Drywall & Plaster Repair in Coalville, UT: Old Brick Homes, Water Stains, Cabin Freeze Damage & Garage Walls

Drywall Patching · Coalville, UT

Coalville walls come in three generations

Coalville is the Summit County seat and one of its older towns, and the walls show it. Near Main Street and the courthouse there are brick homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s with plaster walls. Around town there are farmhouses that were added onto over several generations, so one room may be plaster and the next drywall. On the edges of town and toward Echo and Rockport there are newer homes and cabins with standard drywall. Each needs a slightly different repair, and a patch that is right for drywall can crack right back open on old plaster.

Plaster in older brick homes

In many older Utah brick homes, the exterior walls were plastered directly onto the inside face of the brick, while interior walls were plaster on wood lath. Both hold up for a century, but they fail in their own ways:

Hairline and spiderweb cracks: common and mostly cosmetic. We open them slightly, fill with a setting-type compound and tape where needed so they do not telegraph back through the paint.
Loose plaster on lath: when plaster lets go of the lath it feels soft or bulges when pressed. Small areas can be reattached with plaster washers and screws before patching; large failing sections are better replaced with drywall cut to match the thickness.
Bubbling or powdery plaster on outside walls: plaster on brick that blisters, crumbles or shows white salty deposits usually means moisture is coming through the brick, often from a failed gutter, a downspout dumping against the wall or mortar joints that need repointing. Patching it without fixing the water just buys a season.

Older textures and joint compounds can contain asbestos, and old paint can contain lead. Before we sand or cut into plaster in an older home, we may recommend having a sample tested.

Water stains on ceilings

A brown ring on the ceiling is one of the most common calls we get after a winter. In Coalville it usually comes from one of three things: an ice dam backing water under the shingles at the eaves, a leak around a chimney or vent on an older roof, or a bathroom above. The leak has to be fixed first by the right trade, usually a roofer or plumber. Then we check the drywall: if it is firm and dry, a stain-blocking primer and paint is often all it needs. If it is soft, sagging or the stain keeps spreading, we cut out the damaged section, check that the insulation and framing above are dry, and patch. See our ice dam guide for what causes the eave leaks.

Echo and Rockport cabins after a frozen pipe

Cabins and second homes around Echo Reservoir, Rockport and the canyons north of town can sit empty for weeks in winter. If the heat fails or a line in an outside wall freezes and splits, the damage shows up when someone finally opens the door. The order matters:

The plumber repairs the pipe and confirms there are no other leaks.
For a large leak, a water damage company dries the walls, floors and insulation with proper equipment. Wet drywall that is closed up again can grow mold.
We cut out the damaged drywall cleanly, replace insulation if needed, hang and finish new drywall, match the texture and paint.

Leaving an access panel where the pipe runs through a wall makes the next repair, or the next winter check, much easier. Our frozen pipes guide covers how to avoid the whole thing.

Garage and basement walls

The wall and ceiling between an attached garage and the house are usually fire-rated drywall, and holes there from car doors, shelving or old projects should be repaired with the same type of board, not left open or covered with a piece of plywood. In basements, stains low on the walls near window wells point to water coming in from outside. Before patching or finishing a basement wall, it is worth reading our basement moisture guide.

Newer homes and settling cracks

Newer Coalville homes get the normal first-few-winters drywall problems: nail pops, cracks running from door and window corners and taped seams that show. Most are cosmetic and easy to fix once the house has been through a heating season. Our settling cracks guide explains what is normal and what is not.

What we hand off

Roofer: leaks, ice dams and flashing behind ceiling stains
Plumber: any active or recent leak before walls are closed up
Water damage or restoration company: large leaks, standing water and drying out
Mason: brick and mortar repointing behind damp plaster on outside walls
Testing lab or abatement company: suspected asbestos in old textures or plaster

More Coalville and drywall pages

Service overview: drywall patching. Other Coalville pages: door repair, gutter cleaning, snow-season prep, carpentry and handyman in Coalville. Drywall repair nearby: Kamas, Park City and Heber City. Honest work, fair prices.

Book in Coalville

Call or text (435) 321-2591 with your neighborhood, a short description and a photo or two. You can also message us on Instagram at @kamasvalleyhandyman. Got other small jobs around the house? Send the whole list so we can plan one visit.

Call or text (435) 321-2591 Message us on Instagram

Drywall and plaster repair in Coalville: FAQ

Do you repair drywall and plaster in Coalville?

Yes. Holes, cracks, water-stained ceilings, plaster cracks and patches in older brick homes, farmhouses, newer homes and cabins in Coalville, Hoytsville, Wanship, Henefer and around Echo and Rockport.

Can you repair plaster walls in an old brick house?

Yes, in most cases. We fill cracks with setting compound and tape, reattach small loose areas to the lath and patch larger failed sections with drywall cut to match the thickness. Damp, crumbling plaster on outside walls needs the moisture source fixed first.

Can you fix a water stain on my ceiling?

Yes, after the leak is fixed. Firm, dry drywall usually just needs stain-blocking primer and paint. Soft or sagging drywall gets cut out and replaced once the area above is dry.

A pipe froze at our cabin. Can you fix the walls?

Yes. After the plumber repairs the pipe and the area is properly dried, we replace the damaged drywall and insulation, match the texture and paint. For large leaks, bring in a water damage company to dry everything first.

Is old plaster or wall texture dangerous to sand?

It can be. Older textures and joint compounds may contain asbestos, and old paint may contain lead. In older homes we may recommend testing a sample before sanding or cutting.

How do I book drywall repair in Coalville?

Call or text (435) 321-2591, or message @kamasvalleyhandyman on Instagram, with photos of the damage and whether there has been a recent leak.

We focus on general handyman work and are not a licensed electrical, plumbing or general contracting company. For jobs that need a licensed trade, we'll tell you upfront and point you in the right direction.

Drywall and plaster repair in Coalville