How to Fix a Hole in Drywall or Plaster

Are you tired of looking at the hole in your drywall from the doorknob or other accident? You don’t have to pay a carpenter or handyman a large fee to fix this eyesore as it is actually very simple for the do it yourself homeowner.

First look at the size of your hole. If it smaller than an inch or so all you need is some patching plaster, putty knife, and some sandpaper. If your hole is from an inch to about the size of a grapefruit or so you will need a piece of window screen a little bigger than the hole, some string, masking tape, patching plaster, a putty knife, and some sandpaper. If your hole is much bigger than a grapefruit you will to get a piece of drywall, drywall screws, patching plaster, drywall knife or saw, putty knife, and sandpaper. If your hole is very large and in a conspicuous place you may need professional help to get a perfect result.

For a small hole all you need to do is stir the plaster, use the putty knife to smooth a small amount of plaster over the hole, let dry and sand. You may need to apply two layers, letting the first harden before adding the second. Follow the directions on the patching plaster in regards to painting.

For a medium sized hole, cut a few pieces of string and tie them through the screen near the center. Place the screen inside the hole and use the string to pull the screen tight against the back of the existing drywall. Tape the string to the wall and begin patching the hole using the screening as a backing to hold the plaster in place. Apply an even layer and let it harden. Then apply a second layer to achieve level with the existing wall. Let harden, cut the strings flush with the wall, and sand to finish. Follow the directions on the patching plaster in regards to painting.

For a large hole you will need to cut the existing drywall back to the studs. You may want to cut the edges of the original and the new drywall to rest on the studs. Cutting the sides in a ‘tooth’ pattern will achieve this. Measure and cut your piece of drywall to fit the hole and screw it into place. Use the patching plaster to fill the gaps in the drywall, let harden, and smooth with sandpaper. Follow the directions on the patching plaster in regards to painting.

Now, your hole should be fixed and you have saved yourself a lot of money!

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