Hal Major © 2009
BobVilaContractors.com
One of the cons to drywall is that a hole can be created without much effort or trouble. Luckily, so can the repair. You are going to need a few tools and materials to do the wall repair properly.
Tools:
Utility knife or drywall saw
Putty knife or plaster trowel
Sandpaper � medium to fine grit
Painter�s tape
Paint brush and/or roller
Materials:
Drywall
Heavy cardboard from a box
Drywall joint compound or wall patching plaster
Joint tape � self-adhesive fiberglass
Paint
Clean the dirt and debris from damaged area
If the hole is relatively small, for example the size of a standard doorknob or smaller, remove any loose drywall paper and plaster. Trim up the hole with a utility knife, if needed. With a damp cloth wipe the surface to remove any dust or dirt.
If the hole is large, you should square it up with the utility knife or drywall saw. Cut a piece of replacement drywall slightly smaller than the opening. Butter the edges of the plug with the joint compound and gently insert into the hole. Allow the compound to for a day. You may need to create a backer board for the inside of the hole to keep the plug from falling through.
Apply the joint tape
Cut the joint tape to cover the seams of the plug if you used one. Otherwise, cover the hole with the joint tape. Try not to overlap the edges of the tape too much because it will show as a slightly raised area.
Apply the repair/joint compound
Using the putty knife or plaster trowel apply a coat of the repair compound. Do not try to fill the hole with one thick application. It will crack and you�ll need to start over. Apply a thin to medium thick coat and allow to completely dry. Continue to apply layers until the patch is slightly above the original surface of the wall.
Sand the repaired area
Use a sanding block, available at your home improvement center, gently sand the patch until it is flush with the original wall surface and there are no rough edges. If there are low spots, fill it with the repair compound and let it dry, and then re-sand. Use a 120 to 180 grit sandpaper so it doesn�t leave sanding marks. Your almost finished with your wall repair chore.
Paint or texture
Once the hole has been sanded and is level with the wall, wipe the wall down to remove any loose dust or debris. Tape off any woodwork or items you don�t want to painted. Paint the patch working into the existing paint to blend in. Let completely dry and recoat if necessary. It may be necessary as the patch is unprimed and soaks up the paint faster than the painted wall.
That�s it for patching a hole in your wall. If you�re unsure about your ability to handle the repair, you can always contact an experienced and reputable contractor in your area.
