Need a Drywall Repairman in Charleston? Here's What You Should Know

How much time do you spend thinking about your drywall? Probably not much—it’s made to fade into the background and provide a surface for more interesting design elements. Most people rarely think of it, even though we spend all day surrounded by it. But when drywall has damage such as holes or cracks, suddenly you can't help but notice the problem area every time you enter the room. That’s when you need to hire a professional Charleston drywall repairman.

Drywall problems aren't just unpleasant cosmetic issues—that unsightly damage can actually make your home a lot less comfortable, and force you to spend more than necessary on your monthly utility bill. If your walls are looking decidedly worse-for-wear, you need expert drywall repair services from an experienced drywall repairman in Charleston, SC.

Whatever the issue with the drywall in your home or commercial building, you can rely on the team of Charleston handyman service professionals at Mr. Handyman of Charleston and Summerville to take care of damage efficiently and effectively. We’re a locally owned and operated business with decades of experience in the Charleston area, and we take great pride in always delivering the highest standards of expert workmanship and exceptional customer service.

What Drywall Damage Does to Your Home

Many homeowners tend to assume that drywall damage isn't that big of a deal, so it ends up being pretty low on their list of home repair and maintenance tasks. But problems such as holes, cracks, and moisture stains can cause serious issues for your home and family—issues that go far beyond an unappealing appearance. Some unpleasant effects of drywall damage include:

• It lets warm or cool air escape inside your walls, which means your HVAC system has to operate for longer and use more energy to keep your home at a comfortable temperature—resulting in inflated energy costs.

• It decreases sound separation, so you can hear every footstep and whisper from the next room. This is particularly a problem in multi-family dwellings, or for anyone who shares their living space with people who tend to live noisy lives.

• It encourages rodent and insect infestations by giving rats, mice, termites, cockroaches, and other nasty pests an access point into your house and the interior of your walls.

Damage can also be a sign of a more serious problem that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. For example, brown moisture stains on your wall indicate water damage is coming from somewhere like a plumbing or roof leak. Moisture can cause wood rot, which threatens your building’s structural stability. Or, stress cracks in drywall can be a sign that something isn’t right with your foundation slab or posts, and part of your house is sinking. You may not be excited to get the news that your drywall issue is a symptom of a bigger problem, but the sooner you can discover major concerns and have them dealt with, the better.

What to Look for in a Charleston Drywall Repairman

If you haven't had reason to call a drywall repairman before, you may be wondering what you can expect. It might come as no surprise that, just like any industry or service, the work quality and service level varies based on who you hire. That being said, an experienced Charleston drywall repairman should take care of the entire process from start to finish, including:

• Putting down a drop cloth to help catch sheetrock dust

• Removing the old, damaged portion

• Hanging new sheets

• Covering joints between panels and corners with joint tape

• Using a putty knife to apply joint compound (AKA drywall mud) over tape

• Sanding down dried joint compound to create a smooth, even surface

• Adding a fresh coat of paint, so the repair is invisible

• Cleaning up the mess from repair work

• Rehanging framed photos and curtains for the final touches

But there may be more than just the actual repairs that need to be taken care of. Your wall can be damaged by a wide range of factors, from household accidents to regular wear and tear. In those cases, you’re probably well aware of what caused the problem—a careless furniture mover or misbehaving cat, for example.

Other times, however, the damage’s cause may be a complete mystery. It could be a less obvious problem—such as poor ventilation in the bathroom causing steam from hot showers to condense and seep into your walls, softening and staining your walls. That’s why adequate bathroom fans are so important.

If you don't stop the issue that’s damaging your walls, there’s no point in hiring a drywall repairman. The damage will just reoccur in a few weeks or months, causing you more stress and expense. That’s why it really pays to hire a multi-skilled Charleston handyman. We do more than just Charleston drywall repair. Our team is very experienced with a wide range of repair and maintenance tasks, so we notice problems others miss. Our service technicians will trace the issue to its source and fix it as well, so you can enjoy your beautiful walls without worry.

What to Ask Before Hiring a Charleston Drywall Repairman

When you’ve narrowed down your choices to a couple of potential Charleston drywall repairman companies, the best way to determine who’ll be the best fit for you is to call them up and ask a few questions. Some people are uncomfortable asking questions, but any company that’s proud of their work will be pleased to tell you all about it—so don't hesitate! Here are some key questions you should consider asking.

How Long Have You Been in Business?

If a company has only been operating a short time, that’s not always a bad thing. They may still have an experienced Charleston drywall repairman on their team. But, if it’s an independent business and has been for a very short time, like only a couple of weeks, that could be a red flag. Some less-than-honest people set up "companies" and collect money for jobs they have no intention of completing. Or the company might not have the references and reviews to confirm they are a good choice.

How Much Experience Do You Have as a Drywall Repairman?

As we all know, practice makes perfect. It's no different for a drywall repairman, so it’s a good idea to confirm that the individual who’ll actually be doing the work has lots of experience. Handyman professionals who’ve worked with drywall a lot should be able to get work done efficiently, and find the right repair solutions for any situation.

Can You Show Me Photos of Your Previous Work?

A picture is worth a thousand words. That’s why it’s quite common for a drywall repairman to snap before and after photos of jobs they’ve done. Checking out those photos is a good way to determine if their workmanship quality is up to your standards.

Are You Licensed and Insured?

This is one of the most important questions you can ask, because you always want to make sure you’re hiring a licensed professional. That way, you can rest assured that you’re entrusting your property to someone who has the skill and training to use proper repair methods and will adhere to all building codes. You also need to know that they have insurance, so you won't have to worry about covering costs in the unlikely event that something is damaged or someone is injured. All of the skilled technicians on our team are fully licensed and insured.

Do Your Employees Have Criminal Background Checks?

When you invite someone into your home to provide a service, of course you want to know that they’re capable of doing the work. But you also need to know that they will behave professionally and courteously at all times. Our employees have all undergone criminal background checks, along with drug and alcohol screens. They are trusted members of our team, and we’re confident they will meet or exceed your expectations.

Do You Offer a Guarantee on Workmanship?

What happens if the repair is not completed to your satisfaction? Will your Charleston drywall repairman return and fix it at no cost to you? Or will you be left to deal with it on your own? We hire Charleston's best handymen, and we stand behind them by offering a guarantee on workmanship. If it's not done right, we'll make it right!

How Long Do You Think This Will Take?

A Charleston drywall repairman may charge an hourly rate, so it makes sense to get a rough time estimate to get an idea of what to budget. But, keep in mind that it’s only a rough estimate—they won't be able to give you a more accurate time frame until they’ve seen and assessed the damage.

Can You Locate and Repair the Source of Damage?

As we mentioned above, sometimes taking care of the actual drywall is only part of the job. If you don't know what caused the damage initially, the problem’s source needs to be identified and eliminated—or the new wall will end up experiencing the same old problem sooner rather than later.

Will You Refinish the Wall After it's Repaired?

Once the wall is fixed, it still needs something: A fresh coat of paint so the repaired patch blends in with the rest of the wall and is completely invisible with a seamless, smooth surface. You don't want to have to hire someone else to get the painting done, so it’s helpful to find a Charleston drywall repairman who’ll take care of it for you.

Do I Need to Prep Anything Before You Arrive?

There is likely furniture near the damaged wall, and it will probably need to be moved or at least shifted over somewhat. In some cases, a drywall repairman will take care of clearing the area themselves, but others will expect it to be done ahead of the appointment. It doesn't hurt to clarify expectations beforehand, so everyone is on the same page.

Will You Clean Up the Mess After?

Drywall repair is a messy business, and someone has to clean up after the work is complete. Ideally, that someone will not be you. Being left with a mess may not be a deal-breaker for you, but cleaning up and leaving your home in the same condition we found it—or even better—is a point of pride for our team.

Looking for a Charleston Drywall Repairman? Call Your Local Handyman!

Now that you know some questions you should ask before hiring a Charleston drywall repairman, we invite you to call us up and ask us every one of the questions listed above. We are confident you'll be pleased with our answers, and with the quality of our service.

If you’re in Charleston, Summerville, or a nearby community such as Ladson, you can count on excellent workmanship and customer service from the drywall repair experts at Mr. Handyman of Charleston and Summerville. We know your home and your time are important to you, so we always answer the phone, arrive on-time for your scheduled appointment, and treat you and your property with respect.

Pick up the phone and give us a call today at 843-940-7525 to request a convenient appointment for a Charleston handyman service, or to chat with our friendly customer service staff about why we’re considered the best choice for a skilled Charleston drywall repairman.