BuildRight
CONTRACTING
(212) 555-0188

Drywall Repair
Fixed So It Stops Coming Back.

Cracks, holes, water damage and failed joints cut back to sound material, repaired properly and finished so the patch does not reappear through the paint.
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  • Cause Diagnosed First
  • Cut Back to Sound Board
  • Feathered, Invisible Finish
  • Small Jobs Welcome

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Tell us what you need repaired, renovated, improved, or built, and we’ll help you determine the right next step for your project..
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Repairs That Do Not Reappear

A crack that has been filled three times is not a filling problem. Something is moving, or something is wet, and until that is dealt with the repair will keep opening no matter how good the finish is on the day.
We look at why the damage happened before we repair it. Then we cut back to sound board, deal with any framing or moisture issue behind it, patch with matching material and feather the finish out far enough that the repair is invisible under normal light.
  • Movement and Damp Investigated
  • Damaged Board Removed, Not Filled Over
  • Patches Backed and Supported
  • Finish Feathered Well Beyond the Repair
Internal wall opened up during building work ready for patching and making good

Cracks &
Failed Joints

Holes &
Impact Damage

Water Damaged
Ceilings

Nail Pops &
Surface Defects

12+
Years Experience
350+
Projects Completed
98%
Client Satisfaction
100%
Quality Workmanship

Related Services

Room boarded out in plasterboard ready for taping and finishing

Drywall Installation

New walls, ceilings and partitions boarded, taped and finished to a flat, paint-ready surface.
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General Repairs

Smaller repair and maintenance work around the property, handled properly rather than patched.
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Waterproofing

Damp, leaks and moisture ingress traced and treated at the cause rather than the symptom.
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Interior Structural Repairs

Joists, lintels and internal structure repaired where movement has caused damage.
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Find the Cause.
Then Fix the Wall.

Filling a crack without asking why it is there is decorating, not repair. We would rather do the second one.
More About Us

Cause Diagnosed

We establish whether the damage is movement, moisture or impact before choosing a repair.

Cut Back Properly

Damaged board is removed to a sound edge on a support, not filled over and hoped for.

Patches Supported

New board is backed and fixed to something solid so the patch cannot flex or drop.

Matched Surface

Texture and level are matched to the surrounding wall so the repair does not show up in the paint.

Feathered Wide

Joints are built up and feathered well past the repair, which is what makes it disappear.

Clean and Contained

Furniture protected, area sealed, dust extracted and the room left usable.

Diagnosis to Invisible Repair.

Five stages that separate a proper repair from a cosmetic one.
1

Inspect & Diagnose

We establish what caused the damage and whether it is still active.

2

Fix the Cause

Leaks, loose framing or movement dealt with before any board goes back.

3

Cut Back & Support

Damaged material removed to a sound edge and backing fixed behind the opening.

4

Patch & Tape

Matching board fitted, joints taped and built up over successive coats.

5

Sand & Blend

Feathered, sanded, texture matched and checked under raking light.

Internal wall opened up during building work ready for patching and making good
Cut back to something solid

A patch is only as good as what it is fixed to.

Why the Same Crack Keeps Coming Back

Most people who call us about drywall have filled the same spot before, sometimes more than once. The filler was not the problem. A repair only lasts if whatever caused the damage has stopped, and if the new material is fixed to something that is not moving.

Working out what caused it

Cracks tell you something by their shape and position. Fine hairline cracks along a joint line usually mean a taping failure or seasonal movement. Diagonal cracks running from the corner of a door or window suggest structural movement. Staining with a soft or bulging surface means water, and water means finding the source before anything else happens.
Nail pops, where fixings push a small circle of filler out of the surface, generally mean timber that has dried and shrunk since it was fixed. That is straightforward to correct properly and almost impossible to correct by filling the pop alone.

Water damage and why it needs patience

Board that has been wet has lost strength even after it looks dry, and the paper facing will often have separated from the core. Repairing a wet ceiling before the leak is fixed and the structure has dried out simply hides the problem while it continues.
We find and stop the source, allow the area to dry properly, check the timber behind for rot, then cut out and replace the affected board. Painting over a dried stain without replacing failed board is a short-term measure and we will say so.

Making a patch that does not show

The visible edge of a bad repair is almost always the result of building filler up too thick and too narrow. A patch stands slightly proud, the light catches the ridge, and the eye finds it immediately even under paint.
A good repair is built up in thin coats and feathered a long way out, often two or three times wider than the damage itself. It takes more visits and more drying time, and it is the reason a properly repaired wall reads as a wall rather than as a patch.

Matching what is already there

Older walls are rarely flat and often textured. A perfectly flat modern patch in the middle of a slightly undulating old wall can look as wrong as a bad one, because it does not match its surroundings.
We match level and texture to the wall we are repairing rather than to an ideal, blending the repair into what exists. On textured or artexed surfaces we will tell you honestly when a full skim across the whole area will look better than any patch could.

How we price repair work

Small repairs are usually quoted from photographs and a short phone call, and often several can be done in one visit for less than the sum of separate call-outs. It is worth listing everything you want looked at rather than calling about one crack.
Where we suspect an underlying cause such as a leak or structural movement, we say so before starting and quote the investigation separately. We would rather lose a small repair job than take money for a fix we know will fail.

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions we are asked most often about cracks, holes and water-damaged walls.

Why does the same crack keep coming back?

Because the cause is still active. Seasonal movement, a loose or shrinking timber behind the board, or ongoing moisture will all reopen a filled crack. We diagnose the cause first and deal with it, otherwise you are simply buying the same repair repeatedly.
Yes, but the leak has to be found and stopped first and the area allowed to dry. Wet board loses strength even after it looks dry, so the affected section is cut out and replaced rather than painted over. We also check the timber behind for rot while it is open.
Not under normal lighting if it is done properly. The trick is feathering the finish well beyond the damage rather than building filler up thick and narrow, and matching the texture of the surrounding wall. We check the result under raking light before we leave.
Yes. Small repairs are a normal part of what we do. If you have several around the house it is usually far more economical to have them all looked at in one visit, so make a list rather than calling about one.
Nail pops, caused by timber shrinking behind the board and pushing the fixing forward. Filling the surface alone will not hold. The fixing needs refastening into sound timber before the surface is made good.
We can patch and match texture in many cases. Where the existing surface is heavily patterned or in poor condition, a full skim across the whole ceiling often looks considerably better than any patch, and we will tell you when that is the case.
Yes. Small repairs can often be quoted from clear photographs. Anything larger, or where we suspect an underlying cause, we look at in person at no cost.
Bright white kitchen with large island and stainless appliances

Still Have Questions? Let’s Talk.

Speak to the person who will actually do the repair, not a call centre. We’ll talk it through and give you a straight answer.

Call Us
(212) 555-0188
Email Us
[email protected]
Office
123 Construction Way,
New York, NY 10001
Request a Quote

Request a Free Estimate

Tell us what you need repaired, renovated, improved, or built, and we’ll help you determine the right next step for your project..
  • Your information is secure and never shared.
(212) 555-0188