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Repairing Flaws in Drywall WallsBy Jim Sulski Summary: You need plenty of time and patience when fixing holes in your drywall. Jim gives you tips on how to make a smooth professionally repaired wall. A crack or a hole in a wall can be the result of numerous forms of abuse:
A doorknob banging the back of the wall, a misguided hammer, or a water leak
in the ceiling or wall. While it's fairly easy to make imperfections in walls, it's a lot tougher to repair them. Patching a wall is a tricky job, and home improvers need a plenty of patience and elbow grease to get a repair to look smooth and flush. For those who believe you can repair a wall a few minutes before painting it, think again. It's a slow and often dusty job. But if you’ve got time on your hands, it is doable. Although they look similar, there are two types of walls: drywall (also known as wallboard) walls and plaster walls. Let’s look at repairing drywall walls. Drywall walls are made up of four-by-eight foot preformed sheets of a plaster-like material that are one-half inch thick or less. The sheets are cut and nailed or screwed to the wall studs and the gap between sheets of drywall is then covered with pieces of tape and a drywall compound. Wallboard is found on most homes built after World War II and most new additions to older homes. Of course, before making any wall repairs, be sure to eliminate the source of the hole, whether it's a roof leak or a missing doorstop. And give yourself enough time to make the repairs before painting or wallpapering. Wallboard is usually easier to repair in that you can use solid replacement pieces. An important point, however, is to use replacement pieces that are the correct thickness of the existing walls. Wallboard usually comes in to depths: five-eighths or a half-inch. What follows is a guide to fixing the different types of wallboard flaws. • Cracks: Drywall cracks are fairly easy to patch. Remove any loose pieces and cover the crack with a drywall compound, feathering the edges to blend in with the existing wall. • Small holes. First, clean out the hole and remove any loose debris. Then, spread a thin layer of wallboard compound around the opening. Place several pieces of wallboard tape over the hole in a cross pattern (shape of an “X”), anchoring the tape in the compound. Then cover the tape with additional compound, feathering the edges. The joint compound will probably shrink when it dries, so you'll need to apply a second coat and sand and seal. • Medium holes, option #1. The first option is to enlarge to hole to a rectangle. Use a piece of paper to trace the opening and then cut a piece of drywall to match the hole. Insert a small screw in the drywall patch to serve as a handle. Then, spread compound around the edges of the patch and insert it into the hole. When the compound dries, remove the screw and add more compound around the patch. Allow it to dry and then sand and finish. • Medium holes, option #2. Another method of repairing a medium-size hole is to attach a support bracket to the existing wallboard. Recut the hole to a square or rectangular shape and cut a matching piece of drywall. Then cut a piece of 1” x 2” brace about four inches wider than the hole. Apply adhesive to the ends of the 1” x 2” piece and insert it into the hole, pulling back on the brace so that it spans the hole and adheres to the inside of the wall. Drive two screws into the wall, catching the ends of the brace and holding it firmly in place. Once dry, apply adhesive to the drywall patch and the brace. Insert the patch in the hole and hold it in place until the adhesive dries. Then apply compound around the patch and over the screw. Once dry, sand and finish. • Large holes. Locate the studs on both sides of the hole. Cut a rectangle
around the hole, opening it up to the edges of the studs. Cut two pieces of
1” x 2” that are slightly longer than the hole and attach them parallel
to the side of the studs. Then cut a patch the size of the hole and using drywall
screws, attach it to the braces. Apply wallboard compound and tape around the
patch. © by Jim Sulski. All rights reserved. January 24, 2005. NOTE: This column is distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate, PO Box 366, Glencoe, Illinois, 60022. This column may not be resold, reprinted, resyndicated or redistributed without written permission from the publisher. © 2005 by Ilyce R. Glink. Distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate. |
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