This article discusses the difference between drywall installation and drywall repair, and why as a homeowner, it is important to select the correct trade type. Just because someone is good at repairing drywall, doesn.t mean that person is good at hanging and finishing drywall. The three primary trades are:
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Drywall hangers / installers
Hang boards, cut around openings, fasten to wood/metal framing, install corner bead.
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Drywall finishers / tapers
Tape joints, embed paper/fiber tape, apply multiple coats of compound, sand, skim, and create a paint‑ready surface (or texture).
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Drywall repair specialists
Focuses on patches, repairs, crack repair, textures, matching existing finishes in occupied homes.
Drywall installation involves hanging new sheets of drywall in unfinished spaces, like new construction, basements or additions. Drywall repair, on the other hand, restores pre-existing walls or ceilings that have been damaged.
The act of repairing drywall, or sheetrock- its a brand name of drywall made by USG, is when you have incurred damage to an existing wall or ceiling surface which requires repair to restore it. Our
drywall repair services includes priming and
painting as one service. We like to prime all of our repair work as it shows us our imperfections. It also leaves the client with a ready to decorate surface, with out having to do anything special.
Types of Drywall Damage
Examples of drywall damage includes, but is not limited to, holes, cracks, water damage, torn paper, dings, loose drywall tape, damaged corners, pealing paint, someone stepping through or falling through a ceiling from the attic, or the dog chewing on the wall.
Side note: We actually did a job about 10 years ago where the family dog chewed holes in the walls!
Below are examples of drywall repair:
Drywall Repair
A plumber cuts holes in your walls and ceilings is drywall repair. When you hire a company to repair damage to your walls and ceilings, dust containment, debris management, and clean up is a big part of the job. Understanding how air pressure in a house works goes a long way in containing the dust and dirt when it comes to this type of a repair. The more the air moves, the more the dust spreads.
How light affects the space, is a big part of repairing walls and ceilings. We often will create raking light or sometimes called critical light, in order to highlight existing and new defects in the surface. This is something drywall installers don’t really have to contend with.
Many who offer repairs, do not paint. And many who paint, do not repair. At Carrigan Painting, we do both, as one seamless service. We have always done the repair and the painting. This allows us to see our repairs after they’re painted, and has allowed us to refine our technique for better results.
What is Drywall Installation?
New ceilings. Gutted rooms requiring all new drywall to be installed. New construction. New ceilings. Or installing new drywall over the top of existing walls or ceilings.
If you gutted your living room and are down to studs all the way around or the majority of the room is gutted, that is not a drywall repair job.
In such cases you need someone who installs new drywall.
To install drywall, it is a different skillset than repairing drywall. Those who routinely install new drywall are more efficient and often times produce a better finished product in less time and less money than those who repair drywall. The opposite is also true, those who install drywall, are often not very skilled at repairing drywall.
Drywall installers also work in new construction, where there are not finished floors, trim, doors. They’re often working on plywood sub floors or concrete. There is usually no personal items like carpeting, furniture and other belongings to contend with in new construction. They often require the use of scaffolding and other equipment that is rarely seen in occupied homes. In new construction, dust and dirt is part of the way it is. That is not to say they’re dirty, but clean is a relative term.
We painted this new build, we did not hang/finish the drywall.
If your going to pay someone to install new drywall you want someone who does it all the time. The difference in the finished product is often noticeable.
At Carrigan Painting we
repair drywall and on a case by case basis-
install new ceilings. We do not finish drywall that has been hung by others. However if your looking for a
professional painting contractor to paint after the new drywall is hung and finished, we would be happy to give you a quote. If your going to paint yourself, do not forget to prime with PVA Drywall Primer first. Its specially formulated to prime new drywall and is dirt cheap! Do not skip this step! Once primed, paint with whatever you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Drywall installation is one example of a home maintenance and repair project that should always be completed by a professional? True or False
False.
Installing drywall is rather straight forward, a bunch of measuring, some cutting, and working with large heavy flat sheets that weigh about 40lbs. If you are in decent physical shape, with the diy spark, it can be done. Take your time. Finishing, can only hide so much, but also creates a lot more work. Remember to use green board in any area that will routinely see moisture.
It should be noted that drywall follows the contours of the framing. If your walls or ceilings are wavy or have bulges in them not caused by water infiltration, chances are its a framing issue and not a drywall issue.
Do painters repair drywall?
Some do, some don’t. We specialize in drywall repair and we are professional house painters. Most painters can manage small repairs, holes and cracks, but when it comes to large holes, water damage, or plaster, its better to call those who specialize in it. Because we repair drywall almost weekly, we have become very good at it. I have
documented such projects extensively over the last 2.5 years.
Do drywall repair services include painting or finishing?
Not always. Often times those who repair drywall, do not offer painting. At Carrigan Painting, our drywall repairs include priming and painting. At a minimum we prime all of our repairs, because it shows us the imperfections in our work which will become visible once its painted. Also, this allows us to leave the client with a surface they can later decorate however they wish, with out worry of our repair causing a problem.
Which drywall repair services handle large holes versus small patches?
We handle big drywall repairs, that are often too big for other painting companies and handymen. We also prime all of our repairs, and offer professional painting of the space after the repairs are completed as a turn-key service offering to those in the Western New York region.
