How to Fix a Hole in Drywall: Repairing Drywall Damage

Drywall—also known as sheetrock or gypsum board—is a material builders use to encapsulate wood framing and fiberglass insulation in walls and ceilings. Manufacturers produce drywall panels of gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) that feature sheets of paper coverings on both sides. The paper maintains the board’s form so installers can secure it to the wall with drywall screws or other fasteners. Although sheets of drywall are versatile covering materials, their outer paper layer is fragile and can be vulnerable to occasional dents and scratches.

Fixing damaged drywall requires specific tools. Here are the basic items of equipment you will need to complete the project:

1. 1. Drywall saw: A jab saw or drywall saw is a lightweight, serrated blade tool for cutting out small sections of drywall. The tool’s blade ends in a fine point to provide exceptional control while you cut into the wall. Work slowly when you use a drywall saw and stop when you meet resistance to avoid plumbing and electrical wires hidden behind the drywall.
2. 2. Drywall screwdriver: Unlike other power drills or impact drills, a drywall screwdriver has special drill bits that release a screw before it punctures the paper surface of drywall. This feature creates a more professional end product and decreases the need for drywall tape or joint tape to cover imperfections.
3. 3. Drywall screws: Use these metal Phillips-head fasteners when you secure your drywall panels to framing studs or joists. There are two main varieties of drywall screws—S-type and W-type. Use S-type screws when you attach drywall to metal studs and use W-type screws when you drill into wood framing.
4. 4. Putty knife: Use this flat-edged hand tool to apply spackle or drywall compound to the damaged area of a wall. Use a putty knife (also known as a drywall knife or taping knife) to scrape a thin coat of joint compound over nail holes or screw heads, creating a smooth and consistent wall finish.
5. 5. Sanding sponge: You can use a sanding sponge wet or dry; however, wet sanding will soften drywall mud more effectively and create less dust while you work. Use a sanding sponge in lieu of sandpaper when working in tight corners, such as where walls and ceilings meet. Wear safety goggles, a dust mask, or other safety equipment to protect your eyes and lungs from harmful dust.
6. 6. Utility knife: Use the sharp, retractable razor blade of a utility knife to make precise cuts in drywall paper. Use a pencil and framer’s square to lay out the lines of your cut. Then move the utility knife quickly along the edge of a level or square to slice the paper along your layout line. Next, bend the drywall board in both directions to create a straight-edged break along your cutline.

Collect these essential materials before you begin a drywall repair project:

1. 1. Joint compound: Also known as mud, this spreadable gypsum material has a medium consistency. Use joint compound for smoothing and sealing the edges and corners of a new or damaged drywall surface, repairing cracks in drywall paper tape, or blending a discolored drywall patch into the surrounding drywall. Note that joint compound requires twenty-four hours to dry before you can sand the surface or paint over it.
2. 2. Sandpaper: Most professionals recommend you use 100-grit or 120-grit sandpaper on drywall since the scratches these materials produce are small and insignificant. Use sandpaper to smooth drywall around the outer edges of the patch or smooth down bumps in the final coat of mud around a patched area.
3. 3. Sheetrock: Manufacturers produce sheets of drywall or sheetrock to common dimensions of four feet wide and eight feet long. Drywall sheets are typically half an inch thick; however, there are also speciality thicknesses or finishes to meet specific building codes or structural requirements. Since sheetrock is naturally fire-resistant, builders can add multiple layers of drywall in strategic locations to improve a structure’s response to a building fire.
4. 4. Spackle: A gypsum-based compound, spackle is for fixing small holes and scratches in drywall. Use a putty knife to apply spackle to the side of the hole and drag it across until the spackle completely fills in the damaged area. Spackle will dry and harden in thirty minutes. Then you can sand any uneven spots and paint the area to match the surrounding wall.

After collecting the necessary tools and materials, use the appropriate method to repair your drywall, depending on whether your hole is small or large:

• Cover cracks or imperfections with joint compound or spackle. If the first coat of drywall mud or compound shrinks and cracks, apply a second coat to cover any inconsistencies. You can also use joint compound to cover any screw holes or blend a patched area into the wall. Use spackle to cover the small hole left by the nail or thumbtack for a frame. A thin layer of joint compound is most effective material for fixing seams and corner beads at a drywall joint.
• Fix minor damage with a drywall repair patch kit. Any hole larger than four inches will require a repair kit or replacement piece of drywall. Hardware stores sell repair kits that contain spackle, a putty knife, and a self-adhesive mesh tape. Some kits might include drywall compound you can use to blend the repaired area to existing drywall. In general, you should use a drywall repair kit only if you’re fixing a damaged area four inches in diameter or smaller.
• Replace damaged sections with new drywall. In the event of a large hole or extensive water damage, it’s necessary to use a new piece of drywall in your repair. Use a pencil and framer’s square to draw a square around the area of damaged drywall. Then, with a drywall saw, cut the edges of the hole. Alternatively, use a stud finder to mark vertical framing members, then use these studs to attach your new piece of drywall. If the drywall damage does not reach both studs, you can attach a small support board behind the drywall to use as backing. This backing will provide you with a surface to which you can attach your replacement drywall piece with drywall screws. Cut your piece of new drywall and attach it to the wall. Apply a final coat of joint compound or drywall tape to blend the area around the repair patch.

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