how to repair a huge hole in drywall

How to repair a hole in drywall no matter how large it is

• Match the paint. David Steckel, a home expert at Thumbtack, says that paint shouldn't be an afterthought. ...
• Don't forget the texture. If the area is textured, you'll also need to apply that texture so the repair blends in. ...
• Primer makes a difference. ...
• Keep things clean. ...
• Prep your tools in advance. ...
• Prep the area you're patching, too. ...

Full Answer

What tools are needed to fix a hole in drywall?

Other Tools That Are Nice to Have:

• Keyhole Saw
• Drywall Screw Gun
• Cordless Drill
• Drywall T square
• Rasp
• RotoZip ®
• Ten Inch Drywall Knife
• Halogen Light
• Sanding Pole

How to finish drywall in 9 steps?

Instructions

• Prepare the Surface. ...
• Apply the First Mud Coat (Paper Tape) If you are using paper tape, it must be embedded in a layer of compound, and thus the process takes slightly longer than ...
• Apply the First Mud Coat (Fiberglass Tape) Fiberglass-mesh tape is self-adhesive and can be applied directly to the drywall seams without first applying a layer of mud.

More items...

How much does drywall repair cost for small holes?

To estimate costs for your project:

1. Set Project Zip Code Enter the Zip Code for the location where labor is hired and materials purchased.
2. Specify Project Size and Options Enter the number of "items" required for the project.
3. Re-calculate Click the "Update" button.

How to patch small holes in drywall?

Attach a small piece of wood, known as a furring strip, vertically inside the cut-out hole using a drill and drywall screws. Screw the furring strips into the existing drywall. Between the two existing studs and the furring strip, the new drywall will have plenty of support to avoid cracking.

How do you fix a 6 inch hole in drywall?

2:5815:38How to Fix Holes in Drywall - 4 Easy Methods - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo that's option number one for your first coat option number two is what's called the presto patchMoreSo that's option number one for your first coat option number two is what's called the presto patch the presto patch is a really simple idea basically it's a four inch circle of half inch drywall.

How do you fill a large hole in the wall?

Use the kit in 4 steps:First, hand-sand around the hole to smooth any rough spots. ... Then cut a piece of fiberglass mesh to overlap the hole by at least 1 in. ... Spread a layer of spackling compound over the patch with a 6-in. ... Let it dry overnight, sand lightly, then apply a second thin layer.

How big of a hole can you fill with drywall mud?

Preparing the Drywall Area. Use spackle to repair holes less than 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. Spackle can be used to repair holes up to the size of your hand. You will have to use a support like mesh or wire to repair holes larger than 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter.

How do you fill large holes in walls before painting?

Fill small holes and indents (less than 1/8 in.) with spackling compound. For larger holes, use joint compound instead. Apply either compound with a putty knife, spreading it thin on the wall.

What is the fastest way to fix a hole in the wall?

0:211:48How To Fix a Hole in the Wall - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThese plaster patches are super easy to attach. You simply peel off the back and stick it onto theMoreThese plaster patches are super easy to attach. You simply peel off the back and stick it onto the wall. Just smooth down the edges even grab your spatula to make sure it's really smooth.

How do you fix a 3 inch hole in drywall?

0:1810:00How to Patch Holes in Drywall, Big and Small - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo this is just a common screw hole just take a small putty knife. And kind of go over it differentMoreSo this is just a common screw hole just take a small putty knife. And kind of go over it different directions and then we have some patch.

Can you use drywall compound to fill holes?

Drywall Joint Compound The main ingredient in joint compound -- or mud -- is gypsum, and it's the product that you use for taping and finishing drywall seams. You can also use it to patch holes, although it takes longer to dry and shrinks more than spackling paste.

How do you make a large drywall patch blend?

2:074:09Easy way to make a drywall patch blend in with the rest of the wallYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBaby white works wonders to wipe off the excess.MoreBaby white works wonders to wipe off the excess.

How to repair drywall: small holes, cracks, and dents

If that heavy picture pulled your screw through the drywall or years of old nail holes are starting to build up, give them a quick touch-up using just a few, inexpensive tools.

How to repair drywall: medium-sized holes

For holes that are under four inches in diameter but too large to fill with spackle, use a drywall repair kit. These kits typically include all of the tools you’ll need to complete the repair on your own.

How to repair drywall: large holes

For larger holes in your drywall that are bigger than four inches in diameter, you won’t be able to use putty or spackle to repair them. When repairing larger drywall holes, you’ll likely need to cut out some of the existing drywall. For this step, be cautious and avoid cutting any wires that run behind the walls.

How do I install a drywall wall?

STEP 1: Buy these materials. 1 Piece of drywall (2′ x 2′) 2 Utility knife 3 Putty knife 4 Joint compound 5 Drywall tape 6 Sandpaper 7 Jigsaw (optional, but necessary if you need to cut the drywall into special shapes to fit around plumbing). 8 Drywall knife (if you can’t use a jigsaw to cut out notches) 9 Oscillating tool that can cut drywall in a clean cut (optional), but may have a head attachment that can cut out notches, if necessary. 10 Furring strips or scrap wood 11 Ruler or straight edge 12 Stud finder 13 Drywall screws 14 Power drill 15 Drywall drilling bit

How do I cut drywall in the middle of a wall?

In order to get your jigsaw or drywall knife to start cutting in the middle of drywall, you’ll have to drill a small pilot hole with a drill and then insert your blade into that hole in order to start your cutting in the middle of the drywall). Anyhow, the piece I needed to fit around my pipes was crazy.

What tool is used to cut drywall?

Jigsaw (optional, but necessary if you need to cut the drywall into special shapes to fit around plumbing). Drywall knife (if you can’t use a jigsaw to cut out notches) Oscillating tool that can cut drywall in a clean cut (optional), but may have a head attachment that can cut out notches, if necessary. Furring strips or scrap wood.

Did they patch the holes in the wall behind the vanity?

Behind the vanity, it looked like there had been some plumbing work done to the house years ago. And in order to do the work, they cut big holes in the drywall but never patched them up (laziness).

Can you use furring strips on drywall?

Now that the pieces are tested, support can be added inside of the drywall hole. Furring strips are nothing more than strips of wood (although they can be of metal, too) that can provide structural support (sometimes they’re used behind crown molding for extra strength when nailing up crown molding).

Can you attach a long board to drywall?

Typically if you can attach one long board, you should, but in my case, the pipes were in the way. So I had to place various pieces around the drywall opening. (And if your hole is located near studs, you can clear away enough old drywall in order to attach the new drywall patch to the studs.

Can you paint a wall with a primer?

Now that the walls are smooth and you can no longer see the damaged areas, it’s time to prime and paint the wall. Most paints have primer in them, so I usually skip a separate primer and just add two coats of a paint-primer combo.

Small Dents and Dings

Scrape away loose debris from the hole. Cover the hole or dent with fast-drying spackle to bring the spackle level with the drywall surface and let it dry 24 hours -- or the time recommended by the manufacturer’s instructions. Sand smooth.

Popped Nail Heads

A popped nail isn't holding in the stud and backs out of the drywall, creating a popped nail head.

Small Holes

For small holes, like those created by a doorknob, a patch kit may be used.

Large Holes

For holes larger than 6 inches, you'll create a drywall patch with a different attachment method for the repair.

Corner Bead Patch

Corner bead is used where two pieces of drywall meet to form a corner. Corner bead is available in a variety of materials, including metal, paper and vinyl.

Finish the Repair

You're almost done. Here's where you make it look like nothing happened.

Repair Textured Drywall

Textured drywall is a bit more complicated, but still pretty simple to repair.

How do I patch a hole in drywall?

Use a wall repair patch to easily cover up holes up to 6 in (15 cm) in diameter. Cut larger holes into a square or rectangle, then create a patch out of drywall and attach it to the inside of the hole.

How thick is a piece of drywall to patch?

You can purchase small pieces of drywall for patching that are 2 ft (0.61 m) in diameter . Tip: If you don’t have a scrap piece of drywall to make a patch out of, you could use a 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm)-thick piece of scrap wood instead.

How to smooth mesh patch?

Sand the patch with fine-grit sandpaper until it is smooth. Attach a piece of 120- to 150-grit sandpaper to a sanding block or just sand by hand. Lightly sand the entire patch down until it is smooth and blends in with the surrounding wall. Don’t sand too hard or you might expose the mesh patch below the compound.

How tall is a patch of drywall?

Create a patch out of drywall that is 2 in (5.1 cm) taller than the hole. Cut a piece of drywall to the same width as, or just slightly wider, than the hole but a full 2 in (5.1 cm) taller. The extra height will allow you to attach it to the inside of the hole with adhesive.

How to apply construction adhesive to a patch?

Apply construction adhesive to the bottom and top edges of the patch. Put a zig-zag of construction adhesive along the top 1 in (2.5 cm) of the patch. Do the same for the bottom 1 in (2.5 cm). For example, you can use a construction adhesive like liquid nails.

How big is a patch for a hole?

This method works for holes that are up to about 6 in (15 cm) in diameter. Wall patches come in sizes up to 7–8 in (18–20 cm) in diameter, and the patch needs to be slightly bigger than the hole to adhere to the wall around it. ...

Can you use a sponge to paint joints?

If you want to make the joint compound textured, you can dab it with a sponge while it is still wet or use a textured paint roller to apply a final thin layer of watered-down compound. If you’re ready to paint the wall, use a water-based primer to prime the patch before applying wall paint.