Patching Drywall

Did you recently notice stress cracks or holes in the drywall? Dents or holes in the drywall could appear if you accidentally hit the drywall while moving a heavy piece of furniture. The doorknob might hit the drywall if you slam a door. The wall art pieces that might be hanging on the walls with the help of nails or hooks could cause the drywall compound to loosen. Well, whatever be the cause of damage, the result is an unsightly dented or damaged drywall. In case the drywall has been damaged beyond repair, the only option that is available to you is to have the entire board changed. If the size of the holes is not very large and the surface cracks are small, you can carry out drywall repair on your own. Fixing holes or cracks is simple and this is undoubtedly a do-it-yourself home improvement project. Patching drywall holes is not as difficult as it may seem. Here are the instructions on how to patch drywall.

Patching a Small Hole in Drywall

Repairing drywall holes or surface cracks is easy. All you need to do is get your hands on some basic tools. You will need a putty knife, drywall tape, sandpaper and a joint compoundl. In case you notice a very small surface crack, all you need to do is fill in the crack with the joint compound. If the crack is bigger, you will need to cover the crack with a fiber mesh tape. After that apply a thin and even coat of the joint compound. Once it has dried, apply two more coats. Once it is dry, run a sandpaper over it. After sanding the drywall, paint over the area to blend it well with the existing finish. For patching the holes that are left behind by a doorknob, the same method needs to be followed. Start by cleaning up the damaged area. Fill the small hole or the dent with the joint compound. After applying the fiber mesh drywall tape, apply coats of the compound till the damaged area and the surrounding area are at the same level.

Patching a Large Hole in Drywall

If the hole is bigger than eight inches, then you might need to use a drywall patch to fix the hole in the drywall. Since the hole in the drywall is quite large, you will need to place some sort of support. First of all, get your hands on a carpenter's square. Use it to mark the area around the hole. Use a saw to cut out the marked area. Now you will need two wood strips. Each strip should be around an inch in thickness and two inches in width. These must be six inches longer than the square-sized hole in the drywall. You now need to slide these strips into the drywall and secure them using drywall screws. The next step is cut a piece of drywall according to the square-sized area you need to patch. Secure this piece with the help of drywall screws and then apply the fiber mesh tape. The next step is to apply the joint compound over the patch. Once it has dried, apply another coat. Sand it lightly. The task of patching the drywall is almost complete, you can now go on with the task of drywall finishing by applying paint.

How to Patch Drywall Corners

Another part of the drywall that is prone to damage is the drywall corners. If instructions were not followed correctly while taping drywall joints, the drywall tape could become loose. If you see the drywall tape hanging from the drywall, you will need to remove it. Start by sanding the drywall. Wipe the sanded dust and apply a thin layer of the joint compound on the inside corner using a drywall knife. Fold the paper drywall tape into half and apply it on the joint compound while it's still wet. Once it has dried completely, apply another coat. Sand it lightly and make sure that the patched area and the adjoining areas are at the same level.

These were simple instructions on patching holes in drywall. Patching a drywall is a simple task. If you ever spot holes or cracks on the drywall, just follow these instructions. Don't let dents, holes or cracks in drywall ruin your home interiors.