Drywall is the standard wall covering for homes built in the 2nd half of the 20th century and homes built in the 21st century. It is inexpensive and inexpensive to install. It is also a material that is easily damaged and being able to do drywall repair can help a homeowner save a significant amount of money. Most drywall repairs can be done by the homeowner with a few inexpensive tools and materials.
Before you begin, we strongly recommend that you test your home’s drywall for lead paint and asbestos – especially if the home was built before 1978. Wearing a respirator whenever doing drywall repairs is a good idea, however extra precautions will need to be taken if the walls have lead paint or asbestos.
Small holes, dents, and dings in the drywall can be scraped and covered with spackle. After the spackle is dry, you can sand it smooth and repaint the wall. Spackle should be used for small area repairs that are not very deep. Spackle will crack if it is applied to a large area or is applied too thick.
To repair medium and large-sized holes in the drywall we recommend cutting out the damaged section and replacing it with a new piece of drywall. First, cut a square or rectangle from a new piece of drywall that is large enough to cover the damaged area. Then trace the outline of that piece onto the wall. Then cut the wall along the marked lines. You will need to install a few furring strips to allow the new drywall to be secured to the existing wall. Attach the furring strips to the back of the wall and then secure the new piece of drywall to the furring strips. You will then need to tape and mud the seams. After that is done, sand everything down and texture the wall where it has been patched to match the rest of the wall.
We recommend applying a primer to the wall before painting the area that has been patched. This will help the patched area blend better with the rest of the wall.
Medium-sized holes can also be patched with what is known as a “California patch.” For a California patch, the new piece of drywall is cut approximately 2 inches larger than what is needed to cover the damage and the extra gypsum is removed to leave the paper backing in place. The paper is then set with joint compound and takes the place of furring strips. This method of repair does not require taping the joints of the repair and can be faster than using furring strips.
You can find more information about drywall repairs in the following video: