Monday 23 September 2013

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.

Be careful of handling drywall, especially when transporting it since it is not that durable compared to other materials used for ceiling and wall covering. Take safety precautions before carrying out repairs by wearing protective clothing and footwear. A face mask may come in handy when sanding the drywall to avoid inhaling dust particles.

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.

If you're not up to using metal patches, you can repair your drywall the old-fashioned way. With a drywall saw, remove the damaged area with an allowance of 4 inches on all sides. Cover all the seams with drywall tape once the replacement panel has been installed.

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.

Once it dries, apply a second layer of joint compound before sanding the surface lightly. Avoid applying multiple layers of mud by not over sanding the panel. Wipe the dust particles with a damp cloth when necessary. For the top coating, apply a layer of finishing compound and leave it overnight to dry.

Add texture to the panel by blending it with the texture of your current drywall. After texturizing, apply at least two coats of primer before painting the panel. If you're going to use a spray paint, keep the nozzle far from the drywall upon application.

With the right tools and enough experience, repairing drywall shouldn't be a problem at all. Hire drywall specialists and learn a few tips and tricks from them before attempting to fix it on your own. Take immediate action as soon as the drywall cracks open to avoid further damage.




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