Got quoted $1,200 for patching drywall in a 10x12 bedroom

Overheard a contractor at the lumber yard saying most drywall patches fail because people skip the mesh tape on the second pass. Anyone have luck with a cheaper approach that actually holds up?

2 comments

2 Comments

noah_walker161mo ago

Man I used to be the guy who would just slap some spackle over a hole and call it a day. But last year I patched a crack in my hallway ceiling and it came back within three months because I skipped the tape. That contractor is absolutely right about mesh tape on the second pass, it’s what stops the mud from cracking later on. For a 10x12 room you could probably cut the cost by doing the taping and first coat yourself, then just pay someone for the finish work. The mesh tape and a bucket of mud is like $30 total and it’s way better than trying to save a few bucks now and having the whole thing fail in six months.

jordan3051mo ago

Did you read that Consumer Reports article about drywall repairs a few months back? @noah_walker16 is spot on about the tape issue. They tested a bunch of patch jobs and the ones without tape cracked almost every time within a year. The mesh tape really does hold up better than paper tape for the second coat too, less bubbling and lifting. For a room that size, doing the first coat yourself is smart. Even if you mess it up a bit, a pro can sand it down and fix it for way less than if they had to start from scratch.