There are many reasons you might need to repair drywall (also known as Sheetrock).
Do any of these ring a bell?
- You hung one too many pictures in your hallway
- You installed a coat rack, put a ton of purses on it, and pulled it straight out of the wall
- Someone threw open the door, and it dented your drywall
- Have a crack in your drywall? Read this post.
It’s OK, these things happen. Don’t worry, Fix It! is here to help you fix your brand new hole in the wall. Depending on the size of the hole, you’ll need a few different supplies. We’ll walk you through 3 different scenarios:
If the hole in the wall is the size of a nail or screw
SUPPLIES:
- A Mixing Pan (for the drywall)
- A Drywall Knife (bigger than the hole in question)
- Drywall Compound
- Sandpaper/Sanding Sponge
- Primer and Paint (that matches the wall)
First: With the drywall knife, smooth on a glob of spackle or drywall compound. Let filling dry for about an hour or so.
Then: With a wet sponge or a piece of sandpaper, sand the surface of the patch until it is smooth.
Finally: Prime and then paint the corrected area.
If the hole is 1-2 inches large
SUPPLIES:
Here is what you will need:
- A Mixing Pan
- A Drywall Knife
- Drywall Compound
- Adhesive Wall Patch
- Sandpaper/Sanding Sponge
- Primer and Paint
First: Take your drywall patch, and place it over the hole.
Then: Use your drywall knife to smooth on the premixed drywall (do not sub for spackle, as this hole is too big).
Next: After waiting an hour or so for the patch to dry, use a damp sponge or a piece of sandpaper to smooth out the patch.
Finally: Prime then paint the area to match the rest of your wall.
If the hole in the wall is larger than 2 inches
SUPPLIES:
- A Mixing Pan (for the drywall)
- A Drywall Knife (bigger than the hole in question)
- Premixed drywall
- Stud Finder
- Sandpaper/Sanding Sponge
- Scrap Piece of Drywall
- Two, 1 by 2’’ Planks of Wood
- Drywall Screws
- Drywall Saw
- Drywall Tape
- Extra Piece of Drywall
- Primer and Paint
First: Cut the around the hole with a drywall saw so that the hole is either a square or a rectangle.
Then: Measure the hole and see if it’s next to any studs.
Next: (If there is a stud ignore this step.) If there’s no stud, measure and cut two small planks of wood, around one and a half times the size of the hole. Place the planks on the inside of the wall, perpendicular to the floor and parallel, on either side of the hole. With drywall screws, screw in the top and bottom of plank through the outside of the wall.
After: Cut out a piece of drywall that is the size of the hole. Fit it into the hole, and screw this new piece into the backers you have just created.
Finally: Cover the screws you just made with drywall tape. Then you are ready to finish up. Apply drywall with your knife, let it dry, sand down, and then prime and paint.