Drywall Repair: How to Gear up and Patch Drywall

It's easier than you lot might call back to do your ain drywall repair. We'll show you how to set drywall and other damaged walls.

Time

A full twenty-four hours

Complexity

Beginner

Price

Less than $20

Introduction

Fix damaged drywall with these DIY repairs you can do. Don't melt downwards if a doorknob, misguided chair or an impromptu hockey game knocks a big hole in your drywall. With a little patience, a little articulation compound and a few dabs of paint fifty-fifty a novice can complete a near invisible wall repair.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Drywall
  • Drywall screws
  • Drywall tape
  • Articulation compound

How to patch a big hole in drywall: Overview

Measure the thickness of the drywall (most probable i/2 in.), and look for a large enough scrap from a damaged piece at a habitation middle as you see how to ready a hole in drywall, rather than buy a full 4 x 8-ft. canvass. Cut it to size and screw it into identify, spacing the screws every six in. Taping the edges of the patch drywall to make it invisible is the trickiest part of the how to fix drywall task. Buy a gallon tub of drywall compound and a whorl of paper record. You can use mesh tape, but information technology isn't equally strong. If you take a lot of repairs, also buy a sack of xx-minute setting compound. It hardens quickly and doesn't shrink, and so it'due south ideal for filling cracks and gaps before applying the articulation record. For smoothest results, also choice up flexible six- and ten-in. taping knives.

Apply a coat of compound and tape to each joint. Thin the compound a bit with water to help embed the tape. Smooth the record with the 6-in. knife, pulling out from the centre toward each end. Squeeze some, but not all, of the compound out from under the record and so you don't create a big hump on the wall. Immediately utilise a low-cal blanket to the topside of the tape, tapering it out onto the wall.

The second and 3rd coats are to alloy and smoothen the taped joints so they'll exist invisible when painted. Afterward each coat is dry, ready a straightedge against the wall to check for obvious dips and bumps. Knock off bumps and ridges with your taping pocketknife. Add more coats as needed. Then sand, prime and paint. The following volition walk you through more than of import tips and steps for how to fix a hole in the wall.

Project step-by-step (12)

Footstep 1

How to repair a big pigsty in drywall: Bank check for wires

how to fix drywall

Before cutting out the damaged area of this how to gear up drywall project, check the wall for obstructions. Ofttimes yous'll find a wire, pipe or duct. If and then, work carefully around them with a drywall or keyhole saw. Or brand a shallow cut by repeatedly scoring the line with a sharp utility pocketknife to begin a hole patch. Information technology'due south easier to add together backer board than to attempt to cutting the drywall over studs every bit y'all learn how to ready drywall. And so cut out the section with a drywall saw or utility knife.

Replacing drywall department tip:

When learning how to fix a hole in the wall, get out a few inches of drywall at corners and then you won't have to spread taping compound onto adjacent walls or ceilings and repaint them as well! Try to avoid common drywall installation mistakes.

Step 2

How to patch a pigsty: Insert backer boards

how to fix drywall

Cut the capitalist boards almost 4 in. longer than the height of the hole. Pine or other soft wood works well. Hold them tight to the backside of the drywall when fastening them. Concord the boards carefully so the screw points won't prick your fingers if they pop out the backside. The drywall screws volition draw the boards in tight. Sink the screwheads slightly below the drywall surface.

Stride three

Tape the joints

how to fix drywall

Lay a 1/8-in.-thick bed of patch drywall compound over the joints and press newspaper tape into the compound with a flexible 6-in. knife. Immediately apply a thin layer of compound on pinnacle of the record. Allow to dry out as you lot work your fashion through this how to patch drywall project.

Footstep 4

Apply a 2d and third coat

how to fix drywall

Apply a 2d coat of compound, cartoon it at least 6 in. beyond the edge of the first coat to taper the edges of the repair. Let dry, then add a third coat to smooth whatsoever remaining uneven areas.

Pace five

Sand the dry out compound

how to fix drywall

The final steps in how to fix a hole in the wall are to sand the dry out chemical compound lightly with 100-grit sandpaper to remove ridges and blend edges. Prime and paint.

Step 6

How to fix a hole in the wall: Modest Holes

Small holes caused by screws or hooks, wall fasteners or drywall fasteners that popular up are simple to repair, but once more time consuming because you most always have to repaint the walls. Nail pops are mutual and especially irritating, because you're likely to have more than ane. But drywall screws sometimes popular upwards as well, as a result of damp framing that dries out and shrinks during the starting time year or two in new construction.

The first footstep of how to patch a small-scale hole in the wall is to drive nails back down using a nail set. If you take screws, dig the drywall compound from their heads with a utility pocketknife and plow them in tight with a screwdriver.

Then dimple the pigsty slightly concave with a hammer to indent any raised edges. But take care not to crush the drywall core. In addition, cut abroad whatever paper tears with a sharp utility knife. This is a good technique to utilise with onetime wall fasteners as well. It'due south usually easier to tap them into the wall slightly rather than pull them out.

Two coats of drywall compound, applied with two swipes of the pocketknife in a "+" design, should make full the holes. The first glaze will shrink a bit, leaving a slightly smaller dent to exist filled by the second glaze. Scrape the excess off the surrounding wall so you don't build up a hump. Sand lightly to blend with the surrounding wall. Be certain to prime number the spot. Otherwise the topcoat will absorb into the patch and brand the area look different from the surrounding pigment. And use a roller when priming to help raise the surface texture to friction match the surrounding wall.

How to prepare a pigsty in the wall fast: xx-Minute Setting Chemical compound

Twenty-minute setting compound is a swell product for filling deep holes and gaps and for your kickoff taping coat because, unlike regular articulation compound, it hardens apace without shrinking. That means less time spent filling. And you tin apply a second coat of chemical compound as before long every bit the start hardens. You don't take to look for it to dry completely as you complete a how to fix drywall project.

For virtually uses, buy the lightweight type. It comes equally a powder in sacks. Mix only what you lot tin can use in nearly x minutes. It hardens quickly, often in your pan if you're too deadening! Completely clean your pan and knife before mixing a new batch in your how to fix drywall job. Otherwise it'll harden even faster! To avoid clogging the sink drain, throw leftover compound into the trash.

Drive a popped nail below the surface

how to fix drywall

Drive a popped boom below the surface of the drywall with a hammer and a nail set. Cut away loose joint compound and paper shreds.

Step vii

Bulldoze in drywall screws

how to fix drywall

Drive drywall screws about ane-i/two in. to a higher place and below the popped nail. Sink the screwhead just beneath the surface of the drywall.

Step 8

Fill the holes

how to fix drywall

Fill the holes with joint chemical compound, swiping first across the holes, so down. Permit dry out, apply a 2nd coat, then sand, prime and paint.

Pace 9

Cracked corners sheetrock repair

Every home settles unevenly as it ages. This sometimes causes within corners to scissure or ripple. Oft the cleft volition run from floor to ceiling. Once you spot this problem, watch information technology for 2 to three months for continued motion and gear up it after all movement stops.

The fundamental to renewing the strength of the corner is to remove all loose tape and drywall compound. If the drywall below has crumbled, cut information technology away with your utility knife and make full the gap with setting compound.

Retape the articulation post-obit the techniques shown in below of this how to fix drywall article. Crease the paper record down the heart then it fits into the corner hands. It'due south difficult to spread compound smoothly on one side of the corner without marring the other side. The trick is to employ compound for the second and third coats only on 1 side at a fourth dimension. Permit the 1 side dry out, then do the other side.

Finally, buy a fine-grit sanding sponge to shine the corners. It'll practise a prissy job without gouging.

Cut through the record

how to fix drywall

Cut through the tape at the ends of the croaky area and piece, scrape and tear away all loose record and chemical compound.

Stride 10

Apply joint compound

how to fix drywall

Apply a 1/8-in. layer of articulation compound, then fold and press newspaper tape into information technology. Stroke the length of the record, squeezing compound out on both sides. Let dry out.

Step 11

Use second and third coats

how to fix drywall

Apply 2nd and tertiary coats to smooth the joint, tapering the compound most 6 in. out. Let one side dry earlier applying compound to the other side.

Originally Published: February 20, 2022