Repairing damaged drywall

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Repairing damaged drywall
Topic Started: Sep 29 2009, 05:34 PM (68 Views)
Toodles	Sep 29 2009, 05:34 PM Post #1
Super Poster Posts: 428 Group: Member Member #599 Joined: January 15, 2008	In most homes, there are usually one or two nicks, dings or holes in the walls that need attention. If the damage doesn’t extend all the way through the drywall, then the fix is simple. Just remove any loose plaster or paper around the edge and apply some drywall spackle. Wait for it to dry, sand the area and apply another coat if needed. Sand it again when dry and that will do it. But what about larger problems, like holes in the drywall? Hiring a professional will cost you money you may not want to part with, and in truth, why do it when you can easily repair the drywall yourself? Here are a few ways you can easily fix damaged drywall for pennies. Fixing Damaged Drywall the Old-Fashioned Way If the damage extends through the drywall, one way to fix it is to patch it with a scrap piece of drywall. For this repair, you will need: * Drywall saw * Piece of wood * Tape measure * Drywall screws * Cordless drill * Scrap drywall * Drywall tape * Putty knife * Drywall spackle The first thing you will do is to use the drywall saw to make the damaged area easier to repair. Cut a square in the drywall to remove the affected section. Measure the dimensions of that square and cut a piece of scrap drywall to meet those dimensions. Next, take your piece of wood and insert it into the hole so that it spans the open space. Using the cordless drill, screw drywall screws on each side of the hole into the wood to secure it against the back of the drywall. Take the drywall patch you cut earlier and set it into place. Secure it to the wood using another drywall screw. Apply drywall tape around the edges of the square and apply spackle, or joint compound. Allow it to fully dry, sand and repeat until completely smooth. Fixing Damaged Drywall with a Tin Can Lid If you don’t have any scrap drywall handy, you can easily repair your damaged wall using the lid from a tin can. Of course, for this to work, the circumference of the lid has to be larger than the hole in the wall. For this repair, you will need: * Tin can lid * String * Piece of wood * Drywall saw * Cordless drill with drill bit * Putty knife * Drywall patching compound (NOT spackle) Drill two holes into the center of the can lid about an inch apart. Fish the string through one hole and bring it back through the second. Take the drywall saw and cut a length-wise slit on each side of the hole in the wall so the tin can lid can slide through. Holding on to the string, slide the lid through the slits and pull the string once the lid is on the inside of the wall. This will bring it up flat against the hole. Take the piece of wood, set it flat against the wall and wrap the string around it. Tie it tightly and this will hold the tin can lid in place. Use the putty knife to spread drywall patching compound over the tin can lid. Do not fill the hole with putty just yet. Once you have about 2/3 of the depth of the hole filled, allow it to fully dry before finishing. When the patch is completely dry, cut the string and remove the piece of wood. Then, fill the remainder of the hole with drywall patching compound. Once dry, sand and repeat until smooth. The 2-Minute Drywall Fix Home improvement stores now sell instant drywall patch kits that consist of a square of sheet metal (available in various sizes) covered by self-adhesive drywall tape. This patch takes only two minutes to apply. Just clean the area around the hole, peel off the backing and stick the patch right over the hole in the wall. Cover the area with spackle or joint compound, wait for it to dry, sand and repeat until smooth.



agate	Sep 30 2009, 03:36 AM Post #2
Admin Posts: 9,218 Group: Administration Member #203 Joined: February 2, 2006	Hey Toodles ..how timely. Thanks. I am just getting ready to paint and will need to fill some spots so this is an excellent article.



Toodles	Oct 2 2009, 05:58 PM Post #3
Super Poster Posts: 428 Group: Member Member #599 Joined: January 15, 2008	U are very welcome. Glad the post was useful. Also glad you are doing the work and not me. I am much too lazy. LOL



Delphi51	Oct 4 2009, 01:02 PM Post #4
Blue Star Member Posts: 1,423 Group: Member Member #441 Joined: October 10, 2006	Important: don't let your spouse paint the spackle before you get a chance to sand it! It is really hard to sand away paint.



campy	Oct 5 2009, 01:24 AM Post #5
I am outta here Posts: 2,231 Group: Member Member #204 Joined: February 2, 2006	One more tip. Before you paint you need to prime the bare plaster patch because just painting over it will show through. Bare plaster sucks up paint like a sponge. Latex primer will do the trick and then also prime the spot with the paint you will be using and let it dry. Then you can finish the room with two coats preferably. Been there. Done that. I am a really good painter. I can paint left or right handed and really quick and I don't need masking tape to cut in. However. It takes me half an hour to get up and down the stepladder if you know what I mean for us senior gentlemen.



Kahu	Oct 5 2009, 09:06 PM Post #6
Admin Posts: 8,942 Group: Administration Member #150 Joined: December 14, 2005	That's the sort of thing you can forget to do Campy



campy	Oct 6 2009, 04:22 AM Post #7
I am outta here Posts: 2,231 Group: Member Member #204 Joined: February 2, 2006	Kahu Oct 5 2009, 09:06 PM That's the sort of thing you can forget to do Campy I am exaggerating of course. You know what Kahu. I can still run.



Kahu	Oct 6 2009, 09:24 AM Post #8
Admin Posts: 8,942 Group: Administration Member #150 Joined: December 14, 2005	I don't fancy my chances doing a marathon any day soon, but I'm ok at a slow steady hill climb! biggrin 04



agate	Oct 16 2009, 02:47 PM Post #9
Admin Posts: 9,218 Group: Administration Member #203 Joined: February 2, 2006	Ok..I am ready to get at it biggrin 04 I was told that I need to cut a strip on each side...I have those slates over the crack with bonded on wallpaper on the dry wall...modular home style 102 peel back the paper and fill & sand 3 times....yikes what a job. But I did see the neighbours next door and it was an excellent job so that is what I aspire too bounce and jump045 I am hoping to be done by Xmas :sigh: :1972.gif:



agate	Oct 28 2009, 02:45 PM Post #10
Admin Posts: 9,218 Group: Administration Member #203 Joined: February 2, 2006	I am nearly there. Tomorrow one more sanding and then just checking for flaws and it is a done deal. Then on to the painting biggrin 04



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