Any size hole in drywall, patched in under an hour

A hole in the wall is unsightly and may serve as a point of entry or a place of refuge for unwanted animals in your home. You should make the necessary repairs to the hole as soon as possible; however, the proprietor of Mr. Handyman in Leesburg, Florida, Dennis McGee, advises that this particular type of repair can be challenging.  

On the other hand, if you're fairly handy, this is the kind of project that you might be able to tackle on your own with a little bit of care and patience. And he says that if you choose the do-it-yourself route, the steps to repair the hole will be determined by the size of the hole.  

Patching drywall: Do's and don'ts and tips and tricks

There are certain steps that you need to take, regardless of the size of the hole, in order to make sure that your repair is almost completely undetectable once it is finished.

• Paint should be matched. Paint selection shouldn't be made as an afterthought, according to David Steckel, a home expert at Thumbtack. "If you don't have the right paint, you might end up painting the entire wall from one corner to the other to make sure your repair doesn't stand out," he says. "This is the only way to make sure it blends in." Before attempting to patch the hole, it is highly recommended that you make sure you have the appropriate paint. "  
• Don't discount the importance of texture. If the surrounding area has a texture, you will also need to give the repair the same texture so that it blends in. The terms "orange peel" and "knockdown" are examples of common types of textures, according to McGee. You can purchase spray cans of drywall texture and use them in the same manner as spray paint.
• The difference is in the primer. It is recommended by McGee that you apply a primer to that area prior to painting it in order to seal the newly installed drywall and joint compound. If the joint compound and new drywall do not have a sealant applied, McGee explains, "the repair will be obvious because the joint compound and new drywall will react differently to the finished paint." However, if you seal it before applying the finish paint, according to him, the repair will not be noticeable at all.
• Maintain a tidy appearance. Additionally, take preventative measures with regard to the messes. "Fixing a wall, even if it's just a small repair, will almost always result in a mess," says Steckel. "Move anything that you don't want dust or plaster on out of the way."   
• Prepare your tools ahead of time. According to Steckel, "Get all of your tools ready so that you don't have to look for them after you've mixed your plaster because it will dry out," and he says this so that people won't have to waste time looking for their tools.  
• Also prepare the area that will be patched. He says that you will need to do some preparation work in advance, and it doesn't matter how big the hole is. You can prepare the wall to receive the repair by scraping a clean putty knife across the damaged area to remove any loose debris or chipped paint. After that, you should use your dry cloth to wipe away the dust. " "You can prepare the wall to receive the repair by scraping a clean putty knife across the damaged area. "

What you are in need of

To repair smaller holes, one need only sand them down and then fill them with drywall compound. Photograph by Serenethos / Getty Images

The following are the steps that should be taken to repair a small hole, such as one caused by a nail or screw and measuring less than half an inch:

1. Clear up the mess here. Remove loose drywall debris Sandpaper should be used to smooth out any rough edges. Dust can be removed from the area by using a damp cloth to wipe it down.
2. Fill in the void. Putty knife work is required for applying joint compound. Drydex ready-mixed drywall compound, which appears pink when applied but dries to a white color, comes highly recommended by Steckel. Give it some time to dry. This could take anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes, but the exact drying time will be specified on the product.
3. Put an end to the repair. Sand the area until it is flush with the rest of the wall, and then paint it. Put on a layer of primer, then paint the surface.  

You'll need to step up your game if the hole's diameter is less than six inches but is larger than half an inch. According to McGee, the ability to apply joint compound into the rest of the wall will require a little more finesse when dealing with a hole of this size. According to him, you will have a bulge in the wall if you don't do it the right way. These are the steps that he recommends taking to repair a hole of a moderate size:

1. Clear up the mess here. Sand the area until it is smooth, then remove any loose debris from the drywall.
2. Hold the gap in place Put a small piece of wood through the hole, such as plywood or a 1x3, and use drywall screws to attach it on both sides across the opening. Backing is provided by the wood.
3. Make ready the patch for the drywall. Using the razor knife, cut the piece of drywall to the appropriate size, and then insert it into the hole. You can fasten it to the piece of wood by using a screwdriver (a power screwdriver is recommended for this step).
4. Apply tape to the seams. After the patch has been applied to the hole in the drywall, cover the seams with mesh tape.
5. Put on some joint compound. Joint compound should be applied over the mesh tape and screws using a putty knife. Let it dry
6. Put an end to the repair. Sand down the uneven areas of the dry joint compound until the surface is completely smooth. First, seal the area with a coat of primer, and then paint it so that it matches the rest of the wall.

How to fill in significant holes

Remove any debris, and then cut the hole into a rectangle to make the repair process easier. Benjamin Clapp/Getty Images

When it comes to fixing large holes, calling in a professional can help you avoid making mistakes that could result in the hole needing to be repaired again in the near or distant future. It is possible, according to Steckel, that an uneven or patchy wall will result if large holes are present in the wall. This is because new drywall will most likely need to be installed. Plastering is an art, and performing it correctly is not an easy task. It can be an extremely frustrating and messy process, and once you've painted an area, there is no other option but to paint it again if there are any imperfections in the first coat. "

However, if you choose to repair a large hole on your own, Steckel gives you two options to choose from.

Option 1: The patch from Chicago

This is the more difficult approach, but it will produce the results that appear to flow together the most naturally.  

1. Trim the corners of the opening. If the hole is an unusual shape, you can transform it into a square using a small saw blade or a razor knife. Sand the area until it is smooth, removing any drywall debris or paint chips that you find.

2. Provide support for the gap Insert a piece of wood through the opening, and then use drywall screws to secure it on both sides across the opening. It ought to be of a length that allows it to protrude beyond the edge of the hole by at least 1 inch on either side.

3. Get the drywall patch ready to use. Take a piece of drywall that is roughly twice as big as the hole and place it over it. Place it so that it aligns with the hole that has been squared off, and then use your utility knife to trace along the top and bottom edges of the hole on the back of the drywall. Carefully make the cuts so that the lines are deeper. Avoid cutting all the way through the front paper. Remove the excess drywall by snapping it off and peeling it away while preserving the front paper. It is necessary to repeat this step, but this time you should trace the right and left sides of the hole. At this point, you should have a piece of drywall that completely matches the hole, and the front paper should still be attached to it.

4. Stick on the bandage. Apply a thick layer of drywall compound to the area of the wall that is encircled by the hole. Put a thick layer of compound on the portion of your custom piece that is made of paper on the inside. Apply pressure to the patch so that it fits snugly into the hole, then use your largest putty knife to smooth the paper against the wall. It should take about an hour for the putty to completely dry out.

5. Coat the surface with a second layer of the compound Apply another coat of drywall compound, but this time use a thinner coat and make sure to spread it an additional inch or two beyond the initial application. Then, use a smoothing tool to round off the corners until the compound is even with the wall. Please allow this coat to dry. Apply a third coat, known as a "skim coat," and feather the bumps out to make the edges as flush as possible. If the patch is not yet smooth, this step is necessary.  

6. Sand the surface lightly, then prime and paint it. After sanding the area, wiping it down with a damp cloth, waiting for it to dry, and then priming and painting it. If the primer is already included in your paint, you can skip over this step.

Option 2: Patch on a regular basis

1. Trim the corners of the opening. In the event that it is round or otherwise atypical in form, a razor knife or a small saw blade can be utilized to square it off. Remove any loose paint or debris, then sand the surface smooth.

2. Provide support for the gap Put a piece of wood through the opening, and then secure it with screws on both the left and the right. It ought to be of a length that allows it to protrude beyond the edge of the hole by at least 1 inch on either side.

3. Get the drywall patch ready to use. Cut a piece of drywall (all the way through the paper) to fill the hole, making sure to leave a gap of less than half an inch all the way around.

4. Make sure the patch is secure. Attach the patch to the wood brace that is located behind it by using drywall screws.

5. Apply the tape made of mesh After positioning the mesh tape over the hole (making sure that it extends an inch or two beyond the opening), use your knife to flatten it and check that it is adhering properly.  

6. Stick on the bandage. Place a very thick layer of mud along the cracks as a preliminary coating. Continue your work a couple of inches further on either side of the tape, then smooth out the drywall mud and wait for it to dry (this should take about an hour).

7. Make a second application of the product. Put on a second, thinner coat of drywall mud and extend it an inch or two beyond the first application. When you are satisfied that the compound is even with the wall, smooth the edges. Allow the coat to air dry. If the damaged area is not smooth, apply a third coat of skim coat and feather the bumps out to make the edges as flush as possible.

8. Sand the surface lightly, then prime and paint it. After sanding the area, wiping it down with a damp cloth, waiting for it to dry, and then priming and painting it. If the primer is already included in your paint, you can skip this step.

Insider's takeaway

The steps necessary to repair a hole in the wall will vary in complexity depending on the size of the hole. Prior to filling a small hole with drywall compound, it is necessary to clean and sand the hole. To repair holes of a medium or large size, you will need a wooden brace, a patch made of drywall, drywall mesh tape, and drywall compound.