Repairing a Small Hole In Drywall
Be honest, I know we have all swung the door open too hard and put the knob through the wall. Maybe you punched it when your team lost or worse your wife put the remote controller through it when she was fed up with your sports. I have even seen a dog chew through drywall. Whatever the case may be, if you have one of these "excitement holes", I'm going to tell you exactly how to repair your small hole in your drywall, the right way! OK, so your going to need some things.
Materials:
-Fiber glass Mesh Tape
-1 Bag of 20 Minute Mud
-Paint/Primer
-and a little water for the mud
Tools:
-6 inch Knife (preferably metal)
-A piece of 100-grit Sandpaper
-3in Paint Brush
-Small pail or bucket (for mixing mud)
-Respirator Mask(like the ones you see nurses use)
-You should easily be able to find all these items at your local hardware or anywhere like; Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, etc.
1)The first thing is to clean out the small hole. Just make sure there isn't any loose debris in it. This way when the new mud attaches it attaches itself to the rest of the solid sheet and not loose brittle chunks.
2)Take your bucket and mix up a small batch of mud. Add water and mix it with your knife. This first batch needs to be thick(about the consistency of a very thick milkshake). You make this first coat thicker so that it forms to where you spread it and doesn't run out as soon as you spread it in.Clean your knife off (just on the side of the bucket will be fine) and scoop up some mud. Lay your knife on an angle and push the mud into the hole as your spread it down and across the hole. Make sure your coat of mud is flat with the rest of the wall and not protruding past. Let this dry now for about 1hr. DON'T PANIC!, it's most likely going to crack and shrink as it dries. This is normal and don't worry because you still have a finish coat to make it pretty.
3)After your first coat is dry, it is time to break out that fancy fiberglass mesh tape. It's sticky so when your put it on it stays. Cover the hole completely and overlap the tape onto the good drywall about 2 inches. You may also use patch kits that come as one big square piece of fiberglass mesh which can be convenient, but if you buy the roll of it you'll always have some around to fix any holes you might/will get in the future. Oh and by the way, you need to use this stuff. It is the only thing that is going to keep your patch from cracking and falling out.
4)Now it's time to mix up your second batch of 20 minute mud. This time make your mud a little thinner. Add a little more water this time so the mud spreads easier and is smoother, about like peanut butter. Spread your next coat to fill in the low spots. Remember the cleaner you do this coat and less excess you leave the less sanding and cleaning you'll have to do later. Smooth the mud over the tape and smooth it over.
5)Don't be discouraged if this coat isn't as nice as you want it. Let it dry an hour or two and sand it smooth. Hit it again. Use your knife to clean off excess and let it dry one more time.(Your third coat shouldn't take very long to dry.) You can repeat this again if you so desire.
6)Now that your tired of waiting for mud to dry, time to get dusty. Here's where you'll be happy you have a respirator. Sand your patch smooth one last time.
7))Now your ready to prime and paint. REMEMBER, if you do not use primer you will always see your patch bleed through. If the existing paint isn't too old and faded, you can probably get away with just painting over the patch with the same paint and it won't stick out. You also don't want to paint just a square over your patch because it will stick out and you will see it. You want to feather the new paint into the old existing paint. Lay your paint on thicker on your patched area and progressively thinner outward to the old paint.
Following these instructions will give you the best possible results. You can try to cut corners but will just have to redo your patch or have a place on the wall you'll always be sure to stare at.
Materials:
-Fiber glass Mesh Tape
-1 Bag of 20 Minute Mud
-Paint/Primer
-and a little water for the mud
Tools:
-6 inch Knife (preferably metal)
-A piece of 100-grit Sandpaper
-3in Paint Brush
-Small pail or bucket (for mixing mud)
-Respirator Mask(like the ones you see nurses use)
-You should easily be able to find all these items at your local hardware or anywhere like; Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, etc.
1)The first thing is to clean out the small hole. Just make sure there isn't any loose debris in it. This way when the new mud attaches it attaches itself to the rest of the solid sheet and not loose brittle chunks.
2)Take your bucket and mix up a small batch of mud. Add water and mix it with your knife. This first batch needs to be thick(about the consistency of a very thick milkshake). You make this first coat thicker so that it forms to where you spread it and doesn't run out as soon as you spread it in.Clean your knife off (just on the side of the bucket will be fine) and scoop up some mud. Lay your knife on an angle and push the mud into the hole as your spread it down and across the hole. Make sure your coat of mud is flat with the rest of the wall and not protruding past. Let this dry now for about 1hr. DON'T PANIC!, it's most likely going to crack and shrink as it dries. This is normal and don't worry because you still have a finish coat to make it pretty.
3)After your first coat is dry, it is time to break out that fancy fiberglass mesh tape. It's sticky so when your put it on it stays. Cover the hole completely and overlap the tape onto the good drywall about 2 inches. You may also use patch kits that come as one big square piece of fiberglass mesh which can be convenient, but if you buy the roll of it you'll always have some around to fix any holes you might/will get in the future. Oh and by the way, you need to use this stuff. It is the only thing that is going to keep your patch from cracking and falling out.
4)Now it's time to mix up your second batch of 20 minute mud. This time make your mud a little thinner. Add a little more water this time so the mud spreads easier and is smoother, about like peanut butter. Spread your next coat to fill in the low spots. Remember the cleaner you do this coat and less excess you leave the less sanding and cleaning you'll have to do later. Smooth the mud over the tape and smooth it over.
5)Don't be discouraged if this coat isn't as nice as you want it. Let it dry an hour or two and sand it smooth. Hit it again. Use your knife to clean off excess and let it dry one more time.(Your third coat shouldn't take very long to dry.) You can repeat this again if you so desire.
6)Now that your tired of waiting for mud to dry, time to get dusty. Here's where you'll be happy you have a respirator. Sand your patch smooth one last time.
7))Now your ready to prime and paint. REMEMBER, if you do not use primer you will always see your patch bleed through. If the existing paint isn't too old and faded, you can probably get away with just painting over the patch with the same paint and it won't stick out. You also don't want to paint just a square over your patch because it will stick out and you will see it. You want to feather the new paint into the old existing paint. Lay your paint on thicker on your patched area and progressively thinner outward to the old paint.
Following these instructions will give you the best possible results. You can try to cut corners but will just have to redo your patch or have a place on the wall you'll always be sure to stare at.
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