Drywall repair in Ottawa: send a photo, one company calls
A doorknob hole, a crack over the door frame, a stain after a leak. Describe the damage and its size, and we pass the request to one independent Ottawa company that patches and paints.
In short
- 01Ottawa handymen bill about $85–120 an hour; a small patch is usually charged at the company's minimum.
- 02A patch needs drying time between coats, so sanding and paint often come on a second visit.
- 03Size, the number of holes, ceiling work and paint matching set the time.
- 04Water stain? Fix the leak first; the patch comes after the wall dries.
Typical ranges
Source HomeStars, How much does a handyman cost in Ottawa?, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. Permits: City of Ottawa, projects not requiring building permits, City of Ottawa, finishing a basement.
What to ask before you book
- Q1Do you charge by the hour or a flat price for my patches, and what is the minimum?
- Q2How many visits will it take, with drying time between coats?
- Q3How do you keep sanding dust out of the rest of the house?
- Q4Do you prime and paint, and who supplies the paint?
- Q5Can you match the texture on my wall or ceiling?
Before the visit
- A photo of each hole or crack with a tape measure or a coin for size
- The paint can, or the colour name and brand from the label
- Furniture moved away from the wall, and the floor clear for drop sheets
- For a water stain, the plumber's note or proof the leak is fixed
- A note on where the repair is: wall or ceiling, which floor
Describe the damage in three lines
Size, cause and place. “Doorknob hole, about fist size, hallway wall, second floor.” “Hairline crack over the bedroom door, came back after last winter.” “Brown stain on the kitchen ceiling under the bathroom, leak fixed in September.” Each line tells the company how much compound, how many coats and whether a ladder or drop sheets for the whole room come along.
Count the holes. Several patches in one visit share the same drying time.
What sets the time
A drywall patch is mostly waiting. Compound goes on, dries, gets sanded, then a second coat, then primer and paint. Small holes take a mesh patch, larger ones a new piece of drywall screwed to the studs or a backer. Ceilings take longer than walls. Matching an old texture or a sheen adds steps.
That is why a small patch is often billed at the minimum charge, and why a second visit for paint is common.
Water damage
Fix the source first. A patch over a wet wall fails. Tell the company in the request that there was a leak, when it was fixed and whether the drywall feels soft. If the leak came from a pipe, a plumber’s note helps.
When the patch is part of a bigger job
When drywall work comes with framing, insulation or wiring, it is renovation work, and the rules change. Finishing a basement is on the City of Ottawa’s list of building permit projects, with inspections for framing and insulation before the drywall goes up. Uninspected work may have to be opened again.
If your request is a basement or a room rebuild, send it as a renovation request and say so. For holes, cracks and stains, the handyman request is the right one.
Paint and finish
Keep the leftover paint, or note the colour code and sheen from the can, so the company can match it. Ask whether it paints the patch only or the whole wall, corner to corner, and what each option costs.
How the request moves
613 Pros sends your drywall request to one independent Ottawa company. That company calls you, quotes the repair and does it.
Questions
01How much does it cost to patch a hole in drywall in Ottawa?
Ottawa companies publish hourly rates, about $85–120 according to HomeStars Ottawa, and small patches are usually billed at the company’s minimum charge or hourly rate. Send photos with the size and the company can quote on the call.
02Why does a small patch take two visits?
Joint compound has to dry between coats before it can be sanded and painted. Ask the company how it schedules the coats.
03Do I need a City permit to patch drywall?
The City’s list of projects that need no building permit includes painting and decorating. Adding or removing walls and finishing a basement need one. If the patch is part of bigger work, ask the City through 3-1-1.
04What about a crack that keeps coming back?
Write where it is, how long it has been there and when it reopens, and ask the company what it would check before patching it again.
05Will the patch show after painting?
It depends on the texture, the sheen and the age of the paint. Ask whether the company paints the patch only or the whole wall, and what it suggests for your finish.