Repairing a hole in drywall larger than your thumb requires a different technique than when repairing small holes. This method works well for holes up to 4 inches at the maximum width. Holes larger than 4 inches require the replacement of a section of drywall. We show you how easy it is to repair a medium drywall hole in this do-it-yourself video.
Tools & Materials Needed
- Self adhesive drywall patch. The patch material needs to be at least 1 inch wider than the widest part of the hole, on all sides. That means a 3 inch hole requires a 5 inch self adhesive patch.
- A drywall knife. For holes this large, a 6 inch wide drywall knife makes feathering the edges much easier to do. If you do not have a 6 inch drywall knife, a 4 inch knife will work.
- Drywall spackle or joint compound.
- A fine grit sanding block or sanding sponge.
Steps to Repair a Medium Drywall Hole
- Remove wall anchors and loose pieces of drywall and paint around the hole. If the drywall paper around the hole is ragged, remove the loose or ragged edges with a utility knife.
- Run a sanding sponge or sanding block over the hole to help remove small pieces of debris.
- Place the self adhesive drywall patch over the hole. it should cover the hole and extend at least 1 inch around the hole.
- Start working the spackle or drywall compound into the hole. Work from the middle toward the edges. The ideal is to force the drywall compound into the edges of the drywall around the hole. Also, you do not want to press too much drywall compound into the hole, but you do want it to fill in the patch to a depth of about 1/2 inch to duplicate the thickness of the drywall. Too much material may cause excessive drying times and cracking. Too little will result in a weak patch.
- After the first patch dries, sand it lightly with the sanding block or sanding sponge. Start feathering out the edges past the patch material.
- Apply a second coat of spackle or drywall compound. Feather the edges out further than with the first patch.
- Wait until the second coat dries completely, then sand it lightly once again. If the feathering is done properly, you should not feel a bump when you run your fingers over the patch. if it does not feel smooth, apply another coat and feather it out as much as possible.
- Wait until everything dries completely before painting. Painting areas this large usually requires a roller to match the subtle texture of the original paint. Depending upon the type of paint you use, you may have to apply a primer prior to applying the paint. Read the instructions for the paint. If you do not use a primer, it will likely take 2 coats of the finishing paint. Let each coat dry completely before applying the second coat.