Calgary Drywall Services

Drywall replacement · Calgary, AB

Drywall replacement in Calgary

When drywall is wet, crumbling, sagging, mouldy or covered in failed repairs, cutting it out and replacing it is usually faster and flatter than patching. Here is how that decision is made.

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Large room with newly finished and primed drywall walls and a coffered ceiling, with covered floors and tools still in the corner

Common requests

  • Sections damaged by water
  • Sagging ceiling drywall
  • Walls full of old patches
  • Crumbling plaster in older homes
  • Openings left by other trades
  • Mould on or behind the board
Choose replacement when
The board has lost strength, or damage covers most of it.
Cut back to
Sound board and the nearest framing, so the edges are supported.
Priced by
Area removed and replaced, disposal, ceilings, finish and texture.

The short answer

Repair when the board is sound; replace when it is not. Drywall that is soft, crumbling, sagging, mouldy or soaked should be cut out and replaced. So should areas where the damage, or old repairs, cover most of a sheet. Everything else is usually patched.

The decision

Signs replacement is the better call

Patching relies on the surrounding drywall being solid enough to hold a repair. Once the gypsum core has been weakened by water, or the paper face has been torn up over a large area, a patch has nothing good to bond to, and it tends to crack, sink or bubble later.

Size matters too. Past a certain point, many small patches or one huge one take longer to make flat than a new sheet does.

Usually replaced rather than patched

  • Board that is soft, crumbling or swollen
  • A ceiling section that sags between joists
  • Mould on the surface or behind the board
  • Damage across most of a sheet, or over framing
  • Walls covered in overlapping old repairs
  • Anything soaked by sewage or floodwater

How it is done

Replacing a section of drywall

  1. Step 1: Protect and mark out

    Floors and furniture covered, dust contained, the cut lines marked back to sound board and framing.

  2. Step 2: Cut out and inspect

    Damaged board removed. The framing, insulation and anything behind are checked while they are visible.

  3. Step 3: Fit new board

    New drywall cut to fit, with backing added where an edge would otherwise be unsupported.

  4. Step 4: Tape and finish

    Joints taped and built up in coats, feathered into the surrounding wall.

  5. Step 5: Match and prime

    Texture matched where needed, then primed ready for paint.

Not sure whether to patch or replace?

That is a fair question to leave to the estimate. Describe the damage and the contractor will recommend one.

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Scope

From a strip at the floor to a whole ceiling

ScopeCommon reasonNotes
Strip along the bottom of a wallCommon reasonWater on the floor, basement seepageNotesOften cut at a consistent height for a clean joint.
One section between studsCommon reasonA leak inside the wall, a large holeNotesCut back to framing on each side.
A full wallCommon reasonMany repairs, mould, damaged plasterNotesEffectively new installation on existing framing.
A ceiling area or full ceilingCommon reasonLeak from above, saggingNotesOverhead work; texture and lighting to match.

Older homes

Plaster, lath and older materials

Many homes in Calgary’s established communities have original plaster walls. Damaged plaster can be replaced with drywall, or sound plaster can be covered with a thin layer of drywall, depending on its condition and what happens at trim and windows.

Test before you tear out

In homes built before about 1990, plaster, joint compound and textured finishes may contain asbestos. Have them tested before demolition. See ceiling repair for textured ceilings in particular.

Common questions

Drywall replacement questions

How much drywall is cut out when a section is replaced?
Usually back to the nearest framing on each side, so the new piece has something solid to fasten to along its edges, and far enough to reach sound, dry board. For water damage, the cut is often made well above the visible stain. The contractor will mark it out on the visit.
Is replacing a whole wall better than patching?
When damage covers most of a wall, or there are many overlapping old repairs, replacing the board is often flatter and not much more work than repairing. For a few local problems, patching is usually the better value.
Can plaster walls be replaced with drywall?
Yes. Older homes with plaster and lath can have damaged plaster removed and drywall installed in its place, or have drywall laminated over sound plaster. Removing plaster is messy and heavy work, and in older homes the materials should be checked for asbestos first.
Will the new section match the rest of the wall?
A replaced section is taped and finished to blend with the wall around it, and texture is matched where there is one. Once primed and painted wall to wall, it should not stand out in normal light.

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Free, no-obligation estimate

Get a free drywall replacement estimate

Describe what is damaged and why. Wide photos showing the whole wall or ceiling help the contractor judge how much needs replacing.

Useful to include

  • What caused the damage, and whether it is fixed
  • Roughly how much wall or ceiling is affected
  • Drywall or plaster, and the age of the home
  • Smooth or textured finish

Get a free drywall estimate

About two minutes. Fields marked * are required.

1Your project

What is damaged or being built, roughly how big, which rooms, and whether a leak was involved.

2Your details

At least one of phone or email. A call or text is usually the quickest way to book a look at the job.

Free and no obligation. The price is set by the contractor after seeing the job.