
- Cut away and remove any loose debris and jagged paper edges from the hole. Pull off any dangling pieces of drywall and plaster.
- Create a repair patch that is about 1 in (2.5 cm) bigger than the hole. ...
- Peel the backing off the patch and stick it over the hole. Remove the lining from the adhesive on the back of the patch.
- Apply a thin layer of joint compound to completely cover the patch. ...
- Let the joint compound dry for 24 hours. Wait until the compound is completely dry before sanding. ...
- 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.
- Repeat the process for a second coat of joint compound. Apply another thin layer of joint compound over the patch and the surrounding wall.
How to patch large holes in sheetrock?
Let dry and apply a second coat of joint compound if necessary. Sand the surface until smooth, wipe away any dust, and paint. For large holes, you’ll need to patch the area with a fresh piece of drywall backed by a wood support. Be sure to use drywall that is the same thickness as the existing material.
How to repair a drywall ceiling hole fast and easy?
Wall and Ceiling Repair Simplified: 11 Clever Tricks
- Cure for Chronic Cracks. Some cracks keep coming back no matter how well you repair them. For those pesky recurring cracks, we prescribe Good-Bye Cracks.
- Whole Wall Cover-Up. Some walls are so bad that the best fix is to tear them out and install new drywall. ...
- Chair Rail
- Bigger Cover Plates
- Texture in a Jar to Repair Cracks in Ceiling
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
Do it yourself sheetrock repair?
“Small interior wall cracks that occur from settling and other damage like dents and holes can be patched relatively easily with a do-it-yourself drywall repair kit,” he says.

How big of a hole can you patch in drywall?
6 inchesFix Large Holes For holes larger than 6 inches, you'll create a drywall patch with a different attachment method for the repair.
How big of a hole can you fill with joint compound?
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 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 I fix a large hole in the wall?
2:466:41Fixing Large Holes in Walls - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's a two-step process first you want to score the paper on the top surface with a utility knifeMoreIt's a two-step process first you want to score the paper on the top surface with a utility knife snap it and then cut the paper on the back. Side snap it and then cut the paper on the back.
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.
How big of a gap can be filled with drywall mud?
Setting-type compound (the bagged kind you mix vs. the drying-type you buy premixed in a bucket) will easily fill a 1/2" gap without cracking. Make sure you load up the gap well before applying your tape, then finish it as you would any other joint.
How do you fix a big hole in drywall without a patch?
Tiny nail and screw holes are the easiest to fix. Use a putty knife to fill them with spackling or wall joint compound. Allow the area to dry, then sand lightly. Anything larger must be covered with a bridging material for strength before patching compound can be applied.
What's the difference in sheetrock and drywall?
Drywall is a flat panel made of gypsum plaster sandwiched in between two sheets of thick paper. It adheres to metal or wood studs using nails or screws. Sheetrock is a specific brand of drywall sheet. These terms are often used interchangeably.
What is a California patch?
0:182:15How To Repair a Drywall Hole Using the California Patch - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe no cladding patch is known in some areas as the California patch. It doesn't require a backing.MoreThe no cladding patch is known in some areas as the California patch. It doesn't require a backing. And it works great for holes approximately.
How do you fix a big hole in a wall without drywall?
0:000:37How to Fix a Hole Without Drywall - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you got a hole like this and you don't have a piece of drywall you can do it a coupleMoreSo if you got a hole like this and you don't have a piece of drywall you can do it a couple different ways you can pressure fit it or you can just put a nail on the side.
How do you fix a hole in drywall without studs?
1:112:14Patching Holes in Drywall With No Anchor Points - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou also want to make sure that you countersink your screws in a little bit that way when you putMoreYou also want to make sure that you countersink your screws in a little bit that way when you put mud over the top it's going to cover up those holes you want to take your piece of drywall.
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.
Step 1: Prepare Your Wood and Test Fit
Locate your piece of wood. This will be the part that actually 'plugs' the hole. Cut the wood to size so that it has a long and a short side. The short side should just fit through the opening with the 'long side' long enough to contact the sheetrock on either side of the hole.
Step 2: Apply Hot Glue and Quickly Move Into Position
Apply hot glue to the side of the wood that will be facing you; the side that will be snugging up against the backside of the sheetrock wall. After applying the glue, quickly insert the wood piece through the hole in the wall and snug it into position, pulling on the string to hold it in place.
Step 3: Cut a Sheetrock 'Plug'
Take a scrap piece of sheetrock and cut a small piece just smaller than the hole's opening. You are reating a sheetrock 'plug' to fill the space in front of the board you just glued into position.
Step 4: Hot Glue the Sheetrock 'Plug' Into Place
Test fit the piece of sheetrock to make sure it fits all the way down into the hole until it bottoms out on the board.
Step 5: Fill the Remaining Gaps With Joint Compound
Take your joint compound and fill all the gaps between the sheetrock 'plug' and the surrounding sheetrock.
Step 6: Sand the Dried Joint Compound
After the joint compound has dried thoroughly sand it down with sandpaper, a sanding sponge or drywall sanding material. You may have to go back and apply a thin layer of joint compound, let it dry and sand again, then repeat this process until you get a smooth surface that blends with the surrounding wall.
Can you spray paint a hole with joint compound?
Just as it’s better when spray-painting something to use several thin coats of paint rather than attempting to cover the surface with one thick coat of paint, repairing a large hole with joint compound produces a better result if the compound is applied in several thin coats.
Is the white area of drywall still damp?
The darker gray area is still damp while the white area is completely dry. The joint compound needs to be totally dry before you begin sanding. Once the first coat was dry, I donned a dust mask like this one and got busy sanding with my drywall sanding sponge.
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.
Step 1: Make a Drywall Patch From Sheetrock
Take a small square piece of sheetrock and draw a plug the same size as the hole in the wall on the back of the sheetrock. Cut the plug out leaving the front paper of the sheetrock intact.
Step 2: Place the Patch Plug in the Hole
Place the patch into the hole in the wall to see if it fits. If it fits then pull it out a little and apply drywall compoundto the brown side of the paper and put it back into the hole.
Step 3
Apply an even layer of drywall compound over the entire patch and let it dry for at least twelve hours.
Step 4
Apply a second coat of drywall compound to make an even surface. Let this dry for at least twelve hours.
Step 6
You might have to match the wall texture. You can do this with an air compressor and hopper. You might be able to find spray on wall textures which makes it much easier.
Step 8
You can find these handy tips along with many other home construction ideas at www.make-my-own-house.com
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.
