How to patch a small hole in drywall ifixit repair guide. Cut a drywall patch to the exact dimensions of the sawedout area using a power saw or keyhole saw. For a stepbystep walkthrough on how to patch a small drywall hole, keep reading. How to repair a hole in textured drywall todays homeowner. As an amazon associate i make a small commission from purchases. Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market. Consider these points and plan your purchases accordingly.
Gypsum patching panel drywall delivers a conveniently sized piece of interior drywall for making small repairs in damaged walls. Be sure to use drywall that is the same thickness of the. Small holes can be patched over with drywall tape or a selfadhesive drywall patch, but large holes need a more rigid material to span over the larger opening. For a very smooth drywall hole repair, spread a third coat with a 12inch drywall taping knife and let dry overnight, then sand, wipe with a tack cloth and paint the area. Whether the hole is large or small, repairing damaged drywall is fairly easy. A full list of tools and materials for fixing drywall can be found below. How to fix a hole in drywall can be one of your top concerns when getting ready for a move. Apply drywall compound to fill small holes, or use a drywall patch to fix larger drywall holes. Then remove the excess wallboard from the patch while leaving just the paper. Embed drywall tape over the seams, pressing it in the wet joint. Before the patch boys, homeowners had to turn to inexperienced handyman services for small drywall repair jobs.
The skill set, tools and techniques required for drywall repair depend on the size of the hole. Drywall hole repair how to patch a hole fix small hole. How to repair cracks and holes in drywall drywall damage can range from small cracks to large holes, but most repairs are easy and inexpensive to fix. How to fix small holes in drywall with a patch dummies. Peel off the protective backing to expose the adhesive, then press the patch to the wall directly over the hole. Repairing a mediumsized hole in drywall calls for adding a new piece of drywall. Drywall screws hold the patch to a board, and the board to the surrounding drywall. Simple joint tape and a small amount of drywall compound known in the building trades as mud is all it takes to repair most small holes in drywall surfaces. In the guide, you will go through the steps of drilling, filling, and painting a small hole in your damaged drywall. If you have to repair textured drywall, your first step is to repair the hole.
These patches consist of a stiff metal backer covered. Mix thoroughly until it forms a paste and apply to the hole or crack as you would joint compound. Another scenario might be a full blown hole the size of a quarter in the drywall. For small cracks and holes, tom recommends a patching spackle that can be applied easily using a small putty. In this video, this old house general contractor tom silva explains how to patch a drywall. See professionally prepared estimates for drywall hole repair work. How to patch small holes in drywall patching drywall. Could be that you improperly installed a toilet paper holder like me and it left a large, gaping hole. There are all kinds of ways to patch doorknobsize holes. Drywall sheets are vulnerable to breaking and crumbling, but can easily be repaired with drywall compound and a little sanding and painting. How to fix small holes in drywall with a patch buy a peelandstick drywall patch kit. For tiny holes and popped nails, use 4inch drywall knife to apply two or three thin coats of joint compound. Learning how to patch small holes in drywall will not take you very long and you will save both time and money in the future.
Im trying to keep this simple so ill show you how to do it using regular joint compound. To make a hot patch, cut a piece of drywall several inches larger than the hole on all sides. Repair small to medium size holes in drywall and wallboard. Fortunately, fixing holes in drywall doesnt require a lot of time or experience. How to repair a mediumsize hole in drywall one project. How to fix a small hole in drywall wall design ideas. The challenge of patching holes in drywall is in covering the gap. This guide will help you fix those holes and make your wall. Learn how to fix holes, scratches and dings before painting so you have a perfect result.
How to repair drywall professional drywall repair guide. Its important to note that a drywall patch is purely cosmetic and does not repair the structural integrity of the wall. Tom inserts a piece of scrap wood in the hole to act as reinforcement and screws it down using a drilldriver. Check out this video is a combo tip that shows you how to make holes and fix them. Use a drywall or putty knife to cover the seams in the patch with joint compound. Apply a liberal amount of nonshrink joint compound to the area with a putty knife, then pull the knife blade. Learn how to patch a small hole in drywall here at the turquoise home. One way to repair a hole in drywall without enlarging it to the adjoining joists is by using what is known as a hot patch. Drywall hole repair how to patch a hole fix small hole in.
But the mesh plate was going to be perfect for covering the small hole in my drywall and keeping the sparkling compound from falling down into the hole. The patch boys specializes in small plaster, sheetrock, and drywall repair jobs. How to patch drywall with fiberglass mesh howtos diy. Measure the hole then cut a scrap piece of drywall that is slightly larger than the hole s diameter. Theres no job too big or too small for the patch boys to handle. How to repair a hole in drywall california patch youtube. It is not uncommon to have minor holes in your drywall from kids, accidents, or simple wear and tear. On the back of the drywall, mark the profile of the hole, centered within the drywall patch. Use a sharp utility knife to trim away any loose or protruding paper facing or loose pieces.
Theyre available in a few different sizes at paint stores, hardware stores and home centers. Homeadvisor s drywall repair cost guide provides the average cost per square foot to have small and large holes fixed by a contractor or handyman vs diy. And if a small section of wall is really badly stained or damaged, youll have to cut out the affected area and cover the hole with a drywall patch. To use the patch, just clean the wall surface and sand it. You can use a small putty knife if a drywall knife is not available. Easiest way to patch small holes in drywall a pictures. You can trim your patch with heavyduty scissors for smaller holes. Erasea hole wall repair putty is a quick and easy solution to fill the holes in your walls. May 01, 2012 the first thing you need to do is cut the hole into a square or rectangle. These can all be repaired easily with drywall joint compound or quickdrying spackle. If youre patching tiny nail holes, you can cover up the repairs.
This tip uses housewrap of all things as part of the fix. Lets say you move a piece of furniture or an appliance into your home and you put a deep gouge into the wall. If you can flip a fried egg, you can easily patch a small nick in your drywall, but it gets trickier as the holes get bigger. You want to cover the hole with a drywall patch, by first cutting a piece of drywall that fits inside of the hole using a small rotary tool, a drywall saw, or a jig saw. Drywall repair patch 6 in x 6 in drywall repair patch. Decide whether you want to repaint the whole wall or just touch up patched areas. Center the patch over the hole and trace its shape onto the wall. How to repair drywall and fix a large hole in the plaster. These kits work great for small holes or dents in the wall. Learning how to patch a small hole in your drywall using this method will allow you to keep your walls looking their best.
But the quickest and easiest is to use one of these stickon mesh patches. This guide will help you fix those holes and make your wall look brandnew. The spackle doesnt shrink and sag like the heavier joint compound. Fix drywall quickly to get a security deposit back.
Big holes in drywall aka anything larger than 6 inches across are a little bit harder to fix than your usual little holes. When it comes to holes in drywall, size does matter. Joint compound is the claylike material that is used to patch holes, bridge gaps and seal seams in drywall. For some handymen or drywall contractors, the location of the holes may factor into the cost. Drywall repair is a common home maintenance task that many homeowners can do themselves. Find a scrap of drywall thats the same thickness as the damaged drywall, and cut out a squarecornered patch big enough to cover the hole. The patch will be smooth and flat, while the textured part of the wall will be bumpy. After the repair was fixed i was left with the task of replacing the drywall on the ceiling and morei had the pleasure of working with matt from drywall patch guys. These patches consist of a stiff metal backer covered with an adhesive mesh. Joint compound is fine for filling cracks, but wont work for small holes bigger than a quarter.
Considerations for drywall repair kits if your hole is larger than 4 inches in width and height, its best to repair the wall rather than use a patch kit. He then traces that piece over the hole and cuts the outline on the wall using a jab saw. Feb 23, 2017 i compare and contrast three methods for patching holes in drywall. How to repair textured drywall with pictures wikihow. Once you have learned how to patch a hole in the wall, you can do this simple repair to patch drywall anywhere in your home. How to paint over drywall repairs home guides sf gate. Bend the drywall sharply towards the front to break off the drywall along the score. Coat entire patch with joint compound, then use 12inchwide drywall knife to smooth the compound. Use spackling paste to fill tiny nail holes, small holes, and dents.
Score the lines with a utility knife, then use a wallboard saw to cut from the hole to each corner of the scored rectangle. Okay, there are many different ways of patching a small hole in damaged sheetrock. If youre a novice to patching drywall, go with a longer drying time. Fixing a small hole in drywall is easier than you may think. How to patch small holes in drywall lets say you move a piece of furniture or an appliance into your home and you put a deep gouge into the wall. See typical tasks and time to repair drywall holes, along with per unit costs and material requirements. If theres a small hole in your wall and youre a novice in drywall work, think about choosing a repair kit. It is smaller, so less excess mud will hang to it, but more passes may be required. Repair small to mediumsize holes with an adhesivebacked aluminum drywall patch. You will only need a few simple tools to repair the drywall. In fact, painting the drywall after repairing it might be more difficult than the repair itself. To secure this new piece, youll need some sort of backer boards, and i used small pieces of 14. You may already have the tools and the materials are inexpensive. No questions asked on how it got there, but it is definately more that you are going to be able to fix with spackling.
Get fair costs for your specific project requirements. Drywall repairs holes can be repair holes in drywall with kle 4 ways to repair holes in drywall wikihow how to fill small holes in your wall get inspired diy nixdrywall repair how to patch a hole in the wallhow to fill small holes in your wall get inspired diy nixhow to fix the 5. Small holes, for example those caused by doorknob impacts and errant tool strikes, can be patched readily using a small scrap of drywall. This panel helps you patch your walls with minimal waste while offering a panel that is easier to transport compared to a fullsized sheet of drywall.
Most accidental holes in drywall occur by mistake when a doorknob, a corner of a table, or similar, gets shoved into. Drywall patch guys orange county drywall patch repairs. Take your measuring tape and measure a square perimeter around the. I like the lightweight spackle for small hole repair in drywall. Wall repair kits, available at home centers and hardware stores, make it even easier. Measure the thickness of the drywall most likely 12 in. How to patch a small hole in drywall the turquoise home. How to fix a small hole in drywall from 12 to 5 inch hole. You can also use a razor if you dont have a power tool. For holes that dont extend to studs on either side, you will need to reinforce the hole. There are easy ways to fill and patch a small hole in your damaged drywall.
I mean, i knew that i wasnt going to be able to just slap some compound on the hole like it was a nail hole. Specifics i have a round hole, about six inches in diameter. It also provides price estimates to patch chips and fill cracks in your drywall or sheetrock. Maybe the kid punched a hole in the wall or the doorknob swung into it one too many times. This is my super easy and effective patch for holes up to 8 inches. Holes between 12 and 6 can be repaired with a piece of drywall and drywall compound. All it takes is a little bit of work and some basic supplies. Erasea hole makes things easy with no tools needed. How to repair holes in drywall video summary whether you use selfstick drywall patches or you decide to go old school by adding pieces of wood or cardboard as a backer, youll need to apply compound and sand to the joints. What you will need to patch a small hole in drywall.
A fast and easy way to patch a large hole in plasterboard walls here is a simple way for repairing a large hole in plasterboard walls. I had a flood on the second story of my vacation home in newport beach. Cans of sprayon texture are available that allow you to spottexture sections of. A popped nail isnt holding in the stud and backs out of the drywall. Drywall repair patch 4 in x 4 in drywall repair patch. To patch a large hole in the ceiling, use two or three pieces of drywall.
After the repair was fixed i was left with the task of replacing the drywall on the ceiling and walls. This project guide will show you how to patch drywall in a few easy steps. Snap the drywall back to the scored lines, and cut the paper backing with the utility knife. Draw an x on the wall above the hole and an arrow on the patch that points at the x so youll know how to orient the patch in step 6.
Heres a video showing how to fix a big hole in drywall. You can create your own patch to repair larger holes in drywall. I show how to patch a hole in drywall using a lightweight spackle. Fixing holes in drywall is a common part of maintaining walls. Using a utility knife, tom cuts a square piece of drywall larger than the hole he needs to patch. Slight damage to drywall, such as nicks, scratches, gouges or small holes are inevitable.
When patching over nail holes, dimple the area by striking it with a hammer this will provide a better surface for holding the drywall compound. Apply cement adhesive to the back of the patch and on the support brace inside the wall, then place the patch into position in the hole. Sep 20, 2017 this is my super easy and effective patch for holes up to 8 inches. There are three categories of holes that need to be patched and repaired. Cut the hole into a square shape with a drywall saw. Homeowners often need to repair a small section of drywall instead of a whole wall. Repairing that small hole in the wall can be somewhat irritating if you dont know how. Have a small hole that needs repaired in your drywall. Whether you are conquering a diy project or moving and need to fill the holes left behind from art work. But the fact that drywall panels are so easy to join also makes it easy to repair. How to patch a hole in your drywall the art of manliness. The first step of how to patch a small hole in the wall is to drive nails back down using a nail set.
Mar 17, 2020 easy drywall repair for small to mediumsize holes using a mesh patch and spackle. If you have screws, dig the drywall compound from their heads with a utility knife and turn them in tight with a screwdriver. From small holes and scratches to holes in your walls, watch this video on how you can repair your drywall. We have six different ways to make the repair depending on the size, type and place of. Drywall repair kits usually provide 4x4 drywall patches to cover the hole. I normally just try to fit a scrap piece of plasterboard in the hole when fixing it, but using cardboard is a much easier and better idea.
Drywall repair kits drywall repair tools the home depot. Drywall repair kits are generally best used for holes smaller than 4. On the patch, peel away the backing paper covering the. How to patch a hole in the ceiling diy home repair. Place drywall piece over the damaged area image 1 and trace around it with a pencil. If the hole is less than 4 inches wide, use a peelandstick patch to cover.
Learn how to fix small holes in drywall with these steps. Thankfully, theres a host of different patch kits available which will let even an amateur readily take care of the issue, and weve brought the best ones read more about the best drywall patch repair kits. To repair a small hole in drywall, trim away any frayed areas with a utility knife, then lightly wet the repair area with a spray bottle of water. The patch will be slightly smaller than the hole itself, but be sure to cut it to fit as tightly as possible. Sep, 2019 if theres one main issue that the modern homeowner must face, its the fact that drywall dents, dings, and breaks quite easily compared to oldfashioned methods of construction. Be sure to pick up drywall repair panels and drywall repair clips. Along one line, cut through the back of the drywall just enough to cut the paper and score the drywall. Mix a tablespoon of flour, a teaspoon of salt and a few droplets of water in a small container. From small dents to large holes, there are several ways to fix surface defects on your walls. We have six different ways to make the repair depending on the size, type and place of the damage. Is drywall tape required for a patch to a small hole thats fastened only to the surrounding drywall sheet. Follow these tips for a quick patch to any wall in your house. Holes up to about 12 can be filled with most wall patching compounds, such as drywall compound or light duty spackle. It may seem counterintuitive to make the hole bigger, but cutting a circular or other oddlyshaped piece of drywall is more work than its worth.
Oct 14, 2019 from small dents to large holes, there are several ways to fix surface defects on your walls. Theyre too big for a patch like we used before, so youll actually need to buy a panel of drywall and patch your hole wit. Allow each application of compound to dry, and then sand, between coats. For large holes, youll need to patch the area with a piece of drywall backed by a wood support. How to patch a large hole in drywall fine homebuilding. Place the patch over the hole and pencil its outline on the damaged wall. Dec 09, 20 the good news is that you can typically repair small holes such as this without replacing the entire sheet of drywall. Make certain that you apply enough compound to fill the void behind the tape, then work off the excess with the drywall knife.