Drywall vs. caulking: what your new home actually needs

New homes in Ottawa settle during their first years. That movement shows up as nail pops, hairline cracks along drywall seams, and gaps where trim meets the wall. None of it is unusual — but each symptom has a different fix.

Cracks and holes in the wall surface itself are a drywall repair: the area is patched, sanded, primed and painted to blend in. Gaps along baseboards, window casings and countertops are a caulking job: old or missing sealant is removed and a clean new bead is applied.

A quick rule of thumb: if you can see into the wall or the paint is broken, it's drywall. If it's a line gap between two surfaces that still look fine, it's caulking. When in doubt, send us a photo on WhatsApp and we'll tell you which one it is before you book anything.

Typical pricing in Ottawa: drywall repairs start around $180 and caulking around $180 per visit, with silicone work in kitchens and baths from $110. You can build an instant estimate on our home page.