Drywall Installation & Repair in Baltimore

Drywall installation, finishing and repair

We handle drywall from bare studs to a painted wall. That includes hanging new board on walls and ceilings, taping and mudding the joints, sanding smooth, and priming and painting. On the repair side, we patch holes and cracks, rebuild damaged corners, and replace sections of wall or ceiling ruined by water.

Larger drywall jobs often come as part of a renovation. On some we tape and mud new board through whole hallways and bedrooms. In one house we patched the walls while the old tile floor was still down, then worked our way around the staircase with patches as the renovation went on.

How do you get drywall seams to disappear?

Smooth walls come from patient finishing. We tape every joint, then apply several thin coats of joint compound, feathering each one wider than the last and letting it dry fully before the next. We sand between coats. Before priming, we check the walls with a light held flat against the surface, which shows ridges and low spots you can’t see from across the room.

Corners get the same care. Inside corners are taped, and outside corners get corner bead so they stay straight and hold up to bumps. When the final coat is sanded, the wall gets primer so the paint finish looks even over joints and bare board alike.

What happens when a ceiling is damaged by a roof leak?

We stop the leak first, then replace the damaged ceiling. Patching a stained ceiling before the source is fixed just means doing it again after the next storm. Once the roof or pipe is repaired, we cut out the wet or sagging drywall and check the framing and insulation above it for moisture. Everything dries out before new board goes up.

One client had a bedroom ceiling replaced after rain damage, as part of a larger project that included a new flat roof. When the roof is the cause, we can do both jobs. Our flat roof replacement page explains how we handle the roof side.

How do you fix moisture spots on walls?

We find out why the spot is there before we touch the wall. Moisture spots on drywall usually come from a plumbing leak, a bathroom without enough ventilation, a gap around a window, or water getting in from outside. Painting over the stain without fixing the cause brings it back, often with mold behind it.

Once the source is handled, we cut out any drywall that’s soft or has been wet through, let the cavity dry, and replace the section. For bathrooms, we use moisture-resistant board where it fits the job. If the spot is a sign of a bigger problem behind a tub or shower, our bathroom remodeling work covers a full tear-out and rebuild.

Drywall in basements and whole-floor renovations

New drywall is a core part of basement finishing and whole-home renovations. In a basement, we frame the walls, run the board, and finish it before flooring and paint. In rowhouse renovations, a floor often comes down to the studs for framing repairs and goes back up with new drywall on every wall and ceiling.

One stairwell job is a typical case. It started gutted, with exposed framing and debris, and finished as an entry hall with a staircase, new walls painted light gray, and LVP floors. That job is on our first-floor gut renovation project page.

Does drywall work need a permit?

Small drywall patches usually don’t need a permit. Baltimore City’s exempt-work list includes minor drywall or plaster patching. DHCD also says a repair needs a permit when the item is entirely replaced or significantly altered, and new walls are part of an alteration permit. (Baltimore City DHCD) Anne Arundel County says drywall replacement requirements vary and asks you to email the Permit Center with your address and scope. Confirm for your address.

What affects the cost of drywall work?

The amount of board and the level of finish set most of the cost. A single patch is a short visit, while a whole floor of new walls and ceilings is days of hanging, taping and sanding. The main drivers:

• Area. Square footage of walls and ceilings, and how many rooms.
• Ceilings and height. Ceilings and tall stairwells take more labor than standard walls.
• Water damage. Wet board has to come out, and the cavity has to dry before new board goes up.
• Plaster. Older plaster walls may need sections replaced rather than patched.
• Finish level. A smooth wall ready for paint takes more coats than a wall that will be tiled.
• Paint. Whether priming and painting are part of the scope.

We give a written price once we’ve seen the walls and found the cause of any water damage.

Dust, protection and drying time

Drywall is dusty work, so we protect the rest of the house before we start. Floors get covered, doorways get sealed off where needed, and we clean up at the end of each day. In bedrooms and stairwells, that means the floor is covered before the first patch goes on.

The main thing to plan around is drying time between coats. A patch might need a couple of short visits, while a full room takes several days from hanging to paint. We give you a realistic schedule up front.