At some point, you’re going to damage your wall. It’s inevitable. Maybe you accidentally hit it with a hammer while hanging a picture frame, or your dog damaged it when he ran around the house. No matter how it happened, one thing is for sure: You need to fix that hole in the wall! This article will teach you how to do just that. Read on for a step-by-step guide from patching the hole to finishing it with texture and paint!
Step 1: Assess The Damage
Patching a hole in drywall is a relatively easy and inexpensive repair that can be completed in just a few steps. But before you grab your tools and get to work, it’s important to assess the damage and determine the best way to fix it. Small holes, less than an inch in diameter, can simply be filled with spackle or joint compounds. Larger holes will require a patch, which can be made from a piece of scrap drywall.
Once you’ve determined the size of the hole and the appropriate material for the repair, you can begin patching the hole. Your drywall will be as good as new with a little time and patience.
Step 2: Remove Any Broken Parts Of The Drywall
Once You have assessed the area, the next step is to cut away and remove any damaged area of the drywall. Depending on how large the area is, you will want to cut out a square slightly larger than the damaged area. You can use a utility knife, or a drywall saw for this purpose. Just be sure to cut slowly and evenly so that you don’t damage the surrounding area. It’s also good to have a dustpan and brush handy to clean up any debris.
Step 3: Cut A Patch To Fit The Hole
Now that you have removed the damaged drywall, it’s time to cut a patch to fit the hole. If you’re using a piece of scrap drywall, simply trace the outline of the hole onto the drywall and cut it out with a utility knife or drywall saw. If you’re using a pre-made patch, such as those made from mesh or fiberglass, simply hold it up to the hole and trace around it.
Once you have cut out the patch, test it to make sure it fits snugly into the hole. If it’s too big, trim it down with a utility knife or drywall saw until it’s the right size.
Step 4: Install Backing To Attach The Drywall Patch
The next step in fixing the hole is installing backing to secure the patch you cut. To do this, you will need at least one piece of wood a few inches longer than the width of the hole, potentially two, if you are dealing with a hole longer than 8 to 10 inches. Then, take your piece of wood, place it through the hole, and hold it up against the backside of the existing drywall near the top of the hole. When doing this, make sure that you have at least an inch on each side of the hole to attach it to the existing drywall using screws if you are dealing with a larger patch, repeat this process along the bottom of the hole.
Step 5: Install Your Patch
With step 4 complete, you are now ready to install the patch. Take the patch you cut in step 3 and hold it against the backing you installed in step 4. Then using your screw gun, add at least two to three screws spanning across the backing.
Once you have done this, your patch should be flush or slightly sunk into the wall. If you notice that one side is raised out past the existing wall, you may need to pull it off and install more backing in that area. However, if it looks good, you can take your utility and cut along the outside of the patch at an angle removing any frayed paper of the drywall and creating a small opening for a quick-setting joint compound that you will apply in the next step.
