Repair or Replace Drywall
During repairs or remodeling, it is often necessary to repair or replace drywall. Hiring a contractor, even for a small repair, can be expensive. Repairing or replacing drywall is not difficult with the right tools and techniques. If you have several holes or a jagged line to cut, it is better to replace the damaged section with a larger piece of drywall. Straight joints are easier to finish than stepped joints. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Replacing Drywall
1. Mark out the damaged area with a pencil. Use a level to draw horizontal and vertical lines.
2. Cut along the lines and remove the damaged drywall.
3. Cut a wood strip that is long enough to insert in the hole and attach it to the existing drywall with 1¼-inch drywall screws. If your hole is large, two or more strips of wood may be needed.
4. Cut a piece of drywall to fit the hole you cut out and attach it to the wood strips with 1¼-inch drywall screws. If you are replacing a large piece, place the screws 6 inches apart on the edges and about 10 inches apart in the center of the sheet.
5. Prime and paint the repaired area. Patched areas often take on a different tint to the existing wall. To minimize this difference, tint your primer in the direction of the color of the wall. Your paint store will do this for you.
Repairing Small Holes
6. Clean up the edges of the hole with a utility knife.
7. Attach a perforated sheet of aluminum with a self-adhesive back to the wall. Drywall repair kits can be purchased from your local home or hardware store.
8. Apply a thin coat of joint compound over the aluminum sheet with a 6-inch flex knife and smooth it with a 10-inch flex knife. Taper the edges by applying pressure to half of the blade and going around the patch. Let the joint compound dry completely before applying the next coat.
9. Apply a second coat of joint compound extending further than the first coat.
10. Scrape any bumps off the patch with your 10-inch knife and apply a third coat of joint compound. If your joint compound does not smooth easily, add a little water to make it the consistency of whip cream. The final coat, if applied properly, will need little sanding.
11. Sand the patch using a sanding block with 100-grit sandpaper, taking care not to scuff the surface of the wall.
12. Prime and paint your patch.
Tags: joint compound, coat joint, coat joint compound, drywall screws, flex knife, hole attach, -inch drywall
