Sunday, September 29, 2013

Basic Home Repair: Repairing Drywall

Basic Home Repair: Repairing Drywall

By Carol Richardson


Believe it or not, there are countless ways on how to repair your drywall easily. However, this may require a lot of your time and patience if you want a professional-looking drywall hanging inside your house. If you don't have enough time in repairing drywall, you can always ask help from specialists for guaranteed results.

When transporting drywall, be careful not to break it since it is not the most durable material for covering walls and ceilings. Always take safety into account by wearing protective clothing and footwear before carrying out repairs. Do not forget to wear a dust mask to avoid inhaling dust particles when sanding.

You can purchase self-adhesive metal patches in repairing door knob holes. Using these patches doesn't require much work compared to regular patches. Flush the patch with your existing drywall before applying primer.

Of course, you can still go for the old-fashioned way if you're not up to using metal patches. You can start by cutting the damaged area with a drywall saw, with an allowance of 4 inches on all sides. Patch the panel over the hole and cover the seams with a drywall tape.

Most homeowners use fiberglass mesh tape in covering seams and joints since paper tapes take some learning. Mesh tapes are self-adhesive; applying drywall mud to make it stick is no longer required. Do not forget to conceal the tape pieces with a thin coating of joint compound. Leave it dry for a couple of hours before spreading a new coat.

A second coating of mud is needed before lightly sanding the surface area. Be careful not to over sand the panel to avoid applying multiple coats of compound afterwards. If the surface gets too dusty, use a damp cloth to wipe it clean. Use a finishing compound for the top coating and let it dry overnight.

You can add texture to the panel using different techniques, depending on the current texture of your existing drywall. After texturizing, add two coats of primer before applying paint. If you prefer using paint spray cans, be careful not to hold the nozzle too close to the wall.

Repairing drywall shouldn't be a problem if you have the right tools and enough experience in doing so. Learn more tips and tricks from drywall specialists before attempting to fix drywall on your own. Avoid further damage by taking immediate action as soon as the drywall cracks open.




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