4 Steps to Patch Drywall

No matter how careful you may try to be, if you are a homeowner you'll eventually need to know how to patch drywall. It's inevitable. Interior walls are made with drywall which will take hits that will make holes in the wall. Eventually, unless you pay others to repair these holes, you'll need to do this repair work, yourself. Here are a few tips to help you do the job right.

Things you'll need:

• Putty knife
• Utility knife
• Fiberglass patch
• Drywall saw
• Wood piece
• Drywall screws
• Drill with Phillips screwdriver bit

Step 1 – Preparing to Fill Holes

Before you can fill a hole in your wall, you'll need to smooth the ragged edges made in the drywall's outer surface paper. To do this, use the sharp edge of a pocket knife or utility knife to shave off paper edges protruding from the hole. If necessary, push this edges into the hole by making a slight dent. Better to fill a dent than to have a rough surface when finished.

Step 2 – Applying Drywall Compound

Use a putty knife or drywall knife to fill the hole. In filling it, scrape away any excess compound before you allow it to dry. You may need to apply additional layers of the compound, allowing each to dry before adding more. Leave a small mound that can be sanded down to match the surrounding surface.

Step 3 – Patching Medium Sized Holes

For holes as large in diameter as 3 inches, you'll need backing for the drywall compound to adhere to. One option is to use a fiberglass mesh patch. To add this patch, first make a small amount of thin compound by thinning regular compound with water. Lay a bed of  this thin compound around the edges of the hole, using your joint knife. Press the patch into place over the hole, apply another layer of compound over the patch, and smooth its surface with your joint knife edge, and allow it to dry.

Step 4 – Patching Large Holes

To patch a large hole you'll need a support piece to which your joint compound will adhere. First, remove the damaged drywall by cutting a rectangle-shaped piece out of the damaged drywall. This piece will include the hole made in the drywall. Cut a new piece of drywall the same size as the piece you removed. Next, cut a strip of wood small enough that you can insert it into the hole but long enough that it will extend on either side of the hole. Attach the wood strip onto the new drywall piece with drywall screws. Leave 2 inches of bare wood each side of the attached drywall piece. Insert the wood piece into the hole with the surface of its bare wood against the inside surface of the drywall around the hole. Insert screws through the left and right edges of the drywall near the hole and into the wood piece behind the drywall. This will secure the new support piece in place. Then, fill the cracks with drywall compound between the old drywall and the newly inserted piece, apply seam paper, add more compound over it, smooth the compound, then allow it to dry.