The Hole in the Wall
Accidents happen and holes have to be repaired. You've hung something on the wall and decided to move it but the hole is still pretty obvious. You were moving furniture and left behind a gouge in your wall that is an eyesore. Sometimes water damage happens or something (or someone) puts a large hole in your wall that requires immediate attention. Whatever your hole in the wall troubles are, you don't need to fret. Repairing damaged gypsum walls is simple if you follow these instructions:
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Repairing Tiny Holes
Step #1: If your hole is small, you could cover it with white toothpaste, but really it only requires a bit of pre-mixed interior spackling compound to cover it up. Use your finger or a spackle knife to fill the hole with the compound and let it dry.
Step #2: If the spackle shrinks as it dries, apply a second coat and let it dry. When your repair has dried flush with the wall, re-touch the paint.
Repairing Small Holes or Gouges
Step #1: Using a spackle knife spread a small amount of pre-mixed joint compound into and over the damaged area. Hold the knife at a low angle on the wall and drag it across the surface you are repairing horizontally, clean the knife, and then pass it over the compound a second time, but vertically.
Step #2: As the compound dries it will turn from grey to bright white. When it is dry apply a second coat over the first, but extend the area you are covering to include some of the wall space around the damaged area. Let it dry and if a second coat was not enough to completely cover the damage, apply a third coat.
Step #3: When the repaired area is dry, sand it slightly, apply spackle if the wall around is textured, then paint it with a primer. Touch it up with a top coat of paint and watch the magic as the repair blends in with the rest of your wall.
Repairing Larger Holes or Damaged Areas
Step #1: Measure and cut a gypsum board patch that will completely cover and overlap the area in need of repair.
Step #2: Trace the outline of the gypsum board patch onto the damaged portion of the wall. Cut along the traced lines on the patch and remove the damaged area so you have straight edges to deal with in the repair. For example, if you have a jagged-edged hole the size of your fist in your wall, make your patch and resulting cuts large enough to overlap the damaged area by an inch on all sides. The area to patch will be a little larger than the original hole, but you won't have jagged edges to deal with.
Step #3: Install drywall clips at all four corners of the opening to hold the patch in place. Secure the clips to the undamaged portion of your drywall with 1 ΒΌ inch type W drywall screws. Position your gypsum board patch into the wall and use the same type of screws to secure it to the clips. Break off the portion of the clips that are not flush with the surface.
Step #4: Apply joint tape to the seams of your patch. Cover the area with a pre-mixed joint compound. Let it dry, and as with repairing smaller holes, apply a second coat extending it beyond the first to help it blend in with your wall.
Step #5: Apply spackle with a spackle knife if your original wall is textured, then prime and paint to finish your repair.
