Drywall Repair

A common problem in every home is drywall repair. No matter how well the wallboard is hung and finished, eventually you will need to do some repairs.

Drywall repairs are the product of daily life in a busy household. Popped nails or screws and small dings or dents are the most common needed repairs, and with the expansion and contraction through out the day and seasons, the materials that are the structure of your home are bound to show some cracks. Patching small holes and cracks can be easy, the smaller the needed drywall repair the easer it is.

Drywall Tools

Proper tools ensure a proper job. Be sure to have the proper tools ready when beginning this process.

• A stainless steel drywall pan is the best and can last a lifetime. Choose a 12-inch pan with heavy steel construction. These good pans cost very little and cleanup much better than cheap plastic drywall pans.
• Taping and finishing knives are needed and good knives will make your job easier. You will need a combination of knives: 6-inch for taping and small patches, 8-inch for intermediate finishing and a 12-inch knife for the final application of patching compound.
• A sharp razor knife or drywall saw for cutting drywall. Use a drywall rasp to smooth the cut edges.
• A drywall hammer should be the only hammer used to set fasteners. This hammer has a convex shape head to minimize damage to the face paper.
• A T-square is used for marking and acting as a guide during cutting, this is a large, 4-ft square.
• A 25-ft measuring tape is stiffer and easier to use than longer ones.
• Chalk line and blue chalk is used in situations that are difficult to score a straight line between two points on the drywall panel.
• A Drywall lifter is a little tool used to lift the panel an inch or so off the floor with your foot.
• A Screw gun or variable speed drill and screwdriver attachment is used for installing the wallboard with drywall screws.
• Mixing paddle and heavy-duty drill for mixing large amount of joint compound and water, a hand mixer can also be used.
• Sanding tools are a must and can range from a simple medium-course sanding block to specialized drywall sanders. To cut down on the dust a wet drywall-sanding sponge can be used.

These tools will be handy during many drywall repair projects, but some are for when entire rooms are to be hung and finished.

Patching Nail Holes and Small Cracks

Some walls can be like pin cushions with dozens of small nails. After removal all these holes need to be filled, don't rely on the paint to fill these small holes.

The best patching-compound for small holes and cracks is lightweight spackle. Use your finger to fill the nail hole with spackle and lightly rub the surface to distribute the spackle and blend it with the surrounding surface. The same technique works for small cracks. A light sanding is recommended after the spackle has dried for typically 1 hour.

For larger nail holes or small dents use a putty knife to fill the area. After allowing the spackle to completely dry, lightly sand the area and blend the patch with its surroundings. A second coat can be applied after the first has completely dried.

Popped Nails and Screws

This problem occurs if the drywall isn't fully fastened tightly against the framing, when the framing lumber shrinks or twists, or when an object strikes the wall or ceiling. This causes the joint compound to become loose and pop off the fastener. Before doing any drywall repair concerning the fasteners, make sure the drywall is fully fastened to the framing. Apply hand pressure next to the popped nail or screw, the pressure will verify if the drywall panel is loose. Simply apply a new screw 1 ‡ inches away and reset the existing screw. As you install the new screw apply hand pressure to the area. If the drywall paper surface isn't damaged apply 2 coats of lightweight spackle or heavy joint compound. After the patch has fully dried lightly sand the area.

If the paper has torn or the core of the drywall is damaged the area will need a small piece of mesh tape and 3 thin coats of joint compound. After final sanding apply texture to match the existing finish.

For additional repairs such as large structural movement, corner bead abuse, water damage, and the addition or removal of a wall contact your local drywall professional to insure the job is done right the first time to save you money and time in later on. Also remember that when fixing drywall take into account the texture of ceiling or wall. To ensure that repairs match existing walls certain techniques are used.

All drywall repairs need to be done before final priming and painting. All of this patching, texturing and drywall repair will payoff in the end. The paint and final look will be more pleasing and if done correctly will stay that way.