Drywall Repair is a task most homeowners will face at some point. It’s usually a do-it-yourself project and pretty easy with the right materials and know-how. Small dents and nail holes are the easiest and least expensive to fix. A drywall patch kit and some spackle are all you need. Read on Drywall Repair Las Vegas to learn more.
Drywall is durable paper pressed to a layer of pressure-formed rock dust or gypsum. The gypsum gives the wall stiffness and strength, while the paper protects it from moisture and provides a smooth surface for painting. When nails, screws, or picture hangers are driven into drywall, they can leave small holes that must be repaired before you paint the wall.
You can use spackle or joint compound for holes smaller than a nickel. Clean the hole and let it dry completely before applying the first coat. Let it dry and apply a second coat, lightly sanding between coats to create a smoothly blended repair.
Larger holes require a patch kit and more work. Start by putting on your safety gear and cleaning the area. Remove any loose drywall and make sure the hole is squarely cut. If it’s not, cut a new piece of drywall to fit the space and install it using drywall screws. Next, cover the edges of the new drywall with a strip of mesh tape or joint tape. Then spread a thin layer of joint compound over the patch, taping the edges and spreading it out to the edge of the hole. Allow the compound to dry overnight.
On a fresh, new patch, the edges will look rough and need to be trimmed before you can paint. Use a utility knife to trim the excess paper and sand the edges smooth, then apply two coats of joint compound, lightly sanding between each application. When the final coat is ready to be sanded, turn off your power tools and wear a face mask to protect against the fine dust that can inhale.
If the corner of two sheets of drywall meet at an outside wall corner, they’re joined by a L-shaped metal strip called a corner bead. Over time, this can become dented from furniture or other activities. To restore the corner bead, scrape away any spackling or joint compound from around the dent, then apply a fresh coat of setting compound. Let the compound dry, sand and prime before painting.
Patching Holes
Small holes from nails, screws, picture hangers or wall anchors may only need a quick dab of touch-up paint to hide them. Larger dents or holes, however, may necessitate the use of a drywall patch. These surface defects are often difficult to cover up and can detract from the overall appearance of a room. Luckily, they can be repaired using a few simple tools and supplies found at most hardware stores.
First, the damaged area should be sanded down so that the surface is flush with the surrounding area. Then a thin layer of drywall plaster should be applied to the area, smoothed, and lightly sanded. When dry, the drywall patch can be painted to match the existing wall surface.
If a hole is larger than a square, it’s best to patch the whole area with new drywall. Fortunately, this is also a job that most do-it-yourselfers can handle. Measure the size of the hole and cut a piece of drywall that is 3 to 4 inches longer than the damaged area. If possible, buy drywall of the same thickness as your wall, as this will help conceal the repair. If you can’t find the same thickness, a thinner sheet of drywall will still work.
Once the patch is in place, apply a layer of joint compound over it. When the first coat is dry, sand it lightly and apply a second thicker layer of joint compound over it. Use a putty knife to smooth the surface, and “feather” the edges of the patch so that it blends in with the surrounding wall.
When two sheets of drywall meet in a corner, they’re usually joined by an L-shaped metal strip called a corner bead. This strip is intended to strengthen the corner, reduce shifting of the drywall and make it easier to reattach or paint the wall. Normally, this metal bead is concealed by a few layers of joint compound. However, over time, it can become brittle and dent or crack. If this happens, it’s important to repair the defect as soon as possible.
Patching Cracks
Small cracks and dents that are the size of a fingernail can usually be covered up with a dab of touch-up paint that blends into the surrounding wall color. However, cracks that are bigger require a more substantial patching job. Regardless of the size of a crack, it’s important to use a good primer and sand it down before adding another coat. These steps help prevent the patch and underlying surface from absorbing the topcoat, which makes it stand out like a sore thumb against the rest of the wall.
When it comes to patching cracks in drywall, it’s best to start by widening the crack with a utility knife to make sure the problem extends completely through the paper covering the seam (Image 1). Next, cut a new piece of drywall that is slightly larger than the cracked area. Apply 1/8 inch of joint compound over the crack and embed a strip of fiberglass drywall tape in the compound with a 6-inch putty knife. Squeeze out any air bubbles in the tape, then smooth a thin layer of joint compound over the entire strip with long, continuous strokes of your knife.
If you are repairing a crack that extends to the outer edge of a corner, cut two pieces of scrap 2×4 that are slightly longer than the distance from the damaged corner to the nearest stud on each side. Screw one of the boards to each stud, spacing them evenly apart. Screw the other board to the stud above and below the damage, securing it just above the damaged corner bead.
The extra support going into the hole will help keep the drywall patch stable as it dries and reduce the chance of a hollow sound in the finished wall. Allow the drywall patch to dry thoroughly before priming and sanding it down again.
If you want to add a texture to the repaired area, open a can of spray-on drywall texture and carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions for using the product. Lightly sand the patch to remove any high spots and feather the edges of the patch with sandpaper so it blends into the intact wall texture.
Painting
Painting is a necessary step in any renovation or remodeling project, but it can be tricky on drywall. Before you can repaint your drywall, however, you’ll need to repair any holes or cracks. To make your patch job look as natural as possible, you’ll want to choose a paint color that matches the existing wall.
If you’re doing a small repair, you can probably use drywall spackle to fill in the hole and dings. For a larger hole or ding, you’ll need to use drywall patch. Before you apply the patch, brush off any loose bits of drywall or paint with your putty knife or sandpaper. Then, apply a thin coat of mud to the area, and let it dry. Once it’s dry, sand until smooth.
When you’re ready to repaint, apply a primer. This will help the new paint adhere to the drywall. It will also help the patched areas blend in with the rest of the wall. If you’re not comfortable doing the priming yourself, you can always hire a drywall and paint contractor to do it for you.
In older homes and commercial buildings, most walls are made of drywall. Before you can repaint these walls, though, you’ll need to perform drywall preparation. This includes washing the surface with a bucket of warm water and cleaning any mold or mildew. You’ll also need to sand down the drywall and fill in any voids like screw holes or nail pops with joint compound.
If your drywall corners are dingy or dented, it’s likely that the corner bead is damaged. The metal strip that covers the joint between two sheets of drywall is not indestructible, and it can get dented by furniture movers or even by kids flinging toys against the wall. If this is the case, you can replace the damaged section of corner bead with a piece cut from the remaining corner bead.
When you’re repairing corner bead, it’s important to feather the repair into the wall around it. This is an art, and you’ll need to practice before you can pull it off successfully. To feather a patch, you’ll apply patching compound so that it’s thicker in the center than in the surrounding wall.
