Quick answer: The person who fixes drywall is commonly called a drywall repair pro, a drywall finisher, or a handyman for small patches. Across LA, a small patch typically costs $150 to $400 on the open market. TurnOver LA prices are $150 per small patch and $240 per medium patch, with a flat 48-hour turnaround. Painters often handle light patch-and-paint scopes.
In plain terms, hire a drywall repair pro or finisher for holes, cracks, and texture matches, and a handyman for simple, one to two small patches. Painters frequently include light patching when they are already on site to paint. If the damage covers framing, plumbing, or electrical, you escalate to a licensed contractor after mitigation.
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Who should you hire for drywall repair in an LA apartment?
For small holes from anchors or a doorknob, a handyman or a drywall finisher is the right call. They can patch, texture, and paint in a single visit. For water-damaged sections larger than a dinner plate, or anything involving backing, insulation, or suspect mold, a dedicated drywall repair pro is safer. If the wall already needs repainting, a painter who offers patch-and-paint is practical, because they control color match and sheens.
In older LA stock with orange-peel and knockdown textures from Silver Lake to North Hollywood, the priority is a clean texture blend. That is a finisher’s skill. For turnovers, combining patch work with repaint and a punch list keeps vacancy days down. Our painting and drywall team closes that loop with catalog line items for small patches, medium repairs, and room repaints under one work order.
| Role | Best for | Typical LA rate | TurnOver LA catalog option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall repair pro | Medium patches, texture match | 250 to 700 per visit | Small patch 150, Medium repair 240 |
| Handyman | 1 to 2 small holes, light trim | 75 to 125 per hour | Half-day punch list 230, Full-day 425 |
| Painter | Patch-and-paint, color match | 300 to 900 per room | Paint touch-up 200, Repaint per room 395 |
| Carpenter | Backing, framing fixes | 85 to 150 per hour | Use punch list day if light scope |
| General contractor | Multi-trade, permits | 1,200 to 4,000 and up | Escalate only if structural or complex |
How much should you pay for drywall repair in Los Angeles?
Across LA, a one-hole patch typically runs 150 to 400. Medium repairs that require cutting out a section, installing backing, taping, and texture often land between 300 and 800, not including repaint. If a wall or room needs paint, market pricing is commonly 400 to 900 per room depending on height and trim, and 100 to 300 for ceilings or baseboards.
TurnOver LA catalog pricing is fixed. Small drywall patch and texture is 150 per patch. Medium drywall repair is 240 per patch. Paint touch-up is 200. Repainting per room is 395. Ceilings and baseboard or trim add 125. We keep a flat 48-hour turnaround on every job. If you want a single-visit solution, we can patch, texture, and paint on one ticket at the catalog lines shown.
Can you do drywall repair yourself in a rental unit?
You can, but texture matching and sheen blending are where DIY goes wrong. In LA apartments with orange-peel or knockdown, a poor match telegraphs through the final paint and can be charged against the security deposit if it is beyond normal wear. California Civil Code §1950.5 allows landlords to deduct for damage beyond ordinary wear, provided they document it and return balances within 21 days.
If you are a tenant considering DIY, review the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide and your lease. Landlords should rely on dated photos and an itemized invoice. Our Make Ready includes a 12-point photo report that supports deposit accounting. See our guides on normal wear and tear and the 21-day deposit return timeline to avoid disputes and rework.
- California Civil Code §1950.5
- California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide
- Guide: Normal Wear and Tear in California
- Guide: California 21-Day Deposit Return
Will painters handle drywall repair or do you need a specialist?
Many painters patch as part of prep, but scope and texture control the answer. If the damage is small and you already plan to repaint that surface, a painter-led patch-and-paint is efficient. They can skim, sand, texture, prime, and roll to a clean sheen match. For scattered punch holes across multiple rooms, a drywall finisher or handyman may be faster, then the painter follows for color continuity.
TurnOver LA pricing keeps both options explicit. Paint touch-up is 200, repainting per room is 395, and ceilings and baseboard or trim is 125. Small drywall patch and texture is 150 per patch, medium drywall repair is 240 per patch. On a typical turnover in West Hollywood or DTLA, we assign a finisher to close patches early in day one, then the painter coats the same afternoon. That sequence reduces vacancy days.
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What scope counts as small, medium, or complex drywall damage?
Use the hole size and what it takes to make it invisible after paint. Small means a hole up to roughly 4 inches with straightforward texture and no backing required. That maps to our Small drywall patch and texture at 150 per patch. Medium covers cut-out-and-replace pieces, tape, mud, and texture blending in the 4 to 12 inch range, which maps to our Medium drywall repair at 240 per patch.
Complex means multi-location damage, ceiling patches over stairwells, repairs around tile edges, or anything involving framing, electrical boxes, or moisture work. In that case, stack a Half-day handyman punch list at 230 or a Full-day at 425 to bundle drywall with door adjustments, hardware, and safety fixes. Market rates for complex multi-trade visits often run 700 to 2,000 in LA, sometimes more if scaffolding is needed.
How do landlords recover drywall repair costs from the security deposit?
California allows deductions for tenant-caused damage, not for ordinary wear. The key is documentation and timing. Within 21 calendar days, provide an itemized statement, copies of invoices, and any photos. Many owners in Koreatown and North Hollywood anchor vacancy loss at 100 to 150 per day, so we recommend same-week repairs to avoid burning the deposit on lost rent. If your unit is subject to LAHD RSO, keep notice and entry rules in mind.
Follow this sequence:
- Pre-inspect and document with date-stamped photos.
- Scope small vs medium patches by room.
- Approve line items from the catalog and schedule within 48 hours.
- Capture after-photos on completion.
- Issue the 21-day accounting with invoices and photos.
- Reference California Civil Code §1950.5 if challenged.
Review our guides on normal wear and tear and the 21-day return. Also note AB 12 limits most security deposits to one month’s rent for new leases starting July 1, 2024, which tightens your repair timelines and cash flow.
What is the fastest way to turn a drywall repair and repaint between tenants?
Front load drywall and paint early to cap vacancy loss. In LA, vacancy costs commonly run 80 to 200 per day depending on submarket. A practical sequence is day one morning for patches and texture, afternoon for prime and first coat, day two for finish coat and punch. By evening of day two, cleaning and listing photos can proceed.
The bundle that moves fastest uses our fixed lines. Example for a 1BR in West Hollywood: 2 small patches at 150 each, 1 medium repair at 240, 1 room repaint at 395, ceilings and baseboard at 125, plus Make Ready at 255 for deep clean and a 12-point photo report. You can add TLA Launch Pad Media Package at 399 for listing photos the same week. All with a flat 48-hour turnaround.
Who does drywall, painting, and punch list in one visit in LA?
TurnOver LA runs drywall, paint, and handyman scopes as a single work order so you are not managing three vendors. Use our Painting and Drywall service for patches and paint, backed by Handyman and General Maintenance for adjustments and safety. Prices are published and flat. Small drywall patch is 150 per patch. Medium drywall repair is 240 per patch. Paint touch-up is 200, repainting per room is 395, ceilings and baseboard or trim is 125.
To close the loop, a Half-day handyman punch list is 230, Full-day is 425, and a General maintenance or safety visit is 125. For turnovers, Make Ready adds a deep clean and the photo report. If you are ready to put the unit on market, the TLA Launch Pad Media Package is 399. Book online, choose your lines, and we hold the 48-hour window across neighborhoods from DTLA to Mar Vista.
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Where do local rules matter on drywall repair in LA rentals?
Two areas come up often. First, entry and notice in rent-stabilized housing. The LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance sets standards for habitability and process, and emergency repairs have different entry rules than routine work. Second, deposits and documentation. California Civil Code §1950.5 and the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide outline what you can deduct and how to account for it within the 21-day deadline.
Practical tip for owners in Santa Monica and West Hollywood, where older buildings have varied textures. Note the existing texture type during pre-inspection and include a close-up photo. That single step avoids scope creep later. If water damage is present, stabilize and dry the area first. Then schedule patch, texture, and paint in one push to minimize return trips and lost rent.