20 Things You Need to Know About Repairing Drywall

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Irrespective it’s a small hole or a gaping hole, a hole in the drywall creates an unsightly blemish that must be fixed. Here, we cover the steps you need to know to fix anything from a few small nail pops to a large gaping hole in your drywall.
Prior to going shopping, consider the following two points so you can plan your purchases in accordance:

– Make a decision whether you wish to repaint the entire wall or simply touch up over the patched areas. When patching very small holes, the repairs can be covered by using a soft cloth to dab on some touch-up paint.

– If your intention is to patch a larger quantity of holes and perhaps some other damage too, before repainting, prime over the patched areas, which is even more important if you wish to finish with a semi-gloss or a paint that is particularly shiny. The higher the level of gloss, the more obvious is the difference in surface textures that arise between the patched area and the surrounding paintwork.

Word of Caution

Before making the repair, it is vitally important to know precisely where your home’s utility placement is. Typically, wall studs are used to attach electric wires. Before you begin drilling, cutting, or nailing, locate the wall studs so you know exactly where the wiring runs.

Tools and Materials You Will Need

  • Scrap Drywall
  • 3/4″ x 2″ Furring Strips
  • Fiberglass Mesh Tape
  • Drywall Joint Compound
  • Pencil
  • Construction Adhesive
  • Painter’s Putty
  • Putty Knife
  • Trowel
  • Drywall Saw
  • Drywall Screws
  • Blade Knife
  • Cordless Drill

Step 1
Clean the hole using a blade knife. The exterior of the hole should be larger than the interior, which can be achieved by cutting at an angle.

Step 2
Using painter’s putty, fill the hole and make it level to the surface of the wall.

Step 3
Allow the putty to dry. Next, sand the area until it is smooth.

Step 4
The putty should be spackled over. This step may need to be repeated.

Step 5
Use your drywall metal patch for medium-sized holes.

Step 6
The surface around the hole can now be sanded smooth.

Step 7
Wipe the dust off.

Step 8
Peel the backing paper off the metal patch and press it firmly in pace with the mesh facing to the exterior.

Step 9
Spread the drywall compound neatly over the patch and feather the edges out. Smooth it over and allow it to completely dry.

Step 10
Sand the surface of the drywall compound until it is smooth and flush to the wall. Repeat steps 9 and 10 to the point that the patch is undetectable.

Step 11
A larger hole in the drywall will require a patch made from drywall. Be sure that this is of the equivalent thickness to the drywall that’s in place already.

Step 12
Slice out a square of drywall that is a little larger than the hole to be filled. Score over one side with the blade knife and then snap the square apart. Cut the rear of the break line to part it completely.

Step 13
Using a pencil, sketch an outline of the patch around the area where the hole is.

Step 14
Check for any plumbing lines and electrical cords at the area to be cut.

Step 15
Cut out the sketched area using a drywall saw.

Step 16
At the rear of the drywall, screw in place two wooden boards. One should be positioned at the top of the hole, while the other at the bottom. This solves the issue of the patch potentially falling through.

Step 17
The drywall patch should now be screwed to the wooden boards.

Step 18
Spread over the drywall compound and cover with mesh.

Step 19
Sand the area over and then repeat steps 18 and 19. After which, the patch should be undetectable.

Step 20
Once the area is completely dry, paint over the surface.

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Sacramento Handyman
2386 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento CA 95824
(916) 472-0507

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