Drywall Installation & Repair

Repair. Replacement. Texture Matching. Spotless Handover.

Drywall repair and replacement is the most commonly underestimated trade in home renovation — the quality difference between an amateur patch and a professional finish is immediately visible in raking light. Paragon's drywall team handles everything from water damage replacement and popcorn ceiling removal to new construction boarding, three-coat finishing, and precise California texture matching on existing walls. Every job ends with a sanded prime coat ready for paint.

When to Repair vs. Replace

Our Drywall Process

1. 01Assessment and moisture check — for water-damage-related work, we probe with a moisture meter and check for mold before determining repair vs. replacement scope.
2. 02Removal with clean cuts — damaged sections are removed with a utility knife to the nearest stud or with a keyhole saw for ceiling work, creating clean, flat edges for the patch.
3. 03Framing repair — if water damage has affected studs, plates, or joists, we identify and repair structural framing before installing new drywall.
4. 04New drywall installation — 1/2" or 5/8" Type X installed with proper fastener pattern, appropriate screw type for the substrate, and fire-code compliance where required.
5. 05Three-coat tape and mud — mesh or paper tape embedded in first coat, followed by two feathering coats with 24-hour dry time between coats. No shortcuts.
6. 06Texture application — texture is applied by hand and matched to the existing wall profile. We allow the texture to cure fully before sanding.
7. 07Prime coat — a PVA primer coat is applied to all finished surfaces, ready for paint. Paragon delivers a prime-coat-ready surface — your painter does not need to skim or re-prime our work.

Drywall Service Capabilities

• Water damage drywall replacement
• Hole and crack repair (all sizes)
• Popcorn ceiling removal and smooth finish
• California knockdown texture application
• Skip trowel and orange peel texture
• Smooth level-5 finish
• Acoustic drywall installation (QuietRock)
• Resilient channel decoupled framing
• New wall and partition construction
• Bulkhead and soffit construction
• Curved and arched drywall
• Garage drywall (fire-rated Type X)
• Insurance drywall replacement (photo documentation included)

Drywall — Frequently Asked Questions

Can drywall with mold on it be cleaned, or must it be replaced?

Drywall with active mold growth must be replaced, not cleaned. The gypsum core and paper facing are porous — surface cleaning removes visible mold but leaves mycelium embedded in the material. IICRC S520 mold remediation standards are explicit on this point. Attempting to clean and re-use moldy drywall is a code violation and a liability issue. Replacement is the only correct protocol.

How long does drywall take to dry between coats?

Joint compound (mud) requires a minimum of 24 hours at ambient temperature between coats — never use heat guns or fans to accelerate drying, as this causes the surface to dry faster than the interior and results in cracking and poor adhesion. In high-humidity South Bay coastal environments, 36 hours between coats is our standard practice.

Can you match my existing California knockdown texture?

Yes — texture matching is one of the most important skills in drywall finishing, and the difference between a matched and unmatched texture is glaringly obvious in raking light. Our finishers practice on scrap boards to match your specific knockdown density and splatter pattern before touching your wall. We provide touch-up paint in our contract pricing for any minor color variations at the repair edges.

What is the difference between 1/2" and 5/8" drywall?

1/2" is the standard for interior walls and ceilings in residential construction. 5/8" Type X is required for fire-rated assemblies — garage-to-living space walls and ceilings, certain party walls in multi-unit buildings, and any wall specified as a 1-hour fire assembly. We use the correct spec for the application — not the cheapest option that fits.