How to Do Simple Drywall Repair Before Painting Interior

Repairing your drywall is an important part of keeping your home safe and sturdy, which is why it is so important to repair before painting your walls. There are many types of ways that your drywall can fall into disrepair and an array of different holes and dents that you may find on your drywall, so knowing how to properly approach a repair job is valuable knowledge.

Little Dents

For small dings or dents in your drywall, there are a few steps to follow if you want to safely repair and fill in your drywall. As a safety precaution, wear protective equipment, including gloves, goggles, and a face mask, while you are repairing drywall.

Once you find your dent or dink, clean up the area surrounding the repair by getting rid of any loose debris surrounding it. Fill in the hole or dent using a spackling paste or compound, and bring the paste level with the wall so that it does not stick out of the hole.

Following the instructions on your spackling product, let the area dry untouched for the allotted time, which is usually at least 24 hours, although some products are fast-drying. Once dry, use sandpaper to make the drywall smooth.

This series of steps also works well for the holes that nail heads leave after you remove them from drywall.

Small Holes

For more significant holes, such as those left by removing door handles or bashing furniture into a wall, using a drywall patch is very effective. You can find adhesive drywall patches in stores, and many are very inexpensive and efficient at filling holes in drywall.

The first step for repairing small holes is to apply a spackling compound on top of the drywall patch using a drywall knife. Apply more pressure to the outer edges of the surface to help the substance blend in with the wall.

If the first coat of spackling compound got the job done, sand the surface to make it smooth. If you need to add another layer of spackle, follow the earlier step in applying the material and wait for it to dry, then sand it.

Moderate and Large Holes

For holes six inches and larger, the process for repairing drywall is more involved, although it is still very doable. If you have a small to medium holes, a California patch, also known as a butterfly patch, works best, while for larger holes, you will likely have to cut out your own custom drywall patch.

For the small to medium holes, cut out a piece of store-bought drywall that is two inches taller and wider than your hole. If your drywall material has gypsum, remove it from the back of the two-inch section and add a joint compound to the back of the drywall piece.

Add your custom drywall piece to the hole, then follow the steps for the small holes by adding spackling material on top of it, drying it, and sanding it.

For large holes, many of the steps are the same, although you may have to screw in furring strips to keep your patch in place. This is only necessary for very severe damage, and you might be able to get away without doing it, although if you are unsure, contact a professional for a second opinion.