If you have kids in the house and they suddenly forget that football ought to be played outside, then you definitely know how it feels to have a hole in the wall. Upon seeing this, you think to yourself, “If only this could be patched easily.” In reality, repairs like this take a lot of work but as a homeowner, you can definitely learn how to repair drywall issues with these tips and a lot of practice.
How To Repair Drywall: Things You Need to Know and Have
Before doing any work, it is best to understand what drywall really is. For one, drywall is also called wallboard, gyp board, gypsum board, plasterboard or Sheetrock. Whatever name it is given, the fact is this stuff will need some sort of repair one time or another. Drywall is considered a modern building material. It comes in large panels, around 4 feet by 8 feet, and has a gypsum core in between the heavy paper faces. Now, these faces are made from recycled paper.
Now that you know what drywall is made of, you can get a clearer idea as to how to fix it. Of course, like any repair job, there are some tools and materials you should have. First up, you need plastic or drop cloth to keep the mess away from the floor. Have a tape measure, keyhole saw chalk box, razor knife, and screw gun on hand. You may need some screws, wood furring, some drywall, tape, quick-set mud, sanding sponge, and some knives to spread out the mud.
The next thing to particular with is safety. Be sure that when you do the actual repairing, watch the weight. Drywall weights about 1.7 pounds per square foot, which can get pretty heavy if you have 4 feet by 8 feet sheet. That sheet of drywall will weigh 54 pounds, give or take. So, if you are trying to stand it on its edge, do not let it fall over. It may fall on a child or someone you may not be aware of. Aside from that, five-gallon compound buckets are also drowning and suffocation hazards for children. Don’t let small children anywhere near it. Finally, drywall sanding dust is an irritant, especially to the respiratory system. Wear a dust mask when you are sanding to block these airborne silica and gypsum particles. Vacuum your floors regularly while working, too.
How to Repair Drywall Problems Like a Pro
Repairing damaged drywall is certainly a nitty-gritty process. Here are some tips from The Spruce on how to fix common drywall problems.
If you have a popped drywall nail, the first thing to do is fasten a 1 ¼ inch, #6 coarse thread drywall screw at the top and bottom of the popped nail. Fasten the screw to that specific point just below the surface of the drywall paper. If you cannot get those drywall screws, you can use the same type of nail that caused the pop. Drive it in above and below the popped nail until these nails are recessed slightly with a dimple in the drywall surface from the head of the hammer. You can then apply the first coat of spackle or premixed drywall joint compound. Apply the second coat and feather the edges. After 24 hours, lightly sand the area and once completely dried, check the repair. If it looks good, you can now prime and paint.
For dents in drywall, use a flat blade taping knife (4 to 6 inches) and apply spackle on the dented area. Wait until the compound is completely dry (24 hours) then sand the area using a sanding block and 200 grit sandpaper. Once it has dried, check the repair. Repeat the application if you see that the compound shrunk or you see pitting. If not, prime and paint.
If you are repairing the split or bubbled drywall joint tape, this takes more work than the first two. Since you are pulling of paper tape with an average width of 2 inches, you are actually creating a larger repair area. To fix this properly you would need to follow certain steps. First, cut the damaged section off using a sharp knife. Expect to pull little bits of dried drywall joint compound. Second, apply spackle in the opened drywall joint as a bedding for the new tape. Use a 4-inch drywall flat blade taping knife. Be sure to fully cover the tape width and length.
Third, cut the new section of drywall tape to the length you need. Next, slightly wet your 4-inch drywall flat blade taping knife and center the drywall tape on the joint. While doing this, hold the taping knife at a 45-degree angle and run the knife along with the tape. Press it fully and firmly into the joint compound bedding. If you see compound oozing out the edges, that is good. Let this dry overnight and scrape off any high spots the next day.
Once that is done, apply a second coat of joint compound, this time using a 10-inch taping knife. Slightly wet the taping knife and apply that second coat that is 6 to 8 inches wide, covering the first layer of compound. Hold the taping knife more at a 90-degree angle this time and draw it down in one smooth stroke. Remove any excess.
With these tips, you know for sure that it is possible to learn how to repair drywall yourself. As a homeowner, this is definitely a skill you should be good at.