What Property Owners Should Know About Drywall Repair: Knoxville Edition

How much time do you spend thinking about drywall every day? Probably not much—it isn't the most exciting or noticeable material, so it's kind of funny to think that it's been present throughout your life in pretty much every building you've lived or worked in.

It may not be foremost in your mind, but when it gets damaged, there are compelling reasons why you need drywall repair to keep your home or commercial business safe and comfortable. If you're wondering what those reasons could be, or why it got damaged in the first place, this guide will answer those questions and give you the information you need to make an informed decision about how to handle your wall woes.

When you discover problems in your home or business facility, you can rely on the drywall repair pros at Mr. Handyman of West Knoxville to get your walls fixed up. We always provide a safe, worry-free experience with quality craftsmanship and complete customer satisfaction.

What Is Drywall?

Drywall, which is also called sheetrock and gypsum board, is a panel of gypsum (a soft, sulfate mineral) sandwiched between two layers of thick backer and face paper. It is mixed with fibers such as paper and fiberglass and usually contains additives to reduce flammability, moisture absorption, and mildew.

Why Is My Drywall Damaged?

Sometimes you know exactly what caused the damage. For example, impacts to drywall from a careless furniture mover or a child who took their karate lessons a little too seriously. Sometimes, the source of the damage is not as obvious. Here are some common causes of damage:

• Water damage from leaky pipes or fixtures
• Moisture that got inside the wall due to damaged siding or degraded window caulking
• Repeated exposure to humidity in an improperly ventilated bathroom
• Buildings settling over time, causing cracks, popping nails, or loose joint tape
• Holes from drywall anchors that were used to support wall-mounted TVs, framed paintings, or shelving units
• Naughty pets scratching at the wall—usually right beside a perfectly good scratching post that they are ignoring
• Holes caused or expanded by rodents and insect pests
• Regular wear and tear over time

Drywall Damage is Just Cosmetic, Right?

Drywall seems like it's mainly there to make our walls look smooth and finished, so it's understandable that people tend to think of it as mostly cosmetic. However, the damage isn't just unsightly, it can cause a whole host of problems that make your property less comfortable and safe. These are some of the main problems that holes, cracks, moisture incursion, and other damage can cause in your home or business.

Increased Utility Costs

Holes in your drywall force your heating and cooling system to work harder because they allow warm or cool air to escape inside the walls. This increases your utility bills, costing you an arm and a leg for energy usage.

Harmful Bacteria

When drywall becomes damp, it's susceptible to the growth of mildew and harmful bacteria that can make your pets or family ill. It may seem like a little spot of mildew can simply be wiped off, but gypsum is porous, which means if you see signs of mildew on the surface of the wall there's likely a lot more lurking beneath the surface.

Noise Traveling Between Rooms

Drywall contributes to sound separation between rooms, but when it's weakened by holes and cracks, sound travels straight through walls. This problem is sometimes embarrassing, but usually, it's just annoying — especially if you're living with people who love to crank up their tunes or don't know how to use their inside voice.

Greater Risk of House Fires

As we mentioned above, drywall typically contains additives that help dampen flames in the event of a fire. Of course, it doesn't stop fire from starting, but it does limit the ability of the flames to travel from room to room—unless damage is reducing its effectiveness for protecting your home.

Pest Intrusion

While it's possible for rodents or insects to create holes in walls, they're opportunistic critters who like to work smart, not hard. That's why they're more likely to take advantage of an existing small hole or crack to wiggle through.

Once one unwelcome visitor finds a way into your warm, comfy house, they'll bring dozens of their nasty little pals along with them.

Do I Need to Hire a Drywall Repairman?

You may be wondering if you really need to get the help of a drywall repair specialist or if you can just handle it on your own. While minor repairs are possible for an amateur, it is a surprising amount of work to complete the job, especially if you don't have access to professional tools. The service professionals at Mr. Handyman are often called in to finish a job after a property owner got halfway through and realized their time would be better spent elsewhere.

If you don't already have the equipment and know-how needed to carry out repairs, you'll save money and a lot of time by having our team of experts handle the task from beginning to end. You'll also have peace of mind from knowing the job has been done right. When we're done, the repair will be completely invisible, and we'll even clean up after ourselves before we leave.

Our drywall repair services include:

• Removing old panels
• Installing new panels
• Mudding, sanding, and joint taping
• Painting and refinishing
• Rehanging framed photos and curtains

Mr. Handyman is Your Best Choice for Drywall Repair Services in West Knoxville

Tired of looking at scuffed, cracked, damaged drywall? Even more tired of paying increased utility costs to heat the inside of your walls? Whether you're in West Knoxville or nearby areas such as Lenoir City, Oak Ridge, or Powell, let the top-rated local pros at Mr. Handyman of West Knoxville tackle repairs quickly and efficiently with our focus on ultimate customer service.

Give us a call today or make a service request online to find out more about what our drywall projects and maintenance services can do to increase the comfort of your home or commercial business!