Drywall Repair: How to Fix and Patch Drywall

It's easier than y'all might remember to do your own drywall repair. We'll show you how to prepare drywall and other damaged walls.

Time

A full day

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

Less than $20

Introduction

Ready damaged drywall with these DIY repairs you can practice. Don't melt down if a doorknob, misguided chair or an impromptu hockey game knocks a large pigsty in your drywall. With a lilliputian 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
  • Joint compound

How to patch a large hole in drywall: Overview

Measure the thickness of the drywall (most likely 1/2 in.), and look for a large enough scrap from a damaged piece at a dwelling center as you meet how to set a hole in drywall, rather than purchase a full 4 x viii-ft. sheet. Cutting it to size and spiral it into identify, spacing the screws every vi in. Taping the edges of the patch drywall to get in invisible is the trickiest role of the how to ready drywall job. Buy a gallon tub of drywall chemical compound and a roll of paper record. You can use mesh tape, but information technology isn't as strong. If you have a lot of repairs, also buy a sack of xx-minute setting compound. Information technology hardens quickly and doesn't shrink, so it's ideal for filling cracks and gaps before applying the joint record. For smoothest results, also pick upward flexible 6- and ten-in. taping knives.

Apply a glaze of compound and record to each joint. Sparse the chemical compound a bit with h2o to help embed the tape. Polish the tape with the six-in. knife, pulling out from the center toward each end. Clasp some, but not all, of the compound out from under the tape and so you lot don't create a large hump on the wall. Immediately utilise a low-cal coating to the topside of the record, tapering it out onto the wall.

The second and third coats are to blend and smooth the taped joints so they'll be invisible when painted. After each coat is dry, gear up a straightedge against the wall to check for obvious dips and bumps. Knock off bumps and ridges with your taping knife. Add together more coats as needed. Then sand, prime and paint. The following will walk you lot through more important tips and steps for how to fix a hole in the wall.

Project step-by-step (12)

Stride 1

How to repair a large hole in drywall: Check for wires

how to fix drywall

Before cutting out the damaged area of this how to set up drywall project, bank check the wall for obstructions. Often you'll find a wire, pipe or duct. If so, piece of work carefully around them with a drywall or keyhole saw. Or brand a shallow cut by repeatedly scoring the line with a sharp utility knife to begin a pigsty patch. It'south easier to add together backer board than to endeavor to cut the drywall over studs as yous larn how to prepare drywall. Then cut out the section with a drywall saw or utility knife.

Replacing drywall section tip:

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

Step ii

How to patch a hole: Insert backer boards

how to fix drywall

Cutting the backer boards about 4 in. longer than the pinnacle of the pigsty. Pine or other soft wood works well. Agree 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 behind. The drywall screws volition depict the boards in tight. Sink the screwheads slightly below the drywall surface.

Step 3

Tape the joints

how to fix drywall

Lay a 1/eight-in.-thick bed of patch drywall compound over the joints and printing paper tape into the compound with a flexible 6-in. pocketknife. Immediately apply a thin layer of compound on elevation of the record. Let to dry equally you piece of work your way through this how to patch drywall projection.

Step four

Apply a second and tertiary coat

how to fix drywall

Employ a second coat of compound, drawing it at least 6 in. across the edge of the showtime coat to taper the edges of the repair. Let dry, then add together a third glaze to polish whatever remaining uneven areas.

Step 5

Sand the dry out compound

how to fix drywall

The last steps in how to prepare a hole in the wall are to sand the dry compound lightly with 100-grit sandpaper to remove ridges and blend edges. Prime number and paint.

Step 6

How to set up a hole in the wall: Small Holes

Small holes caused by screws or hooks, wall fasteners or drywall fasteners that popular upward are simple to repair, simply again time consuming because you lot almost ever have to repaint the walls. Nail pops are common and particularly irritating, because you're likely to accept more one. But drywall screws sometimes popular up too, as a result of damp framing that dries out and shrinks during the first twelvemonth or two in new structure.

The beginning step of how to patch a small pigsty in the wall is to bulldoze nails dorsum down using a nail prepare. If you have screws, dig the drywall compound from their heads with a utility knife and turn them in tight with a screwdriver.

Then dimple the hole slightly concave with a hammer to indent any raised edges. Simply take intendance not to shell the drywall core. In addition, cut away any newspaper tears with a precipitous utility knife. This is a skilful technique to use with quondam wall fasteners as well. It's 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 knife in a "+" pattern, should fill the holes. The offset glaze will compress a fleck, leaving a slightly smaller dent to exist filled by the 2d coat. Scrape the backlog off the surrounding wall so you don't build upwards a hump. Sand lightly to alloy with the surrounding wall. Be sure to prime number the spot. Otherwise the topcoat volition absorb into the patch and make the area await different from the surrounding paint. And use a roller when priming to help raise the surface texture to match the surrounding wall.

How to fix a hole in the wall fast: xx-Minute Setting Compound

Twenty-minute setting compound is a peachy product for filling deep holes and gaps and for your first taping coat because, different regular joint compound, it hardens quickly without shrinking. That means less time spent filling. And you can apply a second coat of chemical compound as soon as the start hardens. You don't accept to wait for it to dry completely as yous consummate a how to fix drywall project.

For nearly uses, buy the lightweight type. Information technology comes every bit a powder in sacks. Mix only what you can employ in about 10 minutes. It hardens chop-chop, often in your pan if y'all're too slow! Completely clean your pan and knife before mixing a new batch in your how to set up drywall chore. Otherwise it'll harden fifty-fifty faster! To avoid clogging the sink bleed, throw leftover chemical compound into the trash.

Drive a popped nail below the surface

how to fix drywall

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

Step 7

Drive in drywall screws

how to fix drywall

Drive drywall screws about i-1/2 in. above and beneath the popped nail. Sink the screwhead but below the surface of the drywall.

Step viii

Fill the holes

how to fix drywall

Fill the holes with joint compound, swiping beginning across the holes, then down. Let dry, apply a second glaze, so sand, prime number and paint.

Step ix

Cracked corners sheetrock repair

Every domicile settles unevenly every bit it ages. This sometimes causes inside corners to crack or ripple. Oftentimes the crack will run from floor to ceiling. In one case yous spot this problem, spotter information technology for two to iii months for continued motility and fix information technology after all move stops.

The key to renewing the strength of the corner is to remove all loose tape and drywall chemical compound. If the drywall below has crumbled, cut it away with your utility knife and fill the gap with setting compound.

Retape the joint following the techniques shown in beneath of this how to fix drywall article. Crease the paper record down the middle and so it fits into the corner hands. It's difficult to spread compound smoothly on i side of the corner without marring the other side. The trick is to apply compound for the second and tertiary coats only on one side at a time. Let the one side dry, then do the other side.

Finally, purchase a fine-grit sanding sponge to shine the corners. Information technology'll do a nice job without gouging.

Cut through the tape

how to fix drywall

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

Step 10

Apply articulation compound

how to fix drywall

Utilize a i/eight-in. layer of joint compound, then fold and printing newspaper tape into information technology. Stroke the length of the tape, squeezing compound out on both sides. Let dry.

Footstep 11

Apply second and 3rd coats

how to fix drywall

Apply second and third coats to shine the joint, tapering the compound well-nigh 6 in. out. Let one side dry before applying compound to the other side.