Repairing Drywall

Today, drywall is widely used in modern homes. A properly installed drywall gives a tidy look to the interiors of the house. Moreover, it is a durable material and is fire resistant. The problem with drywall is that it tend to suffer minor damages quite often. Scratches, holes, cracks, loose tapes, loose nails make the drywall look really ugly. In such a situation, repairing drywall is the best way to solve the problem.

How to Repair Drywall

To begin with, you have to purchase a drywall repair kit. It contains all those tools that are essential for repairing drywalls. These tools are: drywall tape, drywall compound, screws, hammer, hacksaw, sander, putty knives, utility knife, inner corner knife, etc. In addition to these tools, you need a stepladder for repairing the ceiling. The procedure for repairing different drywall problems are given below:

Drywall Holes
If the size of the hole is small, then drywall hole repair is not a big hassle. You just have to apply a few coats of drywall compound over it. Before that, clean up the area by brushing off accumulated dirt and dust. Then create an indentation on the drywall surface. This is done so that after application of the drywall compound, the level of the repaired area remains even with the rest of the drywall. Prepare the drywall compound as per the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Apply the first coat in the form of a thin layer. Let it dry up and apply the second coat in the same way. Finally, once the layers of drywall compound cure thoroughly sand the surface with a gentle hand.

Repairing drywall holes that are large in size need some special efforts. You have to put up a drywall patch in the area. For this, you have to make the hole uniform. Place a T-square over the hole and mark its surroundings. Cut the drywall along the marked lines with a drywall saw. As per the width of the square shaped hole, you have to cut two wood strips of one inch thickness. Secure these two strips at the back of the hole using drywall screws. Cut a square shaped drywall patch as per the size of the hole and fit it into the gap by applying a good amount of glue at its back and on the support strips. The edges of the patch has to be secured with mesh tape. Apply layers of joint compound on the area to cover up the imperfections. Each coat should be applied only when the previous one is dry. Finally, sand the area with sandpaper.

Drywall Tape
You hate to see loose pieces of drywall tape hanging from the drywall joints. However, it happens quite often. What you can do is replace it with a new piece of drywall tape. Cut out the hanging tapes from the joint. Move your hand on the underlying drywall compound. If it has ridges, then sand them down with sandpaper to obtain a smooth surface. Wipe off the sanded dust. Apply a thin layer of joint compound on the area from where you have removed the tape and spread it on either side of the joint. Cut a new piece of drywall tape as per your requirement and place it over the applied compound and press it gently so that air bubbles are not formed under it. Now, apply joint compound to cover up the tape. In all, three coats of the mud are needed.

Popping Drywall Nail Head
When the nails heads become loose they pop out. You cannot simply drive them in with hammer. It may pop out all over again. Therefore, you have to fasten two new screws in the area. Take a new drywall screw and insert it a few inches above the existing nail with the help of a screw driver. Similarly, add another screw a few inches below the popped nail head. Now, you can drive in the popping nail head with a hammer. If the nail has loosened up then you can remove it. After inserting the nails, you will find screw holes have formed which can be filled up with joint compound in the same way you repaired small drywall holes.

Repairing Drywall Cracks
A drywall crack is just a bruise on the surface and no hole has formed on it. You may have to go for repairing drywall cracks in ceiling after removing wallpaper. The first step is clearing up of all the loose tapes and papers hanging from the damaged spot. Cut some new drywall adhesive tapes and attach them directly on the spot in a random order so that the crack get covered. Now, you have to apply several layers of joint compound on these tapes. While applying the compound spread it a few inches. Make sure that you allow each layer of joint compound to dry up thoroughly before apply the next one. After repairing the crack, sand the repaired area to get a smooth surface.

The technique of repairing drywall ceiling remains the same. To make the repaired area invisible, you have to paint the area. But before that apply a primer to ensure better adhesion of the paint.