NYC Drywall & Plaster Repair

What We Handle

Wall repair for both modern drywall and pre-war plaster:

• Small holes — nail holes, anchor holes, doorknob dents
• Medium holes — fist-sized, baseball-sized, picture mounts
• Large holes — door-knob blowthroughs, accidents, removed fixtures
• Cracks — settling cracks, corner cracks, ceiling cracks
• Water damage — soft drywall, stained ceilings, swollen panels
• Pre-war plaster cracks — proper backing and skim-coat repair
• Texture matching — orange peel, knockdown, smooth finish
• Outlet & switch holes — when moved or removed

How We Fix Each Type

Small Holes (under 1")

Spackle + sand + prime. Most under 15 minutes per hole. Invisible result.

Medium Holes (1" to 6")

Cut a clean square, add wood backing, install drywall patch, tape, mud (3 coats), sand, prime, paint. 1-2 hours including dry time between coats.

Large Holes (over 6")

Cut out damaged section to stud or joist, install new drywall, tape and mud, multiple coats, sanded smooth. 2-4 hours of work spread over 2-3 visits (drying time).

Pre-War Plaster

Pre-war NYC plaster cracks need different treatment than drywall — applying drywall mud directly to plaster fails. We use plaster-grade joint compound and proper bonding agent so the repair lasts.

Water Damage

First: confirm the leak is fixed (often plumbing work needed first). Then cut out the soft material, treat for mold if needed, replace, blend, and seal.

Transparent Pricing

> Small patches start at $69. Most homes have multiple small holes — we batch them together for one visit. A typical "move-out patch and paint" job for a 1BR apartment runs $179-$349.

Big repairs (large holes, water damage, ceiling work) get a flat-rate quote based on what's actually needed.

What's Included

• Wall prep — protecting floor with drop cloths
• All materials — drywall, mud, tape, primer, paint
• Sanding done carefully to minimize dust
• Final inspection in raking light to catch any imperfections
• Paint touch-up (if you have leftover paint)
• Full repaint (if needed, quoted separately)

Why HandyAce for Drywall

• ✅ Invisible repairs — feathered edges, sanded smooth, primed properly
• ✅ Texture matching — orange peel and knockdown patterns
• ✅ Dust control — sanding kits, plastic barriers
• ✅ Pre-war plaster experience — the right materials for old buildings
• ✅ Clean work area — no dust on your furniture after we leave

Common NYC Drywall Situations

Moving Out

The biggest reason for drywall work in NYC. Landlords charge $50-200 per nail hole if you leave them. We patch + paint for less than they'll deduct.

Hung Heavy Object Without Anchor

Drywall is fragile. Toggle bolt pulled through? We repair the hole and install proper anchors so the next thing you hang stays.

Cracks from Building Settling

Common in pre-war NYC. We use a flexible joint compound so cracks don't return after the next temperature swing.

Ceiling Stain from Upstairs Neighbor's Leak

We cut out stained area, treat any mold, replace drywall, blend texture, prime with stain-blocking primer, paint to match.

Areas We Serve

Drywall and plaster repair across all 5 NYC boroughs:

• Brooklyn — pre-war, brownstones, modern condos
• Manhattan — co-ops, lofts, rentals
• Queens — Astoria, LIC, Forest Hills
• Bronx — Riverdale, Fordham
• Staten Island — all areas

When NOT to DIY

Spackle and a putty knife works for nail holes. For anything larger, DIY usually looks worse than the original damage. Common DIY mistakes:

• ❌ Too much spackle (lumpy when dry)
• ❌ Not enough sanding (visible bump)
• ❌ No primer (paint flashes a different sheen)
• ❌ Wrong material on plaster (popping back out)

Call us for anything bigger than a thumbnail.