Weekend Upgrade: Repairing Drywall

Drywall is not indestructible. When life happens, it leaves behind unsightly holes and gouges that mar the surface of your wall. Luckily, repairing drywall is fairly straightforward and all it requires is a little time and the right tools and materials. Here are some great drywall repair tips shared by your favorite handyman company, Handyman Connection.

Small Holes

To repair a small drywall hole, follow these steps.

1. Use a sharp utility knife to clean up the edges of the hole, cutting at an angle to make the outside of the hole bigger than the inside.
2. With a putty knife, carefully apply painter’s putty over the hole, pushing it in and then leveling it until it’s flush with the wall’s surface.
3. Allow the putty to air dry. Once it’s ready, gently sand over the dried putty, then cover it with spackling compound.
4. When it comes time to paint, don’t forget to prime over any drywall repairs to prevent them from showing through the paint. Alternatively, you could also use a self-priming patching material in place of painter’s putty, which would enable you to skip this step.

Midsize Holes

If you have a doorknob-sized hole from someone slamming a door into the wall, you’re going to need more than a little putty. Stick-on mesh patches work great for repairing holes of this size, and they’re available in several different sizes. Follow these easy steps to apply them.

1. Clean and sand the surface around the hole until smooth, then wipe off the dust.
2. Peel off the paper backing and apply the patch to the wall with the mesh facing out, pressing down firmly to adhere it in place.
3. Cover the patch with several thin layers of joint compound, smoothing out each layer and allowing it to dry between applications.
4. Lightly sand the surface where the patch is until it’s level with the wall, repeating steps 3 and 4 until you can no longer see the patch.

Large Holes

For a hole that’s fairly large, repairs will require the use of a section of drywall.

1. Select a piece of drywall that’s the same thickness as the section you’re repairing, then cut out a square that’s a little bit bigger than the hole.
2. Use a pencil to trace an outline of the patch around the hole.
3. Check that there are no plumbing or electrical lines where you intend to cut, then cut along the outlined area with a drywall saw.
4. Attach two wooden boards behind the drywall at the top and bottom of the newly-cut hole, to keep the patch in place as you’re doing the repair.
5. Screw the drywall patch to the boards, then spread drywall compound over the patch and apply a piece of mesh.
6. When the compound is dry, sand the repaired area smooth, repeating steps 5 and 6 as necessary until the patch is no longer noticeable.

Need Expert Help for Local Drywall Repair?

While drywall repairs are fairly simple, they can be time-consuming and messy. If you need local drywall repair, let an experienced craftsman from Handyman Connection take care of it for you. Give us a call at 1-800-88-HANDY, and before you know it you’ll have one more thing crossed off your household to-do list.