Damage to drywall can be repaired.
Damage to drywall can be caused by nail holes, water damage, moving furniture or a myriad of other reasons. The drywall can have an actual hole in it, or it can have flaking and cracking. To repair either problem so that the drywall looks as though it has never been damaged requires a certain amount of finesse. Repairing drywall can be accomplished successfully with a little patience and the right tools and materials. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Use a 6-inch drywall knife to remove any loose material from an area that is damaged but does not have a hole. Scrape the area lightly with the knife to remove flakes and blisters from the drywall. The object is to make a solid surface to which the joint compound can adhere.
2. Smooth the joint compound over the damaged area using a 6-inch drywall knife. Hold the knife in your hand with the index and middle finger on the back of the knife for easier control. Fill in any depressions in the drywall without leaving ridges or high spots of joint compound on the drywall. The idea is to make it as flat as possible.
3. Cut out a square around any hole in the drywall to make it easier to replace with a new piece of drywall.
4. Measure the square you just cut in the drywall, and cut a piece of new drywall two inches bigger on all sides. Flip the drywall over so the paper is facing down, and scrape off the plaster two inches in on all sides of the drywall. Make sure not to cut the paper. The result of this should be a piece of drywall that fits in the hole in the wall with the paper overlapping the hole by two inches on all sides.
5. Fit the new piece of drywall in the hole in the wall, and smooth joint compound over the overlapping paper on all sides. Make sure to make it as smooth as possible.
6. Use a drywall sanding sponge to sand smooth ridges or high areas on any repair that has been made. Let the joint compound dry for at least 24 hours before sanding.
Tags: joint compound, piece drywall, 6-inch drywall, 6-inch drywall knife, compound over, Damage drywall
