Drywall is one of the most commonly used materials in the construction of American homes, something which is very interesting to consider when you realize that drywall never lends structural support to the structure it’s a part of. Why so much reliance on it then? Drywall is an inexpensive and highly dependable material which can be very easily modified and customized to suit the needs of the individual having it installed. Unfortunately, because the material isn't directly connected to the structure of the home, it is very common for homeowners to need drywall repairs as a result of everything from doorknob hits to water damage and scratches, cracks, and holes of any size. Luckily, drywall repair services are nearly as quick and easy as caring for the material if you follow these simple steps.
Small Holes
It’s very common for small dings, scrapes, and holes to arise as a result of the inevitable wear and tear which your home experiences. In most of these cases the hole can be covered with spackle applied first in a horizontal, then in a vertical motion. That said, when the holes being dealt with are too large for just spackle to cover it’s worthwhile to invest in a drywall patch kit, which can be found in just about any home improvement store. These kits include just about everything you need to repair small to medium size holes as well as instructions on how to apply them. That said, the general way of beginning these repairs is to apply an adhesive mesh framework over the hole. On top of this mesh frame homeowners should apply joint compound in a pattern identical to that used for the smaller holes mentioned previously. Once this layer of compound is dry, apply a second to sure up the strength of the bond. Once that coat of compound is dry gently sand it down to be level with the rest of the wall and paint or wallpaper over it to hide the change in color which may have resulted.
Large Holes
For larger scale holes, spackle and joint compound won’t be enough to ensure a reliable return in appearance and so homeowners should obtain a piece of new drywall to replace the old. Begin by cutting this new piece of drywall to dimensions slightly larger than the affected portion of the wall, this will ensure that when you remove the damaged portion of drywall you’ll get all of the damaged material both visible and developing. Once you have your new piece of drywall measured and cut investigate that same measurement of wall surrounding the damage to make sure that there are no wires, plumbing, or other important factors in the way to the cutting that will make space for your replacement drywall. Once you ensure that the space being dealt with is free of obstructions screw two thin pieces of wood to the left and right sides of the space you just cut. These strips are called furring strips and will serve as the anchors for your new drywall replacement. Once they’re firmly screwed in place place the replacement piece of drywall in the hole and screw it to the furring strips. Apply joint compound to the edges between the new piece and the rest of the wall and proceed as you would with smaller repairs above.
