How To
Make
Patching
Drywall a Snap
With a few tips and a little patience you can make patching drywall an easy fast do it yourself task to accomplish because not only is drywall easily damaged but its also easy to work with and thankfully very easy to repair.
Whether you need
to patch
a few nail holes or a gaping chasm from your cousin Eddy’s last visit,
you can
handle the job, even as a beginner.
Gather
Supplies:
- Joint compound (lightweight or all purpose)
- Putty knife (metal is better than plastic)
- Sand paper suited for drywall
- Dust mask
The
amount of joint compound
you need depends on the job, as does the size of the putty knife. For
small
nail holes, you can get away with a small tub of compound and a
narrower putty
knife. Joint compound will keep if you seal it tight and keep it from
freezing,
so if you know you will need to repair drywall again in the near
future, or
within a year, go for a bigger tub of compound and at least a 4-6-inch
putty
knife. You never know when cousin Eddy will show up again.
For
larger drywall repairs,
you may need:
- Paper drywall tape
- Fiberglass mesh adhesive tape
- Piece of drywall
- Utility knife
- Drywall saw
- Drywall screws
- Cordless drill or screw gun (keeps screws from sinking too deeply)
- 8” taping knife
- 1x4 lumber scrap
- Construction adhesive
- C-clamps
- Measuring
tape
Repair
Holes or Dips up to ½”
Before
you begin patching drywall:
*Remove
any loose paper, dust or debris from the hole.
*Wipe
the area with a dry cloth.
*Stir
the compound with a stiff spatula
Apply
a small amount of the
compound to the hole with a putty knife. Keep the
knife at a 45 degree angle as you pass over
the hole. Wipe away the excess with your cleaned knife, then make
another pass
over the hole at a 90 degree angle.
Let
the patch job dry for
the recommended time on the instructions. The compound shrinks as it
dries, so the
hole may have a slight indent. Apply compound again as you did before,
and let
it dry. Several light coats are better than one heavy coat. After each
coat
dries, knock off bumps or ridges with the edge of the knife. Sand or
wet sponge
after the final coat.
*Caution:
Always wear your
dust mask when you sand joint compound.
Patching
Drywall and Repairing
½ - 1 ½” Holes:
Follow
the prep steps from above.
Cut
a piece of adhesive mesh
drywall tape that will overlap the edges of the hole, then center it
over the
hole and press it firmly in place. Smooth the tape to the edges with
your clean
putty knife. Apply enough joint compound over the hole to fill it, but
don’t
worry about smoothing the edges on the first pass. Allow it to dry
thoroughly.
Apply
a second coat of
compound with a 5” knife, expanding the covered area several inches
beyond the
hole. Smooth with the knife, then allow it to dry again.
Apply
a third coat with an
8” taping knife, expanding the covered area again by several inches.
This is
the best way to prevent “humps” on the wall or obvious edges. After the
last
coat dries, knock off ridges with your putty knife and lightly sand
edges until
smooth.
Repair Holes Larger than 2”
Before you read on, take a look at this great video from Home Remodel
Workshop. You may be able to save yourself a few steps when it comes to
patching drywall and you maybe also to forget using a drill, screws and
clamps to make the best repair.
1.
Measure the hole.
2.
Measure and trace a
square of drywall at least two inches larger than the hole.
3.
Cut your traced lines
with a utility knife, then use a drywall saw to cut out your
square.
4.
Use your new drywall
patch piece as a template to trace a square on the wall around the
hole.
Center, then trace.
5.
Use a drywall hand saw to
cut the new square hole. Use a utility knife to clean up the edges.
Make a
beveled edge for a cleaner fit
6.
If the hole is small, use
a paint stir stick as a backing to keep the drywall patch piece in
place. Apply
construction adhesive to the ends of one side, then slide the stick
through the
hole, with the glue facing the opening, and hold it in place with two
c-clamps.
7.
When the glue is dry, fit
the piece of drywall and attach with more glue or a 1¼” drywall screw
and a
drill.
8.
For a larger hole, you
need to cut enough drywall away to center one edge of the drywall patch
piece
over half of a stud. Attach a 1x4 scrap on the other end that protrudes
into
the hole far enough to put screws into the new piece. Secure the 1x4
with
drywall screws above and below the hole. Fasten
the patch with more screws.
9.
Apply joint compound with
a 4-6” knife in all the seams. You need at least 1/16”. Don’t worry
about
making it smooth. While it still wet, lay the paper drywall tape over
the seams
and smooth it just enough to let trapped air escape.
*Caution:
too much smoothing
for this step will squeeze out too much of your underlying bed of joint
compound
10.
After the joint compound
has dried, apply a top layer of joint compound over the tape. Let dry.
Knock
off ridges and bumps with the edge of your putty knife, then sand
lightly.
11. Apply at least two coats over the whole area, covering the entire patch piece and extending several inches beyond the seams. Use an 8-inch knife or larger. Don’t sand or wet sponge until the final coat is dry.
After
you finish
patching drywall, completed your repairs and prep
work, you are ready to paint. Drywall compound is very porous and
should
always
be primed before painting.
Patching
drywall and repairing a hole in the wall
requires a little patience, but once you know how to do it you own a
valuable homeowner’s
skill. Now you can pound as many nails in the walls as you
like as you
arrange
your pictures. You might even feel brave enough to invite cousin Eddy
over
again.
