Quick answer: Good drywall help in Los Angeles comes from three places: drywall subs for large board and tape jobs, painters who patch when paint is the main scope, and apartment turnover crews for fast small to medium repairs. For apartment units, TurnOver LA handles small patches at $150 per patch and medium repairs at $240 per patch with paint touch-up at $200, all scheduled on a 48-hour turnaround.
If you need clean, fast drywall fixes in an apartment, a turnover crew that patches, textures, and paints within 48 hours is usually the best fit. For big replacement or framing, hire a C-9 licensed drywall contractor. For paint-driven scopes, many painters will handle light patching if they control the repaint. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
Which type of drywall pro do you actually need in LA?
For routine apartment work in neighborhoods like Hollywood or Koreatown, match the provider to the scope. If you have a couple of holes, dents, or a small ceiling patch, a turnover crew is efficient because they patch, texture, and paint in one visit window. TurnOver LA prices small drywall patch and texture at $150 per patch and medium repairs at $240 per patch, with paint touch-up at $200. If you have one or two rooms that need a fresh coat, many painters will include minor patching when repainting a room at a flat scope.
If you are replacing multiple sheets, adding framing, or doing acoustic ceiling removal and full skim, hire a drywall specialist with a C-9 license. For occupied units under LA’s rent stabilization rules, plan short entry windows and proper notices under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance. In all cases, verify insurance and scheduling to protect your timeline and security deposit compliance.
Quick comparison by project type
| Project type | Best provider | LA market price context | Speed expectation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 small holes, match orange peel | Turnover crew or painter | $175 to $350 per small patch across LA | 24 to 72 hours | TurnOver LA is $150 per small patch, paint touch-up $200 |
| Medium hole, partial repaint | Turnover crew | $300 to $650 per medium patch | 48 to 96 hours | TurnOver LA is $240 per medium patch, repaint per room $395 |
| Multiple rooms, repaint scope | Painter who patches | $2.00 to $4.00 per sq ft repaint typical | 2 to 5 days | TurnOver LA repaint per room $395, ceilings and trim $125 |
| Full board and tape, framing | C-9 drywall contractor | Bid per sheet or per project | Multi-day to multi-week | Use licensed subs for volume and structural needs |
| Post-demo, buildout | GC with drywall sub | Bid | Multi-week | Coordinate trades and inspections |
How much should you pay for drywall repair in Los Angeles?
Across LA, expect $175 to $350 for a small patch with texture, and $300 to $650 for a medium repair, depending on access, texture, and whether paint is included. With TurnOver LA the drywall line items are fixed: Small drywall patch plus texture is $150 per patch. A medium drywall repair is $240 per patch. Paint touch-up only is $200, and a full repaint per room is $395. Ceilings and baseboard or trim add $125 when needed.
If you add paint touch-up to a single small patch, your all-in with TurnOver LA is typically $350. A medium repair plus repainting the room is $635. Flat 48-hour turnaround on every job keeps vacancy loss in check. In markets like Hollywood and Westwood, vacancy loss runs $80 to $200 per day, so a one to two day difference often outweighs saving a few dollars on the patch price. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What does a good apartment drywall repair process look like?
A clean, repeatable process is what gets you back on market fast and protects deposit accounting. Here is the sequence we use for small and medium repairs in LA apartments:
- Document damage with 12-point photos tied to rooms and surfaces.
- Cut back to solid board, square up edges, backer support if needed.
- Set with hot mud for speed, tape, and second coat to feather edges.
- Match texture to existing, commonly light to medium orange peel in LA.
- Prime patches to lock sheen, then paint touch-up or repaint the wall.
- Clean edges, vacuum dust, and wipe baseboards and floors.
- Final photos to support deductions under California Civil Code §1950.5.
If your unit also needs a deep clean, schedule it as part of a single window. Our Make Ready includes a base deep clean and a 12-point photo report. See the Make Ready scope on our site for details.
- Make Ready: Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, 3BR or larger $425.
You can combine drywall, paint, and cleaning to finish within the same 48-hour window.
Will painters do drywall repair, or should you book drywall-first?
Many LA painters will include minor patching when they control the paint scope, especially nail holes and small dings. For larger holes, a painter may add a drywall line item or bring a drywall tech. This works well when the room is getting new paint anyway. If you only need a few localized repairs and do not want to repaint full walls, a turnover crew is usually faster and cheaper because we can texture match and blend the minimal area, then paint touch-up for $200.
When repainting entire rooms, our repainting per room is $395, with optional ceilings and baseboard or trim at $125. We routinely patch before paint, so the wall reads consistent at move-in. If you have a mixed scope that includes patching, paint, and a small punch list, use our half-day handyman punch for incidental fixes alongside wall work.
- Half-day handyman punch list: $230.
- Full-day handyman punch list: $425.
Explore our painting and drywall service for full scope details and bundling options.
Can you do drywall repair yourself in a rental unit?
You can handle very small cosmetic issues, but weigh time, results, and deposit rules. Under the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide and California Civil Code §1950.5, you must return the unit in the same condition minus normal wear and tear. Poorly executed DIY patches often telegraph through paint, which can trigger a repaint or a larger repair charge. Texture in Los Angeles is frequently light to medium orange peel, and matching that consistently takes the right nozzle and mud viscosity.
If you are an owner or manager, DIY during a vacancy usually costs days. At $80 to $200 per day in vacancy loss, a 48-hour professional window is usually cheaper than learning on the wall. For tenants, if you still attempt a fix, always photograph before and after for your records, then review normal wear rules and the 21-day deposit return timeline to avoid surprises.
- See Normal Wear and Tear in California.
- See California 21-day deposit return.
How fast can drywall, paint, and cleaning be done during turnover?
We schedule on a flat 48-hour turnaround for every job. For small and medium patches we use setting-type compound so we can texture and prime same day on most repairs. Paint touch-up follows after cure, then a Make Ready clean closes the loop. That sequencing is why vacancy days drop. There is no rush or same-day upcharge to decode. One booking, a clear schedule, and photos to support deposit accounting.
If locksmith work or a junk haul is in the mix, add them to the same window. Rekey and junk haul are fixed price too, so you can land on a reliable total before publishing your listing. If you operate in Hollywood, we can stage on-street parking and deliver within the neighborhood’s typical access hours. For geographic coverage, see our Hollywood service area.
- Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks: $150.
- Unit cleanout and junk haul: 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420.
What textures are common in LA apartments, and how do you match them?
Most LA rental walls are gypsum board with light or medium orange peel texture, occasionally knockdown in mid-city rehabs. Good matching starts with diagnosing the existing surface: level of sheen, texture density, and pattern size. We keep multiple nozzle sizes and thin the mix to mirror the unit’s look. On small patches, we localize the spray, back-roll once it flashes, then prime and touch-up. On medium patches, we often feather into the next stud bay and may repaint the wall to lock sheen.
One detail many miss in Los Angeles apartments is the hallway lighting angle. Strong downlighting will highlight halos if you under-feather. We counter this by extending feather coats and checking with a raking light before paint. The result is a wall that reads clean at move-in photography.
Who should you hire for large drywall replacement or full-unit board and tape?
If you are replacing multiple sheets, straightening framing, or doing ceiling board and fire taping, hire a C-9 licensed drywall contractor. Verify license and insurance and confirm your schedule and noise hours for your building. For rent stabilized properties, follow notice rules under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance so you can enter lawfully and avoid delays.
Ask these five questions before you award a larger drywall scope:
- How many sheets are included and what is the per sheet rate if the scope grows?
- Who handles texture matching and paint, and how is that priced?
- What is the daily onsite window and how will they protect common areas?
- What is the lead time and how many techs will show on day one?
- Are photos included for your records and deposit support?
For apartment-grade patches, paint, and cleaning, we are built for speed. For full board and tape, hire the right specialist.
What about documentation and deposit compliance in LA?
If you are an owner or manager, you need clean documentation for deductions and to hit the 21-day return deadline. California Civil Code §1950.5 requires itemized statements and receipts. We include a 12-point photo report as part of our Make Ready, and we can add work-in-progress frames on drywall and paint so your file is complete. If your unit is under LA rent stabilization, align your entry notices with the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance, then track completion dates so your accounting stays on time.
For new tenancy caps on security deposits, review AB 12 for current limits. Tight documentation, fixed pricing, and a 48-hour window make the whole process predictable.
Ready to get drywall repairs done in 48 hours?
For apartments across Los Angeles, we handle small and medium drywall repairs, texture match, paint touch-up, and cleaning on a flat 48-hour schedule. Small drywall patch plus texture is $150 per patch. Medium drywall repair is $240 per patch. Paint touch-up only is $200. Repainting per room is $395. Book now and stop vacancy loss. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
Resources and related services:
- Painting and drywall scope and pricing.
- Handyman and general maintenance options for combined punch lists.
- Make Ready cleaning details and photo reporting.
- Learn about vacancy loss math in LA.