Can water-damaged drywall be dried instead of replaced?
Sometimes. Drywall that is only damp and still firm can dry in place once the leak is stopped; drywall that is soft, sagging or stained through is cut out and replaced.
Drywall and plaster repair
Tom Hanks, owner, 24/7 Express Handyman Service · Updated September 2026
24/7 Express Handyman Service covers 5 drywall and plaster repair jobs in Salt Lake, Park City and Heber: patches holes, cracks and water-damaged sections in drywall and in older lath-and-plaster walls and ceilings, and matches the texture so the repair disappears after paint.
Quick answers
Is plaster repaired differently from drywall?
Yes. Loose plaster is re-attached to the lath before any patching, and the patch is built up in coats so it matches the thickness of the wall around it.
Does a ceiling crack mean a structural problem?
Most hairline ceiling cracks are cosmetic. A crack that is wide, growing, sagging or paired with a sticking door is worth a structural look before it is patched.
What this covers
Patch a hole in drywall
Small holes filled and larger holes cut square and patched with new drywall backed by wood cleats
Drywall patch
Replace water-damaged drywall
Soaked or stained drywall cut out past the damage line so the cavity can be inspected and dried
Wet drywall
Repair cracked lath and plaster walls
Loose plaster reattached to the lath with screws and plaster washers before any filling
Plaster repair
Fix a crack in the ceiling
Crack opened to sound material and checked for loose drywall tape, popped fasteners or loose plaster
Ceiling crack
Match wall texture after a repair
Existing texture identified, such as orange peel, knockdown, spatter or smooth, and tested on scrap board first
Texture match
Call now
Answered 24/7 by Tom or his dispatcher.
24/7 Express Handyman Service confirms the address, the zone rate and the dispatch fee, and takes a card, before rolling.
Every job 24/7 Express Handyman Service takes on is under $3,000 including labor, materials and any change orders (Utah Code §58-55-305); a change that would push a job over that line is referred to a licensed contractor, not written up as a second job. plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas appliance / combustion system work is referred to a licensed trade.