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About This Project
Don’t melt down if a doorknob, misguided chair or an impromptu hockey game knocks a big hole in your wall. With a little patience, even a novice can complete a near-invisible repair. While the total time commitment isn’t great, the process stretches over three to four days to allow coats of drywall compound and paint to dry.
Before cutting out the damaged area, check the wall for obstructions. Often you’ll find a wire, pipe or duct. If so, work carefully around them with a drywall or keyhole saw. Or make a shallow cut by repeatedly scoring the line with a sharp utility knife.
It’s easier to add backer board than to try to cut the drywall over studs. Cut the backer boards about 4 in. longer than the height of the hole. Pine or other soft wood works well. Hold them tight to the backside of the drywall when fastening them. Hold the boards carefully so the screw points won’t prick your fingers if they pop out the backside. The drywall screws will draw the boards in tight. Sink the screwheads slightly below the drywall surface.
Measure the thickness of the drywall (most likely 1/2 in.), and look for a large enough scrap from a damaged piece at a home center, rather than buy a full 4 x 8-ft. sheet. Cut it to size and screw it into place, spacing the screws every 6 in.
Taping the edges of the patch to make it invisible is the trickiest part of the job. Buy a gallon tub of drywall compound ($4) and a roll of paper tape ($1.50). You can use mesh tape, but it isn’t as strong. If you have a lot of repairs, also buy a sack of 20-minute setting compound ($5 a bag). It hardens quickly and doesn’t shrink, so it’s ideal for filling cracks and gaps before applying the joint tape. For smoothest results, also pick up flexible 6- and 10-in. taping knives ($7 each).
Apply a coat of compound and tape to each joint. Thin the compound a bit with water to help embed the tape. Smooth the tape with the 6-in. knife, pulling out from the center toward each end. Squeeze some, but not all, of the compound out from under the tape so you don’t create a big hump on the wall. Immediately apply a light coating to the topside of the tape, tapering it out onto the wall.
The second and third coats are to blend and smooth the taped joints so they’ll be invisible when painted. After each coat is dry, set a straightedge against the wall to check for obvious dips and bumps. Knock off bumps and ridges with your taping knife. Add more coats as needed. Then sand, prime and paint.
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