Easy Drywall Repair Tips

Drywall is a very interesting material in that when moist or wet, it easily crumbles yet when it comes to withstand impacts, it holds up exceptionally well. Internal walls are made from panels of drywall, which are then primed and painted. In this post we have collected some easy drywall repair tips for you.

Although this material is capable of withstanding a lot of force, it is common for certain areas to experience damage. For instance, if no doorstop has been placed behind the door at the floor level and someone were to open the door quickly or with force, the doorknob could easily create a hole or when changing out a light fixture, an area on the ceiling might chip off.

No matter the area or cause of the drywall damage, we wanted to provide information for easy fixes. Whether the damage involves a small or large hole, you can complete the repairs easily and with little money. When done right, it would be impossible to tell that the wall had been damaged at all .

Small Holes

For starters, most damage done to drywalls is small and repair is extremely easy. You will need to visit a hardware or home improvement store where you can purchase a patch for less than $10. Made from flexible metal mesh with a small perforated holed, the backside has strips of adhesive that making attaching it over the hole easy. These patches are sold in various sizes so would simply choose the size that fits over the hole with a little extending over the edges Some Common Eye-Catching Names.

Next, you can purchase drywall patching compound to mix or for convenience, buy a readymade product. After the patch has been attached to the wall, you would use a trowel to apply the compound over the patch. For this, make sure the entire patch is covered and thick enough to allow the area to be sanded down equal to the actual drywall. Try to keep the applied compound as smooth as possible, which would make sanding once it dries easier.

The drywall compound would then be allowed to dry according to the manufacturer’s directions, followed by using fine sandpaper to sand the area. Again, the goal is to sand the compound so it is flush to the drywall. The area would then be wiped down with a dry cloth to remove residue, primed, and painted. When done, it would be impossible to tell where the hole had been.

Large Holes

Now, if the hole larger than what a patch would cover you would need to purchase a small sheet of new drywall. Using a utility knife, start by cutting a square or rectangular area of the damaged wall so you have a hole with clean edges. Measuring the area, you would then cut a square or rectangular piece from the new drywall the exact size.

Prior to inserting the new piece of drywall into the hole, insert a four to six piece of wood depending on the size needed into the hole, securing it to the wall joist with wood screws. Next insert the new piece of drywall into the hole and if you find it a little too tight, simply use a construction file to shave it down, taking off very little at a time. Remember, you want the new piece of drywall to fit as tight as possible.

To keep the new drywall piece in place, fasten two screws through the drywall and into the piece of wood installed, using flathead screws that are countersunk. You would then apply a small amount of spackling over the countersunk nails, allowing it to dry. Lightly sand to even out the surface, place a strip of drywall tape down all four seams, making sure it lies flat, and with a trowel, apply drywall compound to the entire area. Make sure the application of the compound is slightly thicker than the actual wall so once dried, it could be sanded even with the existing drywall.

Once the drywall has dried according to the manufacturer’s instructions, use fine sandpaper to sand it down, again making it the same density as the drywall. The area would then be wiped down with a dry cloth, primed, and painted. By taking your time, once the larger hole has been fixed, it would look identical to the original wall.