PATCHING A HOLE IN A DRYWALLED WALL

Patching a hole in your wall is very easy to do.  This can be handy especially if you’re are renting and need to get your deposit back. I borrowed the images from the web but this is exactly how to patch drywall.

 Start out by cutting the hole into a square.  Don’t cut it bigger than it needs to be.

Insert two small pieces of wood one at a time, or one good sized one, into the hole and pull them tight to the back of the drywall and put two screws in each one as shown below.

Measure and cut a piece of drywall to fit your square and put four screws in it.  Be sure the screw heads are just below the surface of the drywall so they do not protrude through the compound. As shown below.

Purchase mesh joint tape, they sell it in very small rolls so it won’t cost too much.  Apply the tape over the joints, it is self-adhesive so it will stay until you are ready to coat over it.  You will need scissors or a carpenter knife to cut it as it doesn’t tear real easily.

Purchase lightweight drywall compound, I personally like the Plus Three© brand the best.  Using a drywall mud pan and a six inch drywall knife spread the compound over the mesh tape on the seams fully coating the tape approximately 4 to 6 inches wide, let this dry overnight.

Lightly sand the area and using a 10 or 12 in  drywall knife and the lightweight compound completely skim over the entire area until it is smooth.  It should not take too much compound to accomplish this.  Let this dry overnight and check it in the morning, it should be ready for sanding.  

Always use primer on fresh drywall.  The primer performs a couple of functions, it seals your new patch and it also gives the patch some texture from the roller and fills in any sanding marks so it is all one consistent texture, now when it is painted the patch won’t “shine” , if you will.

Paint as desired.

OLOE