Drywall is a commonly used building material with so many advantages. It is fire-resistant, easy to use and also a cheap material when compared to similar. Couldn’t be better, right? However, all these upsides do not prevent it from getting damaged. Fortunately, it is easy to repair. All you need is some drywall compound, a little sanding and taping.
Before I start, I would like to answer a few frequently asked questions that I find useful to share.
Can I repair drywall myself or do I need to hire someone to do it?
If you already have the required materials, enjoy DIY projects and have some time on hand, then I think you are capable of repairing your drywalls. But it still depends on the job actually. If you have minor damages like small dents or nail pops, it will be easy to repair by yourself. If you have bigger problems such as deep cracks, water damage with unknown leaking, then you might want to hire a pro to handle the job.
Is it better to repair or replace drywall? When should drywall be replaced?
It depends on the situation, actually. If there are damages in the form of small cracks, holes or small dents, this definitely does not require a replacement and you can deal with the repair yourself. Hiring a pro to replacement will cost you around $1.50-2.00 per square foot. So, if the situation is as severe as a heavy mold infestation or large cracks, the best choice would be hiring a professional.
Does water damaged drywall need to be replaced?
Yes, it should be changed. Because even a small leak can invite large-scale damage to your walls. This ongoing small leak will cause moisture to accumulate and as your walls absorb this water, it will reach the gypsum, the core material in drywall. Even an old damage that happened before is still considered as a structural problem and is a sign of a weak wall. It could be an old one but it doesn’t mean you don’t need any repair. The whole process can turn into cracks or mold problems and trust me, you don’t want any mold on your wall.
Can you put new drywall over old drywall?
Yes, you can, but let’s look at why you would want to hang new drywall over your existing old ones.
If you have small cracks or holes on your wall, you can easily repair it. Still we cannot ignore that a professional, with all the technical knowledge and experience will make your drywall look like a brand new one. But, the professional come to mean some considerable costs. It is an expensive option. That’s why you may want to just simply hang new drywall over the old one. But little dents, cracks won’t require a professional if you ask me.
How long does it take to repair drywall?
It depends on the damage. If you have small ones, it probably takes 1 to 2 hours to repair including all the preparation. For a large damage, it can take from 3-4 hours to a day or two. If you let a handyman to tackle the job, it will probably last shorter.
How much does it cost to repair a drywall?
An average spent on mud, touchup paint and these kinds of basic supplies for small repairs is around $10-$30, a professional will cost you between $50 and $180 for such small repairs. For larger damages, a professional will cost you around $60 per hour and a contractor around $90.
How do you fix cracks in drywall that keep coming back?
With an Elastomeric filler which is similar to spackle, you can fill the cracks on your wall in a sustainable way. Since this compound is flexible, in any shifting scenario for the cracks, the filler still will be covering them up.
There are common types of damage on drywalls which can occur for some reasons like poorly installed drywall, water damage or furniture bumping. There can be cracks, holes, nail pops, water damage, mold damage, etc. Today I will get into some of them and with simple instructions you will follow, your drywall will be good as new. For starters, here are the required tools and materials for the complete process.
Note: Check your walls’ studs before you start for the electric wires.
Must Have Tool List For Drywall Repair
- Stud Finders
- Tape Measures
- Carpenter Squares
- Hand Saws/Drywall Saw
- Hack Saw
- Utility Knife
- Drywall/Taping Knives
- Drill
- Sanding Sponge
Necessary Materials For Drywall Repair
- Construction Adhesive
- Fiber Tape
- Drywall Screws
- Joint/Lightweight/Spackle Compound
- Paint
- Furring Strips
Repairing Small Dents on a Drywall
Scrape the loose crumb in the area. Cover that area with a fast-drying spackle and make sure the compound sits on the drywall surface properly. Let it dry for 24 hours.
Repairing Small Holes on a Drywall
1. Place the self-adhesive mesh patch over the hole.
2. Use a drywall knife, and apply the spackle or lightweight compound to the surface in a crosswise motion.
3. Increase the pressure on the knife and cross angles as you reach the edges of the patch area to feed the compound well.
4. Let it dry, and apply the second layer if necessary.
Repairing Bigger Holes on a Drywall
1. Cut a piece of drywall so that it is 2 inches larger in width and length than the damaged area. This piece must be square.
2. With a utility knife, mark the back of the drywall about an inch from within each side.
3. Separate the gypsum part from the marked edges but leave the paper backing part.
4. Hold the patch to the hole area and draw around over the square gypsum to the wall, but not the paper part. Cut out the square part that is drawn with a drywall saw from the. But check the electrical wires before cutting.
5. Add the joint compound to the loose paper parts of the drywall piece you have and fit it in the new blank area you just cut.
6. Cover the patch with a joint compound and feather the edges. Let it dry. It will be a good choice if you apply the second layer.
For much larger holes, a slightly different method is going to be used. Again cut a square piece of drywall a bit bigger than the hole. Hold the piece to the area and draw from the edges. Cut away that part from the wall with a drywall saw. Watch the wires!
1. Place two furring sprits into the both sides of the hole, and fasten these strips with the help of screws from the drywall surface.
2. Place the cutting piece of drywall to the hole, screw it into the furring strips.
3. Then apply the fiber tape to the borders. This step will make the patch more stable.
4. Fasten up the patch and tape with the joint compound. Let it dry and sand it.
Repairing Corner Bead Patches on a Drywall
1. Cut the damaged corner bead horizontally with the help of a hacksaw from the above and below of the damaged area.
2. Cut vertically the damaged part with a utility knife from horizontally cut places from the hacksaw on the left and right sides. Pull the damaged part.
3. Place the newly cut piece of corner bead to the gap and use nails and glue to fasten it.
4. Apply the joint compound to either side of the corner. Let it dry and smooth the surface with a sanding sponge.
Repairing Popped Nails on a Drywall
1. Clean the area with a drywall knife until the screw comes out clearly.
2. Put the screw back on the beam with a drill or hammer, then support these screw heads with closely spaced screws.
3. Or, remove the old screw and screw a new one in place. Again, support the screw in this beam with two closely spaced screws.
4. Cover each screw point with compound and a strip of fiber tape. Smooth the area.
Repairing Surface Cracks on a Drywall
Drywalls are installed fastened to wooden girders. Over time, with humidity and temperature expansions can occur, and cause cracks since drywall isn’t a flexible material. Fortunately, this has an easy fix.
First, check whether the crack extends along the paper covering the seam with the help of a utility knife. If it doesn’t seem to be extending and the tape is intact well, follow the next steps.
1. Dig the crack out to remove all loose material in the crack. This move allows your mud to get into the crack well.
Note: For small surface cracks you don’t need to use fiber tapes. Normally, it helps to prevent the cracks from getting larger.
2. Apply the spackle compound with a putty knife, swipe across the damages area until the whole crack is filled. You may need a second layer to make it more durable.
3. Let it dry completely, and smooth the surface with a sanding sponge. The rest is to paint the area.
Repairing Deep Cracks on a Drywall
1. If the crack extends along with the paper, cut the paper about 6 to 12 inches from both ends of the damaged area and remove the paper tape.
2. Clear the cracked area from any loose material.
3. Fill the area with a joint compound, both into the crack and to the surface around.
4. Place the fiber tape over the seam and repeat these steps for 2 times more. Be careful with the thickness of the layers. If it will be too thick, it may cause new cracks. So, feather the compound to the surface of the drywall. For finishing, smooth the place with a sanding sponge and repaint the area.