Toronto Home Improvement

Learn the basics of how to fix a hole in drywall or sheet rock from a home repair professional in this free online home improvement video.

Things You’ll Need:

* Drywall-reinforcing Tape (paper Or Fiberglass)
* Joint Tape
* Premixed Joint Compound
* Spackle Knife
* Primer
* Touch-up Paint And Paintbrush
* Metal Bread Pan Or Hawk
* Drywall (see Tips)
* Utility Knife
* Long-nose Pliers
* Putty Knife
* Sandpaper
* 1 1/4-inch (3-cm) Type W Drywall Screws
* Caulk Or Speckling Compound
* Drywall Clips
* Drywall Saw
* Drywall Screws (coarse Thread)
* Hammer
* Screwdriver Or Electric Drill And Driver

Filling tiny holes

Step 1:
Apply a dab of caulk with your fingertip or apply premixed interior spackling compound, available in very small cans, with a putty knife. Fill the hole but don’t leave any residue on the surrounding surface.

Step 2:
If the compound shrinks as it dries, leaving a dimple, apply another coat. When the compound is dry, touch up the paint.

Repairing a small hole or gouge

Step 1:
Place an appropriate quantity of premixed joint compound, available in 1- and 5-gallon (4-l and 19-l) sizes, into a metal bread pan or onto a hawk (see Warning).

Step 2:
Pick up a small quantity of compound on the corner of a spackle knife and spread it over the damaged area. Hold the knife on the wall at a low angle and draw it across the compound horizontally; then wipe the knife clean on the edge of the pan and make a second pass vertically.

Step 3:
When the first coat dries (it will turn from gray to bright white), apply a second coat, but use more compound and extend it a little beyond the first coat. In the rare case when two coats are not enough, apply a third coat.

Step 4:
When the patch is dry, sand lightly and apply primer over the repaired surface before applying a paint topcoat.

Repairing popped fasteners

Step 1:
Press firmly against the surface as you drive in one drywall screw on each side of the popped fastener (just above and below it on a wall, or in line with the ceiling joist) with a screwdriver or an electric drill and driver.

Step 2:
Drive in the popped fastener tight to the drywall with a hammer or screwdriver. Remove any loose drywall but try not to tear off the paper facing. Apply joint compound and smooth it over as described in “Repairing a small hole or gouge”.

Repairing larger damaged areas

Step 1:
Apply joint tape wherever the paper facing is badly damaged or missing. To embed paper tape, cover the damaged area with a thin layer of joint compound, press the paper into the compound and smooth it by drawing a clean spackle knife across it with firm pressure. If you’re using adhesive-backed fiberglass tape, just press it onto the drywall.

Step 2:
When the first coat is dry, scrape off any dry bits on the surface and apply a second and third coat as described in “Repairing a small hole or gouge”.

Patching a large hole

Step 1:
Cut a drywall patch. Place it over the damaged area to trace it. Cut along your lines with a drywall saw or by making repeated passes with a utility knife. Remove the damaged pieces and clean up the cut with a utility knife.

Step 2:
Install drywall clips near the four corners of the opening. Slip them over the drywall (narrow spring tabs out) and secure them with 1 1/4-inch (3-cm) Type W drywall screws. Position and screw the patch to the clips

Step 3:
Grasp the clip tabs with long-nose pliers and twist to break them off below the surface. Tape and finish the seams as described in “Repairing larger damaged areas,” above.