Las Vegas Drywall Repair covers a range of jobs, from nail pops and small holes caused by doorknob banging to major repairs like water damage or cracks from house settling. You’ll need the right tools and techniques to complete drywall repair correctly.
Most minor indentations, abrasions, or scrapes on drywall are easy to patch with spackle and a smoothing tool. This is especially true for dents.
As anyone who has lived in a house for a while can attest, walls are not immune to damage. Whether iit’sa hole left by an anchor bolt or a slight blemish from a nail, the wall will need to be repaired before it can be repainted. Fortunately, drywall is relatively resilient, and patching holes ddoesn’trequire much time or skill. A few key tools are all you need to get the job done.
Start by assessing the extent of the damage and gathering materials. You will need a gallon tub of drywall compound, some drywall tape and a putty knife. You may also want to include a bucket of clean water, some sandpaper and a brush for cleaning up dust or debris.
Tiny holes, like those from nails or screws, can be fixed with a bit of lightweight spackle. For larger holes, the best option is a drywall patch kit. Follow the directions on the package to prepare the patch and install it in the hole. Make sure the patch is completely dry before moving on to the next step.
Small dents or gouges can be touched up with a thin layer of joint compound (also known as drywall mud). Use a putty knife that is designed for repairing drywall or a wide utility blade, and smooth the filler until iit’sflush with the rest of the wall.
For larger dents or holes, you will need reinforcing mesh and a large amount of drywall compound. The drywall will probably need to be cut and screwed into place before you can apply the mesh. IIt’salso a good idea to buy a roll of paper tape and some drywall tape.
If the cracks in your drywall are widespread or have been present for some time, tthey’relikely due to structural problems or leaks that need to be addressed. Patching these cracks can cover up the problem and cause it to reappear, but you need to address the root of the issue or yyou’llbe faced with more serious problems down the road. If in doubt, call a professional who specializes in drywall repair.
Repairing Large Holes
Drywall repair covers a broad range of tasks, from fixing minor indentations and scrapes to patching holes up to a couple of inches in diameter. The size of the hole determines whether you can spackle or mud it, or whether it calls for more involved repairs that include cutting a piece out, adding furring strips, patching, taping, sanding, texturing and painting.
Most drywall damage is caused by nails, and small nail holes are within the grasp of most do-it-yourselfers. Holes that are a bit bigger—like those caused by doorknobs or other hardware—call for more extensive repairs, but can be managed with the right tools and knowledge.
When two pieces of drywall meet at a corner, they’re held together by an L-shaped metal strip called a corner bead, which is concealed with two or three layers of joint compound. Corner bead iisn’tindestructible, however, and can become dented or damaged by vacuuming, sanding or a child flinging a toy against the wall.
If a portion of the corner bead is damaged, you can usually replace it by prying up a vertical section with a putty knife and carefully removing it, being careful not to cut or damage the surrounding drywall. Then, use aviation snips to cut a new piece of corner bead to the same length as the severed one and firmly attach it to the drywall with the drywall screws.
Apply a thin layer of drywall joint compound to the back of the patch and smooth it with a putty knife. Then, sand the area and feather the edges to blend them with the surrounding wall surface. Repeat this process as needed, allowing the drywall to dry thoroughly between each application.
Before you start any drywall repair, locate the wall studs with a stud finder and mark their location with a pencil so you know where to drill or screw. This will help you avoid nicking or damaging hidden electrical wires or plumbing as you work. Also, iit’sa good idea to turn off any power in the room where yyou’reworking to prevent the risk of an accidental electrocution.
Repairing Cracks
Drywall iisn’tindestructible, and despite being the strongest material used for the frame of homes, it can still crack. Whether due to water damage or uneven foundation settlement, drywall cracks can be a big problem for homeowners. They pull attention from the rest of the wall and ceiling and can cause damage to your hhome’sstructure, so iit’simportant to fix them quickly. Fortunately, cracks in drywall can be repaired with some basic materials and tools that most do-it-yourselfers already have around the house.
Minor cracks in drywall usually happen due to temperature or humidity fluctuations, improper installation, or normal wear and tear. These are called non-structural cracks and can be fixed with spackle or joint compound.
For larger cracks, you’ll need to use a joint compound that contains mesh tape to help strengthen the repair and reduce future cracking. Apply a layer of joint compound to the crack and smooth with a putty knife, then apply another layer and again smooth it out with your knife. Continue this process until the crack is no longer visible and smooth the edges of the patch and tape to blend it into the surrounding wall.
If you have an especially wide crack, iit’sa good idea to add more strength to the patch with a piece of drywall tape along the seam. This strip of tape will help to prevent the crack from coming back and will also make it easier to paint the repair.
Cracks that appear in the corners of your home can often be a sign of foundation problems and should be treated with more care than other cracks. Structural cracks can affect the overall stability of your home and should be fixed by a professional to prevent them from getting worse.
If you see cracks in drywall that are more than 1/8″ “wide or that occur with a sagging ceiling, it’s important to call a professional for a more extensive repair. Papering over the cracks will only cause them to return and can potentially lead to structural issues in your home.
Repainting
The interior walls of most homes and many commercial buildings are covered in gypsum wallboard, or drywall. During normal use, drywall is vulnerable to damage from dents, cracks, and nail or screw holes. It can also become stained or discolored over time and need to be refreshed with a fresh coat of paint. If yyou’replanning to repaint your drywall, iit’simportant to repair any unsightly spots in advance so that the new coat of paint will conceal them as well as possible.
Drywall patch kits are available to help you deal with small holes and dings. These can be applied with spackle or a lightweight joint compound and smoothed with a putty knife, using the knife to feather the edges so that the patch blends seamlessly into the existing wall. If you’re working with textured drywall, a little bit of drywall joint compound mixed with wall texture spray can also be used to make a more seamless appearance.
Larger dents or holes will require you to cut out the old piece of drywall and install a new one. This will involve some measuring and cutting, but iit’snot a difficult project for a do-it-yourselfer who has the proper tools and a bit of patience. Once the new piece of drywall is installed, yyou’llneed to apply joint tape and joint compound, then sand so that iit’sready for painting.
If you’re repainting an entire room, be sure to use the right type of paint for your drywall surface. Satin-finish paint is generally used in living rooms, bedrooms and other areas with minimal wear and tear; semi-gloss is typically preferred for baths, kitchens and laundry rooms, where the walls will need to be wiped down more often.
Before you begin painting, iit’sa good idea to apply a primer to the drywall to ensure that the colored paint will adhere well and not flake or peel. Allow the primer to dry thoroughly before beginning your actual paint job. Depending on the color of your paint, you may need to do 2 or more coats, sanding between each application.