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5 Secrets To Successful DIY Drywall Repair

5 Secrets to Successful DIY Drywall Repair

Summer’s here, and all that warm weather probably has you pulling out your mile-long To-Do List. I think my husband might stick a pillow over my face when I’m sleeping if I add anymore home projects to our list. Okay, not really, but he won’t be thrilled about it. This Spring/Summer has brought on a lot of projects for us. After all, iIt’s time for you to conquer all the projects that have built up since last year! And, chances are, one of these projects is drywall repair. It doesn’t matter how beautiful your furniture, cabinetry and flooring are– cracked, chipped or otherwise damaged drywall can make any home’s interior appear less than its best. As a result, repairing drywall damage will give any room in your home a cleaner, crisper look. Unfortunately, I recently spotted a hole in our wall, right at the top of the stairs. The children likely jabbed something into the wall but nobody is fessing up. Completing projects such as these will probably make noticeable improvements to the interior appearance of your home. However, if you’re planning to attempt these repairs yourself, you should visit a hardware store to buy the right tools and supplies before attempting any repairs. And check out these do-it-yourself drywall repair tips from Handyman Connection which will help make your repair experience as successful as possible.

My dad and I recently replaced my lower kitchen cabinets together, and did a little wall demolition, which led us to some more drywall repair. I think we did a rather nice job if I do say so myself!

Drywall Repair

5 Secrets to Successful DIY Drywall Repair

When preparing to make drywall repairs you should:

  1. Spackle Wisely—Spackle is a lightweight compound that is the go-to drywall repair substance thanks to its quick application time and easy-to-sand surface. However Spackle, and similar products, should only be used on very small holes, like nail holes, and shallow dents in your walls. Spackle products are too weak to effectively repair damage larger than about an inch in diameter.

  2. Tape Correctly—In drywall repair, duct tape and masking tape are never viable options. You should either use paper or mesh drywall tapes, however each should be used for different kinds of projects.

    1. Paper Tape is best used for joint and corner repairs as it folds easily. However paper tape does not stick as well and can bubble and bulge if not applied correctly. This can lead to future repairs

    2. Fiberglass Mesh Tape is easier to use, but does not work well for corners, though it does work well for joints and hole repair. Mesh tape also requires more compound to cover its crisscross texture.

  3. Nail down Nail Pops—Feisty nails have a habit of breaking through drywall, especially in new homes. And repairing the damage requires more than just painting over the holes. The nail must be driven back into the wall and a drywall screw inserted into the wall over and under the original nail pop. Then joint compound should be applied over the holes. During this process, other nail pops can occur. This doesn’t mean that you are repairing it badly; it just signals a shift in the wall’s environment. Repair all nail pops with the same process. Nail pops that are not properly repaired may reappear later, creating another project for your To-Do list!

  4. Texture Tactfully—Repairing drywall effectively requires more than just fixing holes and cracks. To complete the repair seamlessly, you should also retexture and/or paint the area over and around the repair. Retexturing the repaired area so that it matches the surrounding surface can be tricky but you will earn the best results with these two tips:

    1. Use the original texturing tool if possible—roller, brush, sponge, etc—as it will give the repaired area a texture closest to the original.

    2. Match the consistency of the joint compound to that used on the surrounding textured surface. Thicken or thin the compound with water or extra powder and test the consistency on cardboard before applying it on the wall. If it doesn’t work, the compound can be scraped off fairly easily, and you can start over.

  5. Resist Overdoing by Oversanding—A common mistake of zealous home repairers is trying too hard to smooth a drywall joint. Oversanding the joint will remove part of the paper face, leaving an uneven surface that needs another layer of joint compound and even more sanding. You can avoid these extra steps by using a hand sander and 150-grit sand paper. Choosing a coarser grain will lead to sanding marks and oversanding. You can get into corners more easily by using a sanding sponge.

Drywall repair

Hopefully these tips will help you with your home drywall repair. However if your repair is taking longer than you expected (there are quite a few steps in the process) or if you’ve bumped into a few obstacles along the way (like a few more nail pops than expected) call Handyman Connection! Their expert drywall handymen will ensure that your project is completed quickly and efficiently. And Handyman Connection can help with all the other projects on your home To-Do list too, so you have more time to relax and enjoy your home this summer!

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About the author

Emily Buys

13 Comments

  • Emily

    Having twin 12 year old boys.. Yeah.. I need how to fix up some of my walls around the house.. this blog is coming in handy.. Thanks!

  • Great stuff Emily! However from my own decade long experience working with Drywall, I’d recommend people not to start with anything big. DIY is a great hobby, but it could cost a lot if things get messy.

  • Hi Emily, hope you are doing fine!

    Well, I must appreciate for your blog. This is a great article with some good and valuable content. I really needed this badly because my walls are getting worst day by day! I need to repair them as soon as possible. I am thinking to hire a professional for this.

  • A good drywall knife is made from stainless steel, and has a metal heel. It’s tough to successfully patch a wall so that you can’t even tell it was ever damaged.

  • A good drywall knife is made from stainless steel, and has a metal heel. There’s no real insider secrets to doing certain repairs.

  • Hi Emily! That was amazing and beautiful. Having a good result on drywall repair is very satisfied, it is a great experience for everyone.

  • I’ve used white duck tape to cover seams. Worked quite well if I say so myself. Sure it’s a cheap way to go but I took my time and had no bubbles in the tape. Don’t tell someone that it won’t work because it does for the average D.I.Y guy like myself.

  • Thanks for the tips. They were all super helpful especially about nail pops so they don’t keep coming back. Never thought about fixing it like that but it makes sense. I see a lot holes and cracks reappearing in walls a lot so I’m glad there’s a way to prevent this. Thanks again for the article!

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