How to Fix a Hole in Drywall

19 Mar 2020 Building Supply

Most people that have worked with drywall will tell you that it can be messy and sometimes frustrating to work with, so it is important to have a good understanding of how to fix a hole in drywall before getting started on patching your wall up. At Country Lumber, we know that any drywall repair job can be simplified with the right equipment, which is why we provide a variety of drywall tools and products.

How to Patch Drywall

There are a couple of different ways to repair drywall and the method used will depend on the size of the hole being repaired.

How to Fill Small Drywall Holes

A small hole in drywall is usually caused by hardware or small accidents and they are typically no larger than 2 inches. Small drywall holes can be fixed using spackle or wood filler. To patch small holes, adhere to the following procedure:

1. Sand down the edges of the hole and remove debris.

2. Scoop a little bit of spackle or wood filler into the hole using a trowel or putty knife and flatten it out a bit. Spackle shrinks as it dries, so be liberal with the amount used.

3. Wait for the spackle to dry completely and sand it smooth.

How to Patch Medium Sized Holes in Drywall

Medium holes in drywall are often created by doorknobs or other similarly sized objects. To fix medium drywall holes, self-adhesive patches are typically used. The following steps can be used to fix medium-sized drywall holes:

1. Place the adhesive mesh patch over the hole in the wall.

2. Using a drywall knife, scoop drywall joint compound or spackle onto the patch and begin spreading it across the surface of the patch towards the edges.

3. Feather the edges of the joint compound or spackle to blend into the wall by increasing pressure at the edges of the patch.

4. Let the patch dry and sand it flat.

5. Apply a second coat by repeating steps 1-4. If the pattern of the mesh is still visible, add a third coat.

How to Repair Large Holes in Drywall

For large drywall holes, it is often necessary to cut a new piece of drywall. Large holes can occur from accidents where a person or piece of furniture makes a hole in the wall, or they can be made deliberately when there is water damage to the drywall. Purchase a strip of drywall that is larger than the hole, and follow these drywall repair steps:

1. Cut a square out of the new drywall that is a bit bigger than the hole being fixed.

2. Hold the square over the hole and trace the outline onto the wall with a pencil.

3. Cut out the square shape from the wall.

4. Use drywall screws to screw furring strips in place on the sides of the square hole so that the furring strips overlap the edges of the hole.

5. Screw the square patch to the furring strips.

6. Tape the edges of the patch with drywall tape.

7. Using a drywall knife, scoop drywall joint compound or spackle onto the patch and begin spreading it across the surface of the patch towards the edges.

8. Feather the edges of the joint compound or spackle to blend into the wall by increasing pressure at the edges of the patch.

9. Let the patch dry and sand it flat.

10. Apply a second coat by repeating steps 1-4. If the pattern of the drywall tape is still visible through the sanded spackle, add a third coat.

If you would like to learn more about how to fix a hole in drywall, or if you would like to find out about any of the services and supplies available from Country Lumber, please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.