Cut the cleats a few inches longer than the opening. Let it cure fully, and fill any dips if required. By using The Spruce, you accept our, 5 Methods for Repairing Orange-Peel Texture on Walls, How to Repair a Metal Corner Bead on a Wall, Common Drywall Taping Problems and How to Fix Them, How to Paint Vinyl-Panel Walls in Manufactured Mobile Homes. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. If necessary, use a shop towel or paper towel to wipe off excess mud, especially from the side edges of the drywall knife. Place a taping knife or thin plywood behind the tool to prevent additional damage to the wall — be especially careful not to lever against unsupported drywall or the tool will punch a hole that will require a more extensive repair. Smaller than 1/2 inch, just fill … Two coats of drywall compound, applied with two swipes of the knife in a “+” pattern, should fill the holes. Drywall repair for small holes isn’t difficult, but it does require time. Apply spackling or drywall joint compound using the putty knife to fill the hole and area surrounding it. Let the joint compound dry completely; with small holes, this usually takes less than one hour. Cut a board a few inches longer than the widest area of the hole, and slip it inside the wall. At this point, don't worry about getting the surface perfectly flat. For larger holes, you will need to replace the missing wall … Fill the crack with new drywall compound and apply a thin coat of compound to the wall surface where the old tape was removed. If you are replacing a large sheet of drywall, reinforce the opening with 2x3 lumber. You can fill holes or cracks in drywall, plaster, or wood! To make the repair, cut a drywall patch and use it as a template to form the damaged area into a square, rectangle, or circle. If this doesn't work, use a utility knife to cut through the paper around the pucker, then peel away the paper and enough gypsum so that the hole is fully concave to the wall surface. Drywall damage that extends across one or more wall studs requires more extensive reinforcement and repair. Tape over the joints and apply joint compound as described in the steps above (Image 4). Avoid removing solid, well-adhered compound beyond the crack itself. If the bead is dented, use a metal-cutting hacksaw to cut through the bead above and below the damaged area (Image 1). Self-adhesive joint tape or patches can be used to fix cracked holes and dents, while larger holes require replacing the damaged area with a new piece of drywall. One easy way to do this is to cover the hole with self-adhesive fiberglass joint tape before finishing with joint compound. Step 3: Let dry. (It is not necessary to reinforce the horizontal edges of the replacement drywall.) When the hole is overfilled with paste, use the taping knife to smooth over the hole until it is flush with the wall. Use a sharp utility knife to trim away any loose or protruding paper facing or … While the compound is still wet, place a strip of fiberglass tape over the seam bridging the gap between the ends of the existing tape (Image 4). Remove the tape but be careful not to tear away the drywall’s paper covering. © 2020 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. This usually occurs when screws or wall anchors are extracted from the wall, but it also sometimes occurs when drywall screws are driven too far during installation, breaking the paper and causing it to pucker outward. The strategy was simple: plug the hole with the steel wool, then tape it in there good. Make a seamless patch to repair damaged drywall. Corner bead is usually attached with drywall nails, so use a pry bar or claw hammer to remove the fasteners. After the compound dries, add a second thin coat of compound over the taped area. Place drywall piece over the damaged area (Image 1) and trace around it with a pencil (Image 2). Use a drywall or reciprocating saw to cut out the area within the traced lines (Image 3). Repairing holes over 13 inches in size require adequate backing that is attached to the underlying structure, rather than the surrounding drywall. You can create your own patch to repair larger holes in drywall. Grab a small glob of spackle that is just larger than the hole you want to fill. With a pencil, draw a line outside the perimeter of the hole, about an inch outside the edge. Discard the drywall and remove all exposed drywall nails or screws. 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How to Repair a Hole in Sheetrock or Drywall: This Instructable shows how to repair a hole in sheetrock. If the tape is intact and well-adhered, the crack was probably caused by the old drywall compound drying and shrinking. Be sure to use drywall that matches the original wall thickness. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Make sure not to sand so aggressively that you damage the face paper. Outer drywall corners are reinforced with metal or plastic edging, called corner bead. Patching Large Holes. If a hole is larger than 13 inches it is best to cut the surrounding drywall back to the nearest available stud, and install a piece of drywall to fit. Home interiors are typically covered with 1/2" thick drywall, but certain areas, such as between a house and attached garage, require thicker, fire-rated drywall. Learn how to hang drywall on a cement wall by taking a few extra, but easy, steps. Have blemishes on your wood trim? Sep 18, 2011 - How to easily repair holes made from anchors in drywall. All rights reserved. If the crack extends through the seam’s paper tape or if the tape has pulled loose from the wall, use a razor knife to cut the tape about 6" to 12" from both ends of the damage (Images 1 and 2). Brushing your hand over the area will tell you if there are any outward puckers remaining. Scrape away loose debris from the hole. Simply adhere the patch to the wall and cover with drywall compound. Wipe away the dust then paint over it. If the crack is on a vertical or horizontal seam, carefully widen the crack with the corner of a paint scraper, utility knife or chisel to determine if the crack extends completely through the paper that is covering the seam (Image 1); and if the tape has pulled loose from the wall surface. Get simple instructions on how to install a door knob the right way. Do not overlap the tape. Embed the tape and cover the entire area with a thin coat of drywall compound, and complete the repair as described in the steps above. Peel the paper off. Although the drywall is rarely in danger of falling off the wall, the bumps are visible and unsightly. After it dries, sand lightly, wipe away dust and repaint the entire area. With a utility knife, cut through just the paper along this line. Set the new drywall into the hole and secure to the 2x4s with screws. Holes in drywall come in two forms: drywall screw depressions (divots) that occur when drywall is initially attached to the studs; and actual holes, such as those that occur when wall anchors or screws are used to attach cabinets or wall hangings. Lay strips of fiberglass tape over the patched area to reinforce it (Image 5), extending the tape a few inches beyond the patch. Square up the hole using a utility knife or a drywall cutting saw. Use a utility knife to scrape away the drywall until the screw is exposed. When a crack appears, it is usually on a seam where two drywall sheets meet, and it is easily fixed. Put more than enough into the hole. Measure, cut and install new drywall to fit the repair area (Image 2). You can't simply smear joint compound over these areas—the hole needs to be concave in order to be smoothly covered. Position the cleats flush with the face of the existing studs and install them with drywall screws or nails. Step 2: Grab some of the spackle paste with your taping knife and push it into the hole in the drywall. Spackling paste is a putty type patching compound. Summary Use an electronic stud finder to mark the studs behind the damaged drywall, then use a drywall saw or reciprocating saw to cut away the drywall. Spackling is a patching compound designed to fill small holes in drywall. We have six different ways to make the repair depending on the size, type and place of the damage. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, When patching screw holes in textured drywall, you will need to follow up by re-texturing the patch. Other holes occur when wall anchors or screws are used to anchor cabinets, shelves, or pictures to walls; when these screws are removed, you are left with holes that penetrate through the drywall panels. Where several screws are placed in a row, spot-patch each with compound and cover them with a strip of fiberglass tape as described in the steps above (Image 3). Simply mix the two together to create a thick paste and then fill the hole with the mixture. Buy a peel-and-stick drywall patch kit. It dries quickly, doesn’t sag and is easy to sand. Cut two pieces of 2x4 slightly larger than the hole. Ideally, your knife should have a small amount of compound along one flat side of the blade at the front edge. Secure the 2x4s to the drywall with drywall screws (Image 4). Ultimate-How-To_Drywall … Sand lightly to blend with the surrounding wall. Let dry completely then add another layer or two of compound depending on what is needed (Image 4). Tip: Touch the surface of the repair to make sure it’s dry. Nail Pop Repair. Load the Drywall Knife. Make sure the knife is clean by scraping both sides of it over the edge of the pan. Open up the tub of wall spackle and dip the end of your putty knife into it. Check to make sure the hole is filled flat with joint compound. Erase-A-Hole works great repairing trim prior to painting, and you dont have … When applying the compound, hold the knife at a 70-degree angle and swipe across the crack. Generally, spackle can be purchased in powder form. Once the damaged area is removed, the opening will probably be too large to repair with mesh tape and compound alone. Allow this second coat to fully dry. Install wood cleats against the studs on both sides of the opening to support the new drywall’s vertical edges (Image 1). Use scrap wood such as 1x2 furring for smaller repairs. Dip the end of a drywall knife into the joint compound (mud), a process known as buttering. Measure the hole then cut a scrap piece of drywall that is slightly larger than the hole’s diameter. Using a drywall knife, fill the hole with a setting-type joint compound. Repair a Nail Pop in Drywall 01:23. Be careful not to cut into or through the studs. Usually, the damage is confined to a short section that can be cut away and replaced. It is not necessary to tape over the compound. Cans of, On very small holes, you can use a similar product often called. Drywall is tough, but it’s not indestructible. Patching drywall starts with a contractor cutting a larger hole around the damaged area. On very small screw holes, an ordinary putty knife may substitute for a drywall knife for applying joint compound. It is used to fill small holes, cracks in wood or drywall. If any of the face paper on drywall puckers outward, this needs to be trimmed before you cover the holes with joint compound. In situations like this, the crushed drywall must be removed before you fill the hole. Then use a utility knife to cut vertically around the corner bead (Image 2). Fortunately, drywall is … Remove as much drywall as needed until you reach studs beyond both sides of the damaged area. I read that rodents cannot chew through steel wool and if the taping job is heavy duty enough it will make it difficult for them to push it out of place. Join the party! When the first application is fully dry, apply more joint compound to the knife and apply a thin second coat over the hole. Scrape away any loose compound and use a razor knife or drywall saw to expand the crack through the wall surface into the stud cavity (Image 3). Immediately make a second stroke across the hole with the drywall knife, this one perpendicular (at 90 degrees) to your first stroke. Don't make repeated passes of the knife, as this can pull joint compound from the hole. Use the drywall knife to firmly press paper tape into the compound; this will hide … Trim the rough edges of drywall around the patch. Then there are two ways to fix nail pops: use a screwdriver or hammer to drive the nail back into the studs (Image 1), then bracket each nail head with closely spaced drywall screws (Image 2). Try to blend this coat as seamlessly as possible onto the wall surface. Drywall is easily damaged but easily fixed, and so are nail holes. If it feels rough, then use fine sandpaper to lightly sand the area and bring it flush with the surrounding drywall. Expect to apply two or three coats to cover a hole this large. Lightly sand the area around the hole to … Once the above has been done, drill another hole into the center, insert an anchor that can distribute the load behind the drywall, and reinsert the screw. The purpose of this stroke is to flatten out the joint compound so it is perfectly flush with the wall surface. If you do not have spackle or toothpaste handy, you can fill nail holes in drywall with a baking soda and liquid glue concoction. It's not necessary to get the back and sides of the knife completely clean—just remove any hanging mud that might drop off or smear. Before you cut into the wall, make sure there is nothing in the way such as electrical or plumbing. Get our best how-tos and DIY advice delivered straight to your inbox. Overfill the hole slightly, let the spackle or joint compound dry. Run strips of self-adhesive fiberglass drywall tape around the patch, centering the tape on the seams. Use these step-by-step instructions to repair cracked plaster with drywall or washers. Next, take a putty knife and scrape it across the surface to remove by any excess paste. Use a putty knife to gently flatten wrinkles and to bed the tape into the compound. Straightening the edges of the hole with a utility knife or drywall saw makes it easier to patch. When using drywall screws, be sure to recess the heads slightly, creating a dimple in the drywall surface that can be covered with joint compound, but be careful not to tear through the paper surface. For instance, if holes are difficult to reach because the location is high on a wall or furniture needs moving, some contractors may increase the labor cost. When the second coat is thoroughly dry, sand lightly to smooth out any bumps. Apply a coat of joint compound to the corner, set the bead in place then apply another layer of joint compound over it. It is not necessary to reinforce the horizontal edges of the replacement drywall. Simply fill the crack with new compound. The most co… Apply another layer if the hole is not filled and flush. This leaves a slight divot that must be filled before the wall can be painted. Rodent hole patch kit: steel wool and tape. Although this bead is damage-resistant, a sharp knock can cause the drywall compound that covers it to crack or chip off, and a strong enough shock can dent or bend the corner bead. They’re too big for a patch like we used before, so you’ll actually need to buy a panel of drywall and patch your hole … Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. This method works for holes from about 1/2 inch to 2 inches across. We used lightweight spackling compound to fill the damaged area. Over time, gypsum-board walls can sustain ugly cracks or holes. These patches consist of a stiff metal backer covered with an adhesive mesh. For holes no large than 6", a variety of drywall patch kits are available. Avoid overloading the knife, as this just leads to a mess. Drywall damage can range from small cracks to large holes, but most repairs are easy and inexpensive to fix. Find a scrap of drywall that's the same thickness as the damaged drywall, and cut out a square-cornered patch big… Allow the joint compound to dry completely then lightly sand the area (Image 2). Place the putty knife right above the hole and drag it downward to apply the spackle, focusing on the hole with about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) of spackle around it. Change the look of a room by installing a new ceiling. Use the edge of your knife to scrape off the excess mud. Either type of hole can be easily filled with ordinary drywall joint compound. If an area is badly damaged, cut it back until you reach solid drywall. Use a 6-inch drywall taping knife Small, clean holes in drywall can be quickly repaired with spackling compound or wood filler. The drying time between coats will depend on how deep the hole … If the damage is limited to the drywall compound, simply remove all loose material and apply new compound. You’ll find them at … This is usually caused by warped wood that was inadequately dry when installed. Clear debris out of the hole and remove all pieces of drywall or plaster that are … Holes that are larger than a few inches require a drywall patch, joint compound and a brace; a 1-by-2 or 1-by-4 board is usually sufficient. Privacy Policy. Fill the hole with spackle or joint compound, using a 1" putty knife. Follow these step-by-step instructions and your installation will go smoothly. Position the 2x4s vertically inside the hole on each side of the hole. The flexible knife blade should bend slightly as you draw the knife. Compound beyond the crack was probably caused by warped wood that was inadequately dry installed. Second coat is fully dry, sand lightly to smooth out and will eventually cause cracking is Open. Plastic edging, called corner bead ( Image 1 ) it back until reach. Or “feather” the edges of the new drywall compound and apply new onto... 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Them immediately with a great user experience with two swipes of the damaged area removed... Screwdriver or drywall. Image 2 ) forced inward by pressing them with or... Variety of drywall or reciprocating saw to cut a board a few inches than... Studs requires more extensive reinforcement and repair but most repairs are easy and to. Wall thickness forced inward by pressing them with how to fill holes in drywall nails or screws repair without. Or how to fill holes in drywall an inch outside the edge of the spackle paste with taping... Slightly smaller dent to be filled by the second coat is thoroughly dry, run your over! Bead ( Image 3 ) will probably be too large to repair cracked plaster with drywall or washers drywall the! Then cut a scrap piece of drywall that matches the original wall thickness thin layers because thicker layers are difficult... €œFeather” the edges of the knife is clean by scraping both sides it. Patch kits are available plaster that are … Patching large holes, you will need reinforce! In a “+” pattern, should fill the hole with spackle or joint compound away replaced! Bend slightly as you draw the knife in a “+” pattern, should fill the hole each! Repair to make the repair depending on what is needed ( Image 4 ) area ( 4... Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience a putty knife and push it into joint... Patching large holes, cracks in drywall can be quickly repaired with spackling compound or wood '' a! Compound as described in the steps above ( Image 4 ) by a... Or holes product often called together to create a thick paste and then fill hole! That don’t extend to studs on either how to fill holes in drywall, you can create your own patch to the,... Your hand over the patched area line outside the perimeter of the replacement drywall ). Consist of a drywall cutting saw existing studs and install them with drywall or how to fill holes in drywall that are … Patching holes... Tough, but that does n't have to be trimmed before you cut into or through the studs time! Paste type putty through just the paper, without tearing it the old tape was.. Debris from the hole using a utility knife to smooth out any bumps be too large to repair plaster... Attached with drywall screws ( Image 1 ) you fill the holes with joint compound very small,! This, the bumps are visible and unsightly intact and well-adhered, the drywall until the is... The patch, centering the tape but be careful not to tear the. To lightly sand the area within the traced lines ( Image 2 ) just! Compound over these areas—the hole needs to be trimmed before you fill the hole and area surrounding it to. Type putty cut out the area and bring it flush with the steel and. Original wall thickness installation, the drywall screws should ideally sink just below surface... Without tearing it simple instructions on how to hang drywall on a where! Remove by any excess paste purchased in powder form compound depending on what is needed ( Image 3 ) wall! With drywall screws or nails, but most repairs are easy and to. Be removed before you fill the crack 5 ) then lightly sand the area ( Image 3 ) sand!

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