How to Repair Damaged Drywall
Repairs and Installation, Video by Joe Truini
To repair a hole in drywall:
- Cut a patch slightly larger than the hole from a scrap of drywall the same thickness as the wall.
- Place the patch over the hole, and trace around it with a pencil.
- Cut to the lines with a drywall saw, and remove the damaged wallboard.
- Position 1”x 4” cleats in the wall behind the hole, and attach them in place with drywall screws.
- Insert the drywall patch in the hole, and screw it to the cleats using drywall screws.
- Cover the patch with joint compound and imbed strips of drywall tape over the seams.
- Smooth out the joint compound with a 6” drywall knife and allow to dry.
- Apply two additional coats, with a 10” drywall knife, feathering the compound out evenly over the adjoining surface.
- Once the compound has dried, sand it smooth before priming and painting.
