From Plat to Place
The Step By Step Home Construction Site
Step 43 - Drywall Holes
Quick Guide
Drywall is also referred to as plaster board, gypsum wallboard, gypsum sheetrock or sometimes just sheetrock. Drywall is used for constructing interior walls. Every so often this material may have a need for refurbishment or fixing because it could form holes, dents, or cracks of various sizes. To fix the holes and cracks of drywall it is not as difficult as many perceive it to be. In fact, all the materials and tools needed to accomplish the repair of drywall are sold at your local hardware store. Here are a few ways to repair Drywall:
Small drywall holes
A quick-setting gypsum plaster on the hole may be used. Put on the compound to fill up the holes or cracks as well as slits on the wall only and not levelled on the drywall surface. Allow the compound to dry for a few hours until it turns white. When the patch is completely dry, fill it up again with the compound to even out the patch with the surface of the drywall. Allow it to dry again then rub down the area with sandpaper to level it out.
Things We Learned Along The Way
The Art of Fixing Drywall Ceiling Cracks
A Guide to Plaster Wall Repair
A Simple Trick for Ceiling Drywall Repair
Easy Ways for Patching Damaged Drywall
Drywalling an Unfinished Basement
How to Stop Drywall Cracking - Once and For All
Large drywall holes
With the use of a drywall patching compound, place this over the hole and gently trace around it. Cut the traced outline with a pad saw. Make certain that the size of the patch corresponds with the size of the hole. Use a board that is two inches larger than the hole and fit it inside the hole on the drywall surface. Hold this steadily and attach the board using flat screws at the sides of the hole. Put some of the compound around the edges of the hole and the small board. Place the drywall patching compound evenly on it. Let it dry, sand it.
Blow-Out Patch
Depending on the size of the hole, fixing it can be easy or a bit tricky. For small holes, you can just get a pea size of compound to cover it. But for holes bigger than 4 inches, you might have to put a patch on it. Now for any size of hole, it is important that before you get into the process of preparing your patch, you need to make sure to clean the area by cutting loose edges. Then using a keyhole saw, cut the hole into a square or a rectangle. Then from new drywall, cut the same shape as the hole making sure it is 2 to 3 inches larger. Then measure 1 to 2 inches from all edges of the new piece. Using a putty knife, cut through the bottom layer but do not cut the bottom layer. Do it on all sides. The piece should now fit the hole with 1 or 2 inches of the bottom layer paper covering the edges of the hole. Then apply a compound around the paper edges. Let it dry and then apply second coating of compound. Before beginning the final touches you may need to sand the patched area lightly.
These are just some of the few points you need to know about Drywall Repair.