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Here's How: Repairing Holes in Drywall

Pat Logan

Dear Pat: I just bought an older house, and it seems the previous owner used the walls for target practice. What is the best method to repair small and large holes in the drywall? -- Judy K.

Dear Judy: Drywall is a wonderful material for finishing interior walls, but as you have found, it is not particularly resistant to abuse. Once it gets damaged and the surface is deformed, it does not take much to poke a hole all the way through it.

Luckily, most damaged drywall material is not difficult to repair. The key to a professional-looking job is to take your time and plan on taking several steps to get a smooth surface. If you rush and eliminate steps, the drywall compound or spackling compound will shrink as it dries thoroughly, and you may see a recessed area.

Plan on painting all the walls with flat wall paint when the repairs are completed. Flat wall paint hides many surface imperfections. If you are going to use semigloss paint for easier cleaning or where moisture is present, as in a kitchen or bathroom, the surface imperfections will be much more apparent.

Let's start with the small holes in the drywall first. If the edge of the hole is in pretty good condition (no cracks running out from it), you should be able to fill it with spackling compound. Force the spackling compound into the hole with a putty knife.

Give it plenty of time to dry (the packaging should list approximate drying times). DAP makes a good lightweight spackling compound that changes color to indicate when it is dry. Lightly sand the repair and then apply another coat of spackling or drywall compound. When this is dry, sand it again until it is smooth.

If the edges of the holes are not in good condition, use a peel-and-stick patch over the area. These patches have a metal mesh center for strength. Sand down the area that the patch will cover. Apply the patch over the damaged spot and finish it with drywall or spackling compound.

Repairing larger holes in the wall requires a few more steps. Using a framing square, draw a rectangular outline around the area on the drywall to be repaired. Make sure to inspect around the hole for any less apparent, weak or damaged areas. Cut through the drywall along the outline with a drywall knife or jigsaw and remove the damaged piece.

Cut two or three furring strips to a length several inches longer than the width of the hole in the wall. Place the strips through the hole and screw them to the backside of the drywall. These will support the patch that will be inserted.

Use the damaged piece you removed as a template to cut a patch from new drywall. Place it in the hole against the furring strips and screw it to the strips with drywall screws. Always make sure the screw heads are recessed slightly so the drywall compound with cover them. Place adhesive-backed fiberglass drywall tape over the joints and finish it with several coats of drywall compound.

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Send your questions to Here's How, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. To find out more about Pat Logan and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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