our project form and we'll tell you whether it needs new board or just primer and paint.
Texture matching: orange peel, knockdown and smooth
Worried the patch will show? On a textured wall, it will if it's finished smooth. Most South Florida walls are orange peel or knockdown, and ceilings are often knockdown or sprayed. We match with a hopper gun or hand tools, test on a scrap first and feather the edge into your existing surface. Sheen matters too: flat paint hides a patch, while eggshell and satin show it, so we recommend repainting the whole wall corner to corner rather than spot-priming a square. Smooth walls need a wider skim and a light check before paint. The guide to matching orange peel and knockdown covers the technique.
Not sure what texture you have? Call (561) 556-7509, describe the wall or send a close-up through our project form, and we'll tell you how we'd match it.
How a repair visit goes
- Look and measure. Where water is involved, we read moisture with a meter and find the source before closing anything.
- Cut back to sound board. Edges squared, backing added where needed.
- Hang and fasten. New board screwed to studs or blocking with seams staggered.
- Tape and coat. Three coats of compound, each feathered wider.
- Texture match. Sprayed or hand-applied to the surrounding wall.
- Prime and paint when painting is in the scope.
Why drywall fails in South Florida
Did a brown ring show up on your ceiling right after a hot week? Humidity and condensate are behind many of the stains we see, usually a clogged AC drain line or a sweating duct. Storm-season leaks at windows show up as bubbled paint and soft board under the sill. In multi-story buildings, water often comes from the unit above. Whatever the source, it gets fixed first or the new board fails again. For exterior joints around windows and doors, our waterproofing and sealants work handles the seal. If a repair needs a permit, we pull it; details are on permits and compliance. For insurance claims, the written estimate itemizes each patch and each square foot of board so your adjuster can compare line items.
Dealing with a leak and an insurance claim? Call (561) 556-7509 and we'll come read moisture and write up an itemized scope for your adjuster.
What a drywall repair estimate includes
- Number and size of patches, or square footage of new board
- Moisture readings and the water source, if any
- Finish level and the texture to match
- Primer and paint, if included
- Debris removal and cleanup
- Workmanship warranty on every job; materials carry the manufacturer's warranty. Terms are in your written contract.
Related drywall services
- Popcorn ceiling removal: scrape and skim to a smooth ceiling.
- Level 5 drywall finish: for walls that need to look flawless in raking light.
- Plaster repair: original plaster in older homes.
- Curved walls, arches and ceilings: repairs to shaped work.
Drywall repair by city
Drywall in Fort Lauderdale · Drywall in Boca Raton · Drywall in Pompano Beach · Drywall in West Palm Beach · Drywall in Hollywood · Drywall in Miami · Drywall in Delray Beach
Planning guides: Drywall repair cost in South Florida · Flood cuts after water damage · Drywall Level 5 finish explained
The materials behind a patch that disappears
Ever seen a repair show through months later? A patch only blends if its materials match the wall around it:
- Board. We cut back to sound gypsum and fit a piece of the same thickness, usually half-inch on walls and five-eighths on ceilings. In bathrooms and laundry rooms we use mold-resistant board.
- Backing. Wood or metal backers go behind the cut so the new piece is screwed, not floating on compound.
- Tape. Paper tape on flat seams for strength, mesh tape only where a setting compound covers it.
- First coat. Setting compound such as Easy Sand, which hardens by chemistry instead of drying, so it doesn't shrink in a humid house.
- Finish coats. Lightweight all-purpose compound, feathered wide past the patch so no hump shows under side light.
- Texture and primer. Orange peel or knockdown is sprayed to match, and the patch is primed before paint so it doesn't flash (show as a dull or shiny spot).
Skipping a step is what makes a repair show through. Each one is listed on your written estimate.
Prefer to send photos or plans? Send us your project
Drywall repair FAQ
How much does drywall repair cost? Patches are $175–$350 each. A $650 minimum visit usually covers several small patches in one trip, and larger areas are priced by the square foot of new board at $4.50–$7 for Level 4. Final pricing is confirmed after we review your project.
Why is there a minimum visit? Each visit carries the same setup: protection, mixing, three coats with dry time between them, texture and cleanup. The minimum covers that so a small job is still done properly.
Can you match my wall texture? Yes. We match orange peel, knockdown and smooth, test on a scrap before touching your wall and recommend repainting the full wall for the cleanest result.
What is a flood cut and when do I need one? After water reaches drywall, the board is cut level above the wet line, wet material is removed, the cavity dries, and new board is hung and finished. It is the standard repair after flooding or a major leak.
Can you fix my ceiling leak too? We repair the ceiling, not the source. The leak is fixed first by the right trade, a plumber, an AC technician or a roofer, since we do not do roofs. Then we replace the damaged board, match the texture and leave the ceiling ready for paint.
How do I get an exact price? Send photos of each damaged spot through our project form, or call and describe it. For water damage we come out, read moisture and send a written scope that separates the patches from the board that has to be replaced.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699. Serving Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.