Drywall Repair — Twin Cities, MN
Owner-operated drywall repair for Twin Cities homes and small commercial buildings. Holes, cracks, nail pops, water damage, and full texture matching — patched, primed, and painted to a natural break so the repair disappears. No subcontractors, fully insured.
Every kind of drywall damage we repair
Twin Cities homes see all of these — usually more than once.
Holes & dents
Doorknob impacts, furniture moves, TV mounts, and mystery holes from previous owners. Small (<2") to large (full sheet) replacements.
Water damage
Ice-dam leaks, plumbing failures, and basement seepage. We cut out the wet drywall, dry the cavity, and rebuild — including the paint blend.
Cracks & nail pops
Seasonal foundation movement and framing that expands and contracts with MN humidity. Fixed with mesh, setting compound, and proper feathering.
Texture matching
Knockdown, orange peel, skip trowel, and smooth Level-5 finishes. We match the surrounding wall so the repair disappears under paint.
Our 5-step drywall repair process
Why our repairs still look invisible a year later.
Cut out the failure, not just the crack
Cracks and pops come back if you only skim over them. We cut back to solid drywall, add backing where needed, and rebuild the section properly.
Setting-type compound, not pre-mix
Pre-mixed mud shrinks and re-cracks in Minnesota's humidity swings. We use setting-type (hot mud) for the base coats so the repair stays put through winter heat and summer humidity.
Feather 12–18 inches past the patch
Cheap repairs telegraph a hump. We feather wide with a 10" or 12" knife so the wall reads flat under low, raking window light.
Match the texture before we prime
Orange peel from a spray hopper, knockdown with a proper trowel, skip trowel by hand. Wrong texture is the #1 tell of a bad repair.
Prime, then paint the full wall corner-to-corner
Spot-painting a repair almost always flashes. We prime the patch and roll paint to a natural break (corner, trim line) so the sheen matches.
How to repair drywall — a Twin Cities homeowner's guide
A lot of drywall repairs are DIY-friendly. Here's the method a pro uses for each damage type — and where it stops being worth doing yourself.
Small holes (nail to 1/2")
Clean loose paper, fill with lightweight spackle using a 2" putty knife, let dry, sand smooth with 220 grit, spot prime, and paint.
Medium holes (1/2" to 4")
Center a self-adhesive mesh patch over the hole. Apply setting-type joint compound with a 4" knife, feather with a 6" knife on the second coat, sand, prime, and paint.
Large holes (over 4") — how to repair drywall the right way
Cut a square opening back to studs, screw in 1x3 wood backing, cut a drywall patch to fit, screw it in place, tape all four seams with paper tape and setting compound, apply three coats feathering each wider than the last, sand, match texture, prime, and paint.
Cracks along seams or corners
Rake out the crack with a utility knife, embed paper tape in setting compound, apply two feathered coats, sand, prime, and paint. If the crack returns yearly, address the movement first (foundation, framing).
Water-damaged drywall
Never patch over wet drywall. Find and fix the leak, cut the wet section out with 6" of margin, dry the cavity fully (moisture meter, not just eyes), treat for mold if present, then rebuild as a large-hole repair.
When to call us: anything larger than a golf ball, any water damage, any ceiling repair, any textured wall (knockdown, orange peel, skip trowel), or any repair where the paint sheen has to match a wall that's been on the house for years. Texture and sheen matching is where 90% of DIY repairs give themselves away.
Drywall repair service areas
Owner-operated across the Twin Cities metro. If your city isn't listed, call — we probably still cover it.
Drywall repair FAQs
How much does drywall repair cost in the Twin Cities?
Small hole repairs typically run $125–$250 per patch when we bundle a few into one trip. A single mid-sized patch, textured and blended, is usually $175–$350. Full sheet replacements, water-damage rebuilds, and ceiling repairs are quoted after we see the damage — figure $400–$1,200 per area depending on texture and paint match. We give you a written estimate, not a range on the phone.
How to repair drywall holes properly?
The right method depends on size. Nail-to-quarter-sized holes get spackle. Golf-ball-sized holes get a mesh patch and setting compound. Anything over 4 inches needs a wood-backed drywall patch cut into the wall, taped, mudded in three coats, textured, primed, and painted to blend. Skipping the backing or using pre-mixed mud for the base coat is why most DIY patches crack or telegraph within a year.
Can you match my wall texture?
Yes — knockdown, orange peel, skip trowel, sand swirl, and smooth Level-5 finishes. Texture matching is where most repairs fail. We test-spray or hand-trowel a sample first, adjust, then apply so the repair disappears once painted.
Do you fix water-damaged drywall?
Yes. Ice dams, plumbing leaks, and basement seepage are our most common water calls. We cut out wet material with margin, verify the cavity is dry with a moisture meter, treat for mold when needed, and rebuild the wall or ceiling including the paint blend. If you're seeing brown stains, the drywall behind the stain is almost always compromised — a stain-blocker over the top is a temporary fix.
How long does a drywall repair take?
Small patches are same-day. Mid-sized repairs with texture matching are usually two visits — one to patch and mud, one to sand, texture, prime, and paint after the compound cures (24–48 hours). Ceiling repairs, water-damage rebuilds, and full-wall texture matches run 2–4 days. We schedule around the cure times so the finish holds up.
Do you repair drywall in condos and townhomes?
Yes. We work in townhomes and condo units across Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the suburbs, and we coordinate with HOAs on ceiling and shared-wall repairs when needed.
Do you paint the repair too?
Yes — and we recommend it. Spot-painting a patch almost always flashes because the new paint's sheen and film thickness don't match the old paint that's been on the wall for years. We roll the full wall to a natural break so the repair disappears.
What size hole can be patched vs. needs a full drywall replacement?
Under 1/2 inch: spackle only. 1/2 inch to 4 inches: self-adhesive mesh patch and setting-type compound. 4 to 8 inches: California patch (a drywall plug with paper flanges) or a wood-backed patch. Over 8 inches, and anything spanning a stud bay: cut the opening square to the studs and install a fresh piece of drywall. Cracks longer than 12 inches or that reopen every season are a movement problem — patching alone won't hold.
What materials do you use for drywall repair?
For the base coats we use setting-type joint compound (USG Easy Sand 20, 45, or 90 depending on the size of the repair) because it chemically cures and doesn't shrink. For the finish coat we use pre-mixed all-purpose or Plus 3 lightweight compound for easy sanding. Paper tape on flat seams and inside corners, mesh tape on small patches, and standard 1/2" drywall (or 5/8" for ceilings, moisture-resistant green board in bathrooms). Primer is a stain-blocking sealer over the repair before topcoat paint.
Spackle vs joint compound vs setting compound — which do I use?
Spackle is for tiny holes (nails, screws, pinholes) — dries in minutes, sands easily, but shrinks on anything larger. Pre-mixed joint compound (green lid, blue lid) is for finish coats and skim-coating — smooth, easy to sand, but shrinks and re-cracks on structural repairs. Setting-type compound (Easy Sand, Durabond) is a powder you mix with water — it chemically hardens instead of drying, doesn't shrink, and is what pros use for the first two coats on any real repair.
How long does drywall compound take to cure?
Pre-mixed joint compound is dry (not cured) in 24 hours per 1/8" of thickness — longer in Minnesota winters when heated indoor air is dry but cold, and longer in humid summers. Setting-type compound cures chemically in the time on the bag: Easy Sand 20 sets in ~20 minutes, 45 in ~45 minutes, 90 in ~90 minutes. Setting compound can be recoated as soon as it's hard, but should still dry out (2–4 hours) before priming for best paint adhesion. Full cure before painting is 24 hours for most repairs.
How long should I wait before priming and painting a drywall repair?
Sand your final coat, wipe the dust, and wait until the compound is fully white and hard — usually 24 hours for a mid-sized repair, up to 48 hours for thick fills or in humid weather. Prime with a dedicated drywall primer (PVA) or a stain-blocker; a flat latex is not a substitute. Let the primer dry per the can (typically 1–2 hours) before your first coat of paint.
Why does my drywall patch keep cracking?
Three usual causes. One: pre-mixed compound used for the base coats — it shrinks and re-cracks. Fix with setting-type compound. Two: no tape across the seam or crack — a skim of mud alone can't bridge movement. Fix with paper tape embedded in setting compound. Three: real structural movement (foundation, framing, truss uplift on ceilings) — the crack will keep coming back until the movement is addressed, and a flexible caulk joint may be the right long-term fix instead of mud.
Can drywall be repaired in winter in Minnesota?
Yes. We work through Minnesota winters — the challenge is dry indoor air, which speeds pre-mix drying (good) but can cause thick fills to crack (bad). We use setting-type compound for the base coats specifically because it cures chemically and isn't affected by humidity swings. Homes with humidifiers actually do better in winter than in dry-heated homes.
Live Google Reviews
Verified Google reviews, updated automatically. 4.9★ average from 69 customers.
Source: Google Reviews
Verify on Google MapsLive from the Google Places API — last refreshed Sep 14, 2026
Showing 5 of 5 reviews
- Commercial
"Cody is truly an exceptional painter and business man. He is a great communicator and is there when he says he will be there. Cody protected surfaces not being painted and did an exceptional job of clean up when the job was over. We were very happy with his work and have already recommended to others."
- Drywall Repair
"Cody did a great job stripping our old wallpaper and repainting! Communicated well through the whole project and would highly recommend."
- Interior PaintingDrywall Repair
"I had water damage on my wall from a leak in my upper level bathroom. Hired Advanced Painting to fix it and repaint. They did an awesome job! They were very helpful and easy to deal with from start to finish. 100% recommend!"
"Cody does fast and quality work. I am very happy with our finished product. We painted the wood/brick on the front of our house and it was quick and looks so much better. I will definitely use advanced painting for future projects."
"We were really pleased with final result of our project. Before that we were impressed with the efficiency, craftsmanship, knowledge throughout the process and in the end, just as promised."
Drywall Repair Reviews from Twin Cities Homeowners
4.9 out of 5 stars · 190+ Twin Cities projects
Texture matching, water-damage patches, popcorn removal and nail pops — reviewed by the homeowners who hired Cody directly.
“Water damage patch and full ceiling repaint — you cannot see where the repair was. Owner-operated makes a real difference on quality.”
Tom B. — Roseville, MN
Drywall repair + ceiling repaint
“Cody matched our knockdown texture perfectly after we removed a built-in. Three other contractors said it couldn't be blended — it's invisible.”
Alicia W. — Shoreview, MN
Knockdown texture match
“Removed popcorn ceilings in two rooms, skim coated smooth, primed and painted. Dust containment was excellent and the ceilings look brand new.”
Greg S. — Blaine, MN
Popcorn ceiling removal + skim coat
“Fixed dozens of nail pops and cracked seams throughout our 1990s home, then repainted. Fast, tidy, and the walls finally look flat and clean.”
Nicole F. — Vadnais Heights, MN
Nail pops + seam repair
Local Service Area
Painting Services Near Shoreview, MN
Advanced Painting Services — Drywall Repair Across the Twin Cities
Owner-operated painting contractor serving Shoreview and the Twin Cities metro.
822 Cannon Ave, Shoreview, MN 55126
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Hours (live from Google)Monday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMTuesday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMWednesday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMThursday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMFriday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMSaturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
4.9 stars from 69 Google reviews · View on Google
Fully insured ($1M Hiscox) · 3-year written workmanship warranty · Free estimates
Free drywall repair estimate — Twin Cities
Send a photo of the damage. We'll send back a written estimate in 24 hours. Owner-operated. Fully insured.