What Tools Do I Need To Repair A Large Hole In My Wall

How to repair a pigsty in drywall no thing how large it is

A hand using a putty knife to apply spackle to a yellow wall — Small holes are easy to fill up, only larger ones will need a few more than materials.

Modest holes are quick and easy to prepare with joint compound and a putty knife.
Medium and large holes are more all-encompassing and besides require a piece of drywall to use as a patch.
Both the prep and application processes are essential to achieving success.
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A hole in the wall is unsightly and could be a point of entry or resting place for critters you don't want in your home. You should repair the hole as shortly as possible, just according to Dennis McGee, possessor of Mr. Handyman in Leesburg, FL, this type of repair tin can exist catchy.

However, if you're pretty handy, this is a projection you should be able to tackle yourself with some care and patience. And if yous go the DIY route, he says the steps to repair the hole will depend on how big it is.

Tips and tricks for drywall patching

Regardless of the size of the hole, at that place are some steps you should accept to ensure your repair is nigh undetectable once it's finished.

Friction match the paint. David Steckel, a domicile expert at Thumbtack, says that paint shouldn't exist an afterthought. "If you don't have the correct pigment, you might be painting the entire wall from one corner to the other to ensure your repair doesn't stand out," he says. "And then I recommend ensuring you have the exact paint before fixing the hole."
Don't forget the texture. If the area is textured, y'all'll also need to apply that texture so the repair blends in. McGee says "orangish skin" and "knockdown" are common types of textures. You tin purchase drywall texture spray cans and employ them like spray paint.
Primer makes a divergence. Before y'all paint, McGee recommends applying a primer to that expanse to seal the new drywall and joint compound. "The joint chemical compound and new drywall volition react differently to the finished paint if information technology is not sealed, and the repair will be obvious," McGee explains. But if you lot seal information technology before applying the end pigment, he says the repair will be undetectable.
Go on things clean. Also be proactive as information technology relates to messes. "Fixing a wall, even a pocket-size repair, more often than not volition create a mess, then move anything that yous don't want dust or plaster on out of the fashion," says Steckel.
Prep your tools in advance. "Get all of your tools set up then that you don't accept to expect for them after you've mixed your plaster — because it will dry out," says Steckel.
Prep the area y'all're patching, too. Regardless of the hole's size, he says yous'll need to do some prep work. "Yous can prep the wall to receive the repair past scraping a clean putty knife across the damaged surface area to remove whatever loose debris or chipping paint - and and then wipe away the dust with your dry cloth."

What you lot need

How to patch large holes

Clear away any debris and cut the hole into a rectangle for easier repair.

When it comes to large holes, calling in a professional can help you avoid errors that may require fixing the hole once again in the futurity. "Particularly with big holes, because new drywall will probable need to exist installed, y'all could stop upwardly with an uneven or patchy wall," says Steckel. "Plastering is an fine art and doing it correct is not like shooting fish in a barrel. It tin can be incredibly frustrating and messy, and if there are whatsoever imperfections, once y'all pigment, there is no other option than to practise information technology again."

However, if you lot decide to patch a large hole yourself, Steckel provides ii options.

Option 1: Chicago patch

This is the more complicated method just will yield the most seamless-looking results.

1. Foursquare off the hole. If the hole is irregularly shaped, use a small-scale saw bract or razor knife to transform it into a square. Remove any drywall debris or chipped paint and sand the area smooth.

2. Brace the hole. Identify a slice of wood through the pigsty and attach it on both sides beyond the opening using drywall screws. It should be long enough to extend at least ane inch past the edge of the hole on either side.

3. Prepare the drywall patch. Have a piece of drywall almost twice the size of the pigsty. Line it upwardly to the squared-off pigsty and use your precipitous utility knife to trace the back of the drywall along the top and bottom edges of the hole. Carefully cutting the lines deeper. Do non cut through the front newspaper. Snap off and peel away the excess drywall while leaving the front paper intact. Repeat, this time tracing the right and left sides of the pigsty. You lot should now have a piece of drywall that matches the hole completely with the front paper notwithstanding attached.

4. Utilise the patch. Put a generous coat of drywall compound on the wall surrounding the hole. Put a generous glaze of compound on the inside paper portion of your custom piece. Press the patch into the hole, and use your biggest putty knife to flatten the newspaper to the wall. Allow the putty to dry (it volition take virtually an hour).

5. Utilize a second coat of chemical compound. This time, add a thinner coat of drywall compound, taking care to spread it an inch or ii by the original application. Then, smooth the edges until the compound is flush with the wall. Let this glaze dry. If the patch yet isn't smooth, apply a tertiary glaze (skim coat) and feather the bumps out to brand the edges as flush as possible.

vi. Lightly sand, prime, and pigment. Sand the surface area, wipe with a damp fabric, let it dry out, and and then prime number and pigment. If your paint includes primer, you can skip the priming step.

Choice 2: Regular patch

ane. Square off the hole. If it is circular or irregular in shape, utilise a razor knife or pocket-size saw blade to make the hole square. Clear whatever chipped paint or debris and sand smooth.

two. Caryatid the hole. Insert a piece of wood into the hole and spiral it in on the left and the right. Information technology should be long enough to extend at least 1 inch past the edge of the hole on either side.

3. Set up the drywall patch. Cut a piece of drywall (all the way through the newspaper) and then that it fills the hole, leaving less than a ½-inch gap all the way around.

4. Secure the patch. Using drywall screws, attach the patch to the woods brace behind it.

5. Apply mesh tape. Identify the mesh record over the gap (extend a inch or ii past the hole) and utilize your pocketknife to flatten it and make sure it is adhering.

half-dozen. Apply the patch. Put a very generous first glaze of mud forth the gaps. Go a few inches farther on either side of the tape, Flatten the drywall mud and allow it to dry out (it will take about an 60 minutes).

7. Apply a second awarding. Add a thinner glaze of drywall mud, extending it an inch or 2 by the previous application. Smooth the edges until the compound is flush with the wall. Let the coat dry out. If the patch isn't smooth, utilize a third (skim) coat and feather the bumps out to make the edges equally flush as possible.

eight. Lightly sand, prime, and paint. Sand the area, wipe with a damp cloth, let dry, and and then prime and paint. Skip the priming step if your pigment includes primer.

Insider'southward takeaway

The steps to repairing a hole in the wall volition depend on the pigsty'south size. A small hole needs to exist cleaned and sanded before applying drywall compound. Mid-size and large holes will crave a wooden brace, a drywall patch, drywall mesh tape, and drywall chemical compound.

When she'south not writing about concern trends for The Economist, or legal trends for the American Bar Clan Periodical, Terri spends her time covering trends in ownership and selling homes, mortgages, home comeback, and home products. She has bylines at Realtor.com, Bob Vila, Apartment Therapy, The Bandbox, Real Elementary, Real Homes, Yahoo, The Daily Creature, Investopedia — and several other companies that you've probably heard of.