Holes in the walls may occur due to multiple reasons like screws, nails, or pushpins used when hanging wall art, fixing any decor items, or mounting furniture on the walls. These holes are covered as long as the wall art or wall decor is hung, but the real problem crops when you shift the place of the wall decor or wall mounting furniture. The hole is clearly visible, impacting the visual appeal of the room. In such a situation, finding ways to repair the hole is the priority to retain the aesthetic. In this article, we have discussed the ways to fix holes (big or small) in drywall.
Tips to Consider Before Starting the Hole Repair in Drywall
It's advisable to consider certain tips for a successful repair project. Be mindful of the location of the electric wires, always wear protective gear like a mask, goggles, and gloves to do the repair job, decide whether you want to simply repair the hole or work on the whole wall, and if there are multiple holes. Add primer to the walls before repainting to get the shinier finish.
Ways to Fix Small Drywall Holes
The method to fix small and big holes in the drywall is a little different which we discuss in the following paragraphs.
Tools and Materials Required
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A drill, a utility knife, a taping knife, and a drywall saw.
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Construction adhesive, drywall tape, masking tape, joint compound, and drywall screws.
Steps to Fix Small Holes in Drywall
Fixing a small hole in a drywall is not a tedious task. It can be done with simple DIY steps.
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Sand the edges of the patch- Before covering the mesh patch on the hole, sand the edges of the hole to ensure it smoothens and the patch is fixed properly.
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Place the patch on the hole- Cover the hole with the right size of self-adhesive mesh patch. Apply pressure on the patch to secure it properly.
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Apply joint compound- Spread the joint compound properly using a putty knife in a crisscross pattern on the mesh patch.
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Let the compound dry- Check the manufacturer's instructions and leave the joint compound to dry accordingly. The compound may take up to 24 hours to dry.
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Sand the compound - Cover the area around the hole properly and apply a second coat of compound, if needed. The final step is to sand the compound and touch it up.
Note: In case of multiple patches on a wall, it's advisable to repaint the entire wall
Steps to Fix Medium and Large Holes in Drywall
Fixing holes of more than 4 inches require a different approach unlike the small holes. Here are the steps.
1. Cut the damaged area - Draw lines an inch above or below the damaged area using a carpenter's square and a pencil; find the nearest stud on either side of the hole with the help of a stud finder and mark them. Then, cut along the lines until you reach the wall studs and using a square, mark 3/4 of an inch farther making it center of the stud. Now, cut the drywall from the stud using a utility knife.
Note: Keep distance from the wall while cutting the damaged piece of drywall
2. Attach support - Attaching support is a smart way and practical requirement to extend support drywall because drywall is a weak material, so simply screwing the patch to either side of the stud may not work. The patch may not survive. The practical solution is to attach a piece of wood in the center of the cutout and screw it using drywall screws.
3. Measure and cut a patch- At this stage, cut a patch using a utility knife and carpenter's square of the same size as the one you removed from the damaged drywall patch. Now, check the cut patch in the wall opening to crosscheck any flaws in measurement.
4. Place the drywall patch in the hole- At this step, position the drywall screws an inch from the edges to prevent cracking on the drywall. Using drywall screws, fasten the patch to the support and wall studs. Be sure to sink the screws below the drywall surface to avoid any gap for the mud to fill.
5. Seal and tape the drywall patch- The last step is to use mesh tape to fill the gaps along the edges of the patch and spread the drywall joint compound across the patch. Smoothen the compound and let it dry completely. If the compound dries, sand it and paint.
Conclusion
Repairing the hole in the drywall is a DIY project. Whether the hole is small or big, the process is almost the same, except for time. It means the small holes will take less repair time and vice-versa. It's advisable to gather all the necessary tools and materials needed to repair the project and accomplish the repair work smoothly.