How To Repair A Large Drywall Hole

Holes happen. Whether from an out-of-control party guest (hmmm, maybe better Mojito monitoring is needed next time), or an unfortunate relationship between a doorknob and the wall behind it, it's just a matter of time before you'll be faced with fixing a large drywall hole. Like most of the little challenges your house throws at you, a hole in the wall is nothing you need to love with for long. In most cases it's a very simple fix that requires no major tools. In less than a half hour, life's little mistakes can become an invisible memory.

NOTE: This Quick Fix project is for holes that are larger than six inches in diameter.

Materials List:

Tools:

Utility knife
Small saw
Ruler
Pencil
Magnetic screwdriver or drywall screw gun
Putty knife
Paintbrush

Supplies:

1" thick plywood that's 2" longer than the widest part of the hole (larger holes will need a second piece of plywood)
2 drywall screws per piece of plywood
Drywall patch (ask your hardware retailer for a scrap of drywall rather than a whole sheet; just be sure it's the same thickness as the piece your replacing)
Joint compound (aka mud or drywall compound)
Self-adhesive fiberglass tape, drywall tape or self-adhesive mesh tape
Fine grade sandpaper
Primer
Paint to match the original wall color

Step 1: Make the hole bigger?

Not quite, but the first step is to clean up the damage. To do so, you start by enlarging the area around the hole until the surface of the sides is no longer uneven, soft or cracked. Using your fingers, pull out the loose pieces of wallboard. Then take a utility knife (a steak knife will do in a pinch), and cut out a square or rectangle around the wound.

Step 2: Anchors away!

Measure and cut a piece of scrap plywood so it's 2" longer on either side than the width of your hole. We're going to use this piece to anchor the drywall patch in place. If your hole is larger than 10" on its longest side, you'll need two pieces of scrap plywood to anchor your patch.

Insert the plywood into the hole, inside the wall. Pull the plywood flush against the back side of the wall with one hand and hold it steady. While holding the plywood in place, use a cordless drill to drive a drywall screw through the wall making sure the screws penetrate the drywall and then bite into the plywood piece. Do this on both ends of the plywood piece. Be sure to sink the top of the screw into the drywall so you'll be able to hide the repair.

Step 3: Patching up your breakup

Measure the hole, or trace the outline of it on a piece of paper. Then, using your saw or utility knife, cut out a piece of replacement drywall that is about 1/8" smaller than your hole on all sides. Measuring twice before you cut will ensure an accurate patch size. The patch piece should fit like a loose puzzle piece inside the hole you've cleaned up.

Tip:Drywall (also known as Sheetrock) usually comes in large 10 foot by 4 foot pieces and considering your hole probably is less than a foot or so wide, so before you buy, ask for a "patch piece". Most home improvement stores have spare pieces of drywall that they'll give you for free.

Using a putty knife, apply joint compound (also known in the trade as "mud") to the back of the patch, then insert it gently into the hole. Fill in the cracks around the patch and fill in the screw holes as well. Now take a break, do a dance, or catch up on emails while you give the mud some time to dry.

If the patch seems a bit flimsy, tape around the border of your patch using a self-adhesive drywall tape and cover it with a thin layer of joint compound.

Tip:Drying time taking too long? Aim a hairdryer at the wall on a low-heat setting to speed it up. Avoid high heat, as it will crack the compound and the surrounding wall.

Step 4: Without a Trace

Once the compound has cured, sand the area so it's flush with the wall. Cover it with a light coat of primer, feathering it at the edges to blend in with the surrounding wall color. Once dry, paint the area using the original paint if possible. Several light layers work better than thick layers here, as you can check the color and texture match as each layer dries. If you find you've laid it on a bit thick, paint-wise, said it down and prime and paint it again.

If you wall has a texture coating, such as "orange peel", the patch might match color-wise, but unless you replace the texture, it will still be noticeable. You might consider retexturizing the area prior to adding a coat of paint. There are three basic types of wall textures: orange peel, sand and skip trowel (also known as "knockdown"). Orange peel and sand wall textures are often available in spray can versions for easy application. Skip trowel is just joint compound that is applied with a trowel by hand in a way that matches the texture of the rest of the wall. Whichever texture you choose, be sure to let it dry thoroughly, sand down any rough or jagged edges, then prime and paint.

Tip:If the hole was made by a doorknob, install a doorstop in the floor behind the door to avoid future repair jobs.

Once your work is complete and you've cleaned up all traces of your repair, invite a friend or family member to inspect it. Dare them to pinpoint the spot you repaired! While you don't want to make this type of repair every day, isn't it great to know you can handle at least one of life's unexpected mistakes with this much ease?

(By Be Jane)