ServicesWall Repair
Wall Repair in New Rochelle
Cracks over doorways, dents from furniture, nail pops and tape that has started to lift. We fix the damage on drywall and older plaster walls, match the texture and leave a surface ready for paint. Small problems stay small when you catch them early.
What wall repair covers
Most walls do not fail all at once. A hairline crack shows up above a door. A seam starts to ridge. A doorknob punches through. Each one is easy to live with for a while, and each one gets bigger, especially through a dry heating season followed by a humid summer, when framing and plaster move.
Wall repair is the general fix for that kind of wear. We work on modern drywall and on plaster over lath, which is still common in older houses. We find out why the damage happened, fix the cause where we can, and repair the surface so it matches the rest of the wall.
If a whole section needs to come out, that is a bigger job. We cover it under drywall repair or drywall hanging, and we will tell you plainly which one you need.
What we do on a wall repair
- 01
Crack repair that stays closed
We open the crack slightly, embed mesh or paper tape and fill it in thin coats. Just smearing compound over a crack lets it come back within a season.
- 02
Dents, gouges and doorknob holes
Shallow dents get filled and feathered. Holes that go through get a backed patch so the repair is solid, not just filled.
- 03
Nail pops and loose seams
We reset popped fasteners with a screw beside them, then re-tape seams that have bubbled or lifted.
- 04
Plaster wall work
On plaster, we secure loose areas to the lath before patching. Skipping that step is why many plaster repairs crack again around the edges.
- 05
Corner bead fixes
Dented or cracked outside corners get new bead and a clean, straight edge.
- 06
Blending into the old surface
Smooth walls get feathered out wide. On textured walls we copy the pattern by hand so the patch reads the same as the wall around it. Then it gets a light sanding and is ready for a paint touch-up.
Questions about Wall Repair?
Call(914) 730-4312Signs a wall needs attention
Cracks that keep growing
A crack that gets longer or wider from one winter to the next is telling you the wall is moving. It is worth fixing properly before it spreads.
Diagonal cracks at door and window corners
These form where stress collects. They come back if they are only painted over.
Round bumps in a line
That is usually nail pops. The fastener has backed out and is pushing the paint up.
Bubbled or peeling tape
Lifting tape along a seam often follows a past leak or a poor first taping job. It will keep peeling until it is cut out and redone.
Soft or hollow-sounding plaster
If plaster gives when you press it, it has let go of the lath. Caught early, it can usually be reattached rather than replaced.
How the job goes
- 1
Look and explain
We look at the damage, check for loose areas and figure out the cause. You get a straight answer on what needs doing and what can wait.
- 2
Protect the room
We move what needs moving, lay drop cloths and cover nearby furniture. Dust control matters to us, so we keep the work area contained.
- 3
Repair in coats
Tape, patch and compound go on in thin layers with drying time between. Some repairs take more than one visit for that reason.
- 4
Sand, match and clean up
We sand smooth, match the texture and wipe the area down. You are left with a clean work area and a wall ready for paint.
What affects the price
Each wall repair gets its own quote, based on what we actually find on your walls. A few nail pops in one room is a short visit. Cracks across several walls, or plaster that needs reattaching, takes longer. We walk you through what we see before any work starts.
- Number and size of repairs
- One doorknob hole and a dozen cracks across a hallway are very different jobs.
- Drywall or plaster
- Plaster usually takes more time, since loose sections have to be secured before patching.
- Texture
- Smooth walls are quicker to blend. Textured or hand-troweled finishes take more care to match.
- Drying time and visits
- Deep fills and wide cracks need several coats. More coats can mean a return trip.
- Access
- Stairwells, tall walls and rooms full of furniture add setup time.
Wall repair questions
Why do cracks come back after I patch them?
Usually because they were filled without tape. Compound alone cannot hold a joint that moves with the seasons. We embed tape or mesh across the crack so it has something to hold it closed.
Can you fix plaster, or does it all have to come out?
Most plaster can be repaired. If it is still attached to the lath, we patch it. If it has come loose, we secure it first. We only suggest removal when a section is too far gone to hold.
Will I be able to see the repair?
Our aim is a repair you cannot pick out once it is painted. We match the texture and feather the edges wide. If the wall paint is old or faded, the touch-up may stand out a little against it, and we will tell you that up front.
Do you paint after the repair?
We do paint touch-ups over the repaired areas. If you have leftover paint, keep it handy, since matching the original can is the easiest way to blend.
Is a crack in my wall a sign of a structural problem?
Most wall cracks are normal seasonal movement and drying. Very wide cracks, or ones paired with doors that stick hard, are worth having a structural professional look at. We will tell you honestly if what we see is beyond a surface repair.
Fix it now, before it spreads
A cracked seam or a loose patch of plaster is a short job today and a bigger one later. We serve New Rochelle and nearby towns like Pelham, Larchmont and Eastchester.