A Guide to Do Drywall Repairing and Patching at Home

Doing drywall repairing and patching at homes is easier than we usually think. Having a little patience and working on it when a misguided object breaks into the drywall can help us save a lot of money. This article discusses in detail the steps to patch a large hole in drywall as well fix small holes.

Patching Large Holes in a Drywall

Here are some of the useful steps that you can follow while working on drywall repairing and large holes in them.

Step 1: Check for Wires

The first and foremost thing you should do before quickly cutting out the damaged areas of drywall is to check the wall for obstructions. You are most likely to find a wire, pipe or duct. Always work carefully around them using drywall or keyhole saw, in case you find any of the above-mentioned items. You can also choose to make shallow cuts by scoring the line with utility knives through the mark to begin a hole patch. The addition of a backer board is preferably better than trying to cut the drywall over studs, especially when you are learning to fix drywall. You can then cut out the area using a knife or a drywall saw. 

Step 2: Insert Backer Boards to Patch Hole

Always make sure that you cut the backer board four inches longer than the height of the hole. Pine and other softwoods are also good alternatives. Hold the material you choose tight to the backside of the drywall while fastening them. Be careful while holding the boards to avoid pricking your fingers with screw points if they come out through the other side. Drywall screws are used to draw the boards in tight. Also, make sure to sink the screw-heads slightly below the surface of the drywall. 

Step 3: Tape the Joints 

Lay a bed of patch drywall compound that has ⅛ inch thickness over the joints and press paper tape into the compound using a flexible knife that has 6-inch thickness. Immediately apply a thin layer of compound on the surface of the tape and allow it to dry as you work through this. 

Step 4: Apply a Second as Well as Third Coat of Compound

Continue the process by applying a second coat of compound by drawing it at least six-inch beyond the edge of the first coat applied - this is to taper the edges of the repair. Follow by adding the third coat when the second coat dries up - it helps in the smoothing of uneven areas. 

Step 5: Sand the Dry Compound 

One of the final steps in fixing a hole formed on the drywall is to sand the dry compound lightly with hundred-grit sandpaper. Doing this helps to remove ridges and blend edges. You can then apply the primer and paint to the drywall. 

Fixing Small Holes in the Drywall 

Small holes are formed on drywalls mainly by hooks and screws. Nail pops on the walls of our homes are very common. There is also a chance for many pop-ups to form, which particularly makes them irritating to us. Damp framing that dries out and shrinks also is a reason for the screws to pop up. 

The first step to patch a small hole in the drywall is to drive the nails back down with a nail set. You can dig the drywall compound from the heads with a knife and then turn them tight inside using a screwdriver. Dimple the hole in a slightly concave manner using a hammer to indent raised edges. You should be careful while doing this to avoid crushing the core of the drywall. Now you can cut away paper tears if there are any with a utility knife. Fill the holes with two coats of drywall compound applied with two swipes of a knife in a “+” pattern. The first coat will shrink a little leaving a small dent, which you can fill using the second coat. 

Scrap the compound that is excess to avoid the formation of a hump. Sand the portion lightly to blend with the surrounding wall and prime the area perfectly. If you miss this step, the topcoat will absorb into the patch. This will make the area appear different when compared to the colour of the surrounding paint. Using a roller to prime the area will help improve the surface texture so that it matches with the surrounding area. 

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