by Andrew Thron Improvements
Comprehensive guide to repairing small, medium, and large drywall holes using spackling, mesh tape, California patches, and stud-based methods
A complete guide to fixing drywall holes of any size. Covers three main repair methods: spackling for small holes, mesh tape for medium holes, and stud-based repairs for large holes. Also covers texture matching techniques.
Collect spackling or joint compound, drywall joint tape, drywall knives in various sizes, a utility knife, and a patch piece of drywall in 1/2 or 3/4 inch thickness.
For small holes, press spackling or joint compound into the hole, spreading it evenly. Let dry, sand lightly, apply a second coat, let dry, sand smooth, and paint.
For holes too large for compound alone, apply mesh tape over the hole with about an inch overlap on each side. Apply joint compound over the tape, let dry, sand, apply second coat, and blend into surrounding drywall.
Cut a drywall patch 1.5 inches larger than the hole on all sides. Flip it over, score the back, break along scored lines, and tear off gypsum leaving a paper flap. Apply mud around the hole perimeter, position the patch, embed it into the mud, and build up joint compound around the edges.
For holes not adjacent to studs, cut a larger rectangle to expose the wall cavity. Insert a piece of lumber or plywood as blocking, screw through drywall into the blocking, then secure your drywall patch to the blocking.
After the first coat dries, sand rough edges and apply a second coat, building up compound in the middle and feathering it out. Apply additional coats as needed, sanding between each, until the repair is smooth and blended.
For large holes spanning between studs, cut out all compromised drywall to the nearest studs on each side. Cut a new drywall piece to fit, secure it with drywall screws to the studs (3 screws per side), tape the seams, and apply joint compound.
For textured walls, apply the appropriate texture (knockdown, orange peel, or popcorn) to match the surrounding area after the repair is smooth and before painting.
