From Plat to Place
The Step By Step Home Construction Site
Step 43 - Drywall Ceilings
A Simple Trick for Ceiling Drywall Repair
Most ceilings and interior walls at home nowadays are made from drywall. It is a light and easy to handle material that requires less labor and finish compared to others. As with any material, it is also subject to normal wear and tear. Not a lot of people can handle most simple repairs at home, including a drywall repair, especially if it is the ceiling. Drywall ceiling repair is not just easy, but also pretty simple and fast. You don't need expertise in carpentry for this simple job. A simple trick for ceiling drywall repair is all you need.
Before you can start a drywall repair or any household repair, you need to make sure the area you are working on, especially the things around you are secure. For a drywall ceiling repair, you need something to cover the floor directly below the rotten drywall ceiling to protect it. Clear the area so you can move around while working.
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Be ready with your tools. You will need a utility ladder, pencil or any marker, measuring tool with a straight edge, utility knife, drywall saw, screws, sheetrock mud and tape to finish, power drill, and enough drywall to cover the damaged drywall ceiling. You can also buy a drywall repair kit.
Determine the extent and cause of the damage. It is very important to fix the cause of the damaged drywall before replacing it. Most rotting drywalls are caused by leaking pipes directly above it or perhaps a leaking roof. You will know the extent of the rot in the drywall because of the discoloration. Use your marker to draw a line around the affected part of the drywall.
Look for the nearest floor joist around the affected part of the drywall. This is very important before you cut out the rotten drywall, because the floor joists will provide support for the new drywall. It will also save you time. If you there is no support for the new drywall, you will have to make a frame to support it.
Mark points around the damaged drywall and create a rectangle, preferably around the affected part. This rectangle should be marked at least four inches from the wet sheetrock part to every side. Use a utility knife to cut out the affected part. If it is screwed, use a power drill. Cut your replacement drywall to the same size with the rotten drywall you cut out from the ceiling. It is very important to be accurate. Use a measuring instrument and a straight edge. Use screws to fasten the new drywall to the floor joist.
Finishing drywall is the next step, prepare your drywall compound and drywall tape. Put the drywall compound on all seams and apply drywall tape making sure to wipe out all excess compound. Leave ample time for tape to dry. This will probably take 24 hours to dry properly. Once the compound is dry apply a second coat of compound with a larger knife. Let that dry overnight. Lightly sand and apply the finish coat over the entire patch. Again, let this dry completely. Sand lightly and you are ready for a coat of primer.
Finish your work by cleaning and keeping your tools. Properly dispose of everything you don't need. You should feel happy and proud of a job well done. Most repairs around the house are simple, including a drywall ceiling repair. The simplest trick to repair things around the house is to stop putting things aside to avoid bigger problems later on. It isn't hard to repair a drywall hole in a ceiling. As long as you have the right materials and you know how to do it properly. You don't need to hire someone to do it for you. Even if you are busy, it wouldn't take that long to sand the surface, spread the compound and paint your ceiling. Those are just as easy steps that could be done in minutes. Try looking at online videos to look for other ways or easier ways to repair your drywall.