In order to know how to patch drywall, you must first ask yourself some important questions. This is because there are different methods of drywall repair that work best in specific situations. Each of these methods are simple fixes that can be done by novices with the right tools and motivation. Keep reading to find out what method of drywall repair is the right choice for you.
Contents
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Drywall Hole Size
The first question that must be answered is how large of a hole are you dealing with? Is it a small nail hole, or the size of a doorknob? Any size hole in your drywall can be repaired. The answer to this question will tell you what option to use in your repair.
How to Patch a Small Hole in Drywall
Skill Level: low
Small holes in walls are the most common size to repair. These are under one inch in diameter, and are often the size of a pin nail. Repairing them is simple, and only needs a couple of items.
Required Items
- Spackle
- Putty knife
- Spray texture (optional)
Steps to Patch a Small Hole in Drywall
Follow the steps below if your hole is considered a “small hole.”
Step 1
Wipe away any loose debris on the hole. You can use your finger to pick at it, or do whatever it takes to remove it from the hole. Sometimes the putty knife is good at scraping the debris out of the hole. Any loose debris that is left behind might make the final result look bad.
Step 2
Once the hole is clear of any obstruction from the anchor, apply a small amount of spackle into the hole using the putty knife. Spread it on the hole ensuring it is completely filled with spackle. Scrape the remainder smooth until it is flush with the wall. Apply pressure while doing this step to remove as much putty from within the surrounding texture.
Step 3 (optional)
Spraying texture is optional for a hole this size, as it may not be necessary for smaller holes. Practice with the spray texture on a spare piece of cardboard. You want to hold it a certain distance from the surface you are spraying on. Start about one foot away and move closer to make larger bumps, and further for smaller ones. Once you are happy with your result, spray on the hole at that same distance. You won’t need to spray much on a small hole.
How To Patch A Drywall Anchor Hole
Skill Level: Low to Medium
Drywall anchors are commonly used in most homes. They come in several options, that are installled in different ways. Removing them may be slightly different as well.
This portion of the article is meant to focus on plastic “hammer in” anchors. If yours is a different type, you want to understand how they are installed in order to reverse the process. The steps are listed below.
Required Items
- Razor blade/knife
- Putty knife
- Spackle
- Spray Texture (optional)
Steps To Patch A Drywall Anchor Hole
The steps to repairing a drywall anchor hole is similar to How to Patch a Small Hole in Drywall as shown above. There is one different step that is included in this technique.
Step 1
Use the razor blade to cut around the base of the anchor at the wall. Your goal is to remove any of the anchor that is sticking above the surface of the wall. Once this is done you can use something to poke the remainder of the anchor into the wall.
Step 2
Once the hole is clear of any obstruction from the anchor, spread a small amount of spackle into the hole using the putty knife. Apply it to the hole, ensuring the hole is completely filled with spackle.scrape the remainder smooth until it is flush with the wall. Apply pressure while doing this step to remove as much putty from within the surrounding texture.
Step 3 (optional)
Spraying texture is optional for a hole this size, as it may not be necessary for smaller holes. Practice with the spray texture on a spare piece of cardboard. You want to hold it a certain distance from the surface you are spraying on. Start about one foot away and move closer to make larger bumps, and further for smaller ones. Once you are happy with your result, spray on the hole at that same distance. You won’t need to spray much on a small hole.
How to Patch a Medium Hole in Drywall
Skill Level: Medium+
A medium hole is one that is large enough that spackle needs something to support it in order to stay in place. But this hole isn’t so large to need the hole cut larger and patched with a piece of sheetrock like the next method of patching a large hole in the wall.
The main factor of this technique is the hole in the wall should be wider than the width of the drywall tape you are using. Also the best results will be when using paper drywall tape, although other options will work as well.
Required Items
- Spackle
- Putty knife
- Paper drywall tape
Steps For How to Patch a Medium Size Hole in Drywall
A medium size hole can not be repaired with spackle alone. The width of the hole requires a way to support the spackle, keeping it flush with the wall surface.
Step 1
Use the putty knife to scrape the edges of the hole. Your goal is to get all the edges flat with the surface of the wall. You don’t want any high spots that will stick out when you move on to the following steps.
Step 2
Use your putty knife to apply a healthy amount of spackle in the hole. You want the majority of the hole to be covered with the spackle, but it doesn’t need to be covered completely. You also don’t want so much putty in the hole that it falls into the wall cavity under its own weight. Allow a little excess spackle around the edges of the hole on the wall.
Step 3
Cut a section of drywall tape that is about 1 to 2 inches longer than the height of the hole. Apply it to the hole in a vertical orientation. Once it has stuck to the spackle, use the corner of the putty knife to push it into the hole a small amount while allowing some of the tape to extend past the hole in either direction.
Step 4
Apply some more spackle on the hole over the tape that is pressed in. leave a little excess on the top and bottom sections of tape.
Step 5
Apply another piece of tape the same size as the previous one directly on top of the first piece of tape. The two should be on top of each other.
Step 6
Apply more spackle over the entirety of the hole and the tape. It should fill any holes or voids around the tape. Smooth it when finished. Allow ample time to dry. Consult directions on the spackle container for best results.
Step 7
Spray texture the repair location once dry. After everything is completely dry the repair is ready for paint.
How to Patch a Large Hole in Drywall
Skill Level: Medium+
You have a large hole above six inches in diameter in your drywall but don’t know what to do to fix it. This seems overwhelming, but the truth is if you follow these specific steps you will be able to repair your drywall and get your home back to normal status.
A replacement piece of drywall is required for this repair. It is important that you purchase a piece that is the same thickness. You can measure the thickness in the hole, but if this isn’t easy then take a sample to the hardware store.
Some hardware stores sell smaller pieces of drywall for such repairs. You may need to call around to find one that does. If they don’t sell small pieces, you may need to get creative. Some possibilities to start with are to check an upcycle store like Habitat For Humanity. Check on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for scrap pieces of drywall as well.
If you choose not to use drywall to patch this hole, you can skip down to the next section titled: How to patch a large hole in drywall with mesh. Here you will learn how to do this job without drywall, but with a mesh patch instead.
Required Tools
- Drywall saw
- Sandpaper
- Oscillating tool (optional)
- Pencil
- Tape measure
- Straight Edge
- Drywall knife
Required Materials
- Drywall screws
- A piece of new drywall
- Furring Strips
- Drywall tape
- Spackle
- Spray texture
Steps To Repair A Large Hole In Drywall
The location of the hole in the wall may slightly alter the steps listed below. One example of this happening is if the hole is touching a wall stud. A close proximity to this can be helpful, but you will need to keep this in mind while going through the process. I include this example below, and show you how to fix it.
Step 1
Take a measurement of the width and height of the hole that needs repair. Add one inch to the size of each dimension before transferring it to the new piece of drywall. Use the straight edge to draw out a rectangle this size. The drywall saw is now used to cut the rectangle out of the new piece of drywall.
Step 2
Hold up the piece you just cut over the hole, making sure it covers the hole completely. It’s best if the piece is plumb, and level. Trace it with the pencil. If the hole is against the stud, you will want the piece to sit in the middle of the stud. This will allow you to be able to screw into it, and also give a nice foundation for the drywall next to the patch to sit on.
Step 3
Use the drywall saw to cut the hole you traced in the previous step. If you are cutting along the middle of the stud you will want to use a razor knife or an oscillating tool. The oscillating tool is much easier to use in this step, but a knife will work as well.
Step 4
You now have a hole that’s the same size and shape as the wall patch. It’s time to install the furring strips the patch will screw into. The strips should be vertical, and parallel to one another. Place them with about a ½ inch gap between the strip and the wall’s edge. The strips will be behind the wall when screwed down. Use one drywall screw at the top and one at the bottom of each furring strip.
Step 5
Place the patch into the opening, flat against the furring strips. Use four screws to attach it to the strips. You want to try to get the patch as close to flush with the edge of the wall. If there are bulges you will want to try to sand it down.
Step 6
Attach the drywall tape using spackle. The tape should overlap the seams, making a flat surface once complete. Start with a layer of mud before placing the tape on the mud. Then another layer of mud on top will help smooth it out.
Step 7
Apply a light layer of spray texture over the tape. It should look as close to the existing wall texture as possible. It’s recommended to test it on a piece of cardboard for practice. Once this layer is on do not touch it until it’s dry. 24 hours of drying time is recommended before painting.
How to Patch a Large Hole in Drywall With Mesh
Skill Level: low to medium
If you are looking for a quick and easy patch option to fix your drywall, then consider using a mesh patch. This is a good option for those who don’t have a lot of experience with tools, or don’t want to invest in extra materials.
Mesh can be used to patch a hole in drywall when you don’t have access to spare segments of drywall to use as a patch. It is also a good option to use if you are lacking the required tools in the previous method as well. The mesh patch has an adhesive layer that helps it stick to the wall.
Required Materials
- Mesh patch
- Spackle
- Putty knife
- Fine grit sandpaper
Steps to Repair a Hole in Drywall Using Mesh Patch
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Step 1
It’s important that all the edges around the hole are flush with the wall. Use your putty knife to scrape and smooth the high parts of the hole. Try to make it smooth around the perimeter of the hole, close to the width of the patch.
Step 2 (optional)
Use fine grit sandpaper to sand off the wall texture the size of the patch. This will help the patch have a smooth appearance once finished. Otherwise once the patch is applied there may be a raised look to it.
