Should you attempt to do-it-yourself or hire a drywall contractor? The answer depends on the size and type of the needed repair. If the job is large and requires specialized knowledge, equipment and a significant investment of your time, you might want to hire a drywall contractor. However, scratches, dents and small to medium sized hole repairs can be easily mastered by even the beginner.
Drywall is truly one of the greatest inventions to come along within the last 80 years. And for some very good reasons; it is an inexpensive wall covering that goes up quickly. It is neutral and can be decorated to individual taste. The invention of Kings Drywall saved contractors and homeowners thousands of dollars in construction costs and repairs.
Drywall, or gypsum board, is made of a crumbly fire resistant substance that is wrapped in a thick paper coating. It is very durable and can be easily cut, sawed, drilled, bent, nailed, glued, screwed, painted on and papered over. It even helps to sound proof and insulate a room. But even as durable as it is, eventually, you’ll need to patch some area of drywall in you home or business.
Commonly, you will be dealing with one or more of three different types of wall holes – nail holes and dents, small doorknob size holes and larger holes caused by fists and furniture. In this article I’ll explain a very simple repair technique for a small drywall holes. This will work great on holes less than 6 inches, such as doorknob holes.
THE “HAT PATCH” REPAIR METHOD
Using a keyhole saw, cut a square around the hole (the hole is now square). Keep it as small as possible. Sand the edges to the hole lightly to remove burrs from the sawing. From a new piece of drywall, cut a square piece of drywall about 3 inches larger than the hole that you’re trying to cover. (Now follow me closely here, because in this next step you’re going to remove some of the drywall backing from your new patch.) TURN THE NEW PATCH OVER and cut 1-1/2 inches on each side with a razor knife. Be very careful not to cut completely through the face paper (you want to leave the facing paper intact). Now carefully peal the 1-1/2 inch pieces off the face paper and discard. Clean the back of the face paper on the patch to remove small bits still attached.
Place joint compound around the edges of the hole for at least 2 inches on each side. Be sure to mud the raw edges of the old drywall. Insert the patch into the hole and drag mud down each side. Now cover the entire area with a very thin coat of mud and let it dry. When completely dry sand the area very lightly.
If necessary, apply a second coat and allow it to dry. Sand the area lightly and you are ready to paint.
If this sounds more complicated that you’d like, your local hardware store will sell you a drywall repair kit. The kits come in various sizes and types for different applications. Simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions and you should be all set.
Drywall, also referred to as plasterboard or gypsum board, is a panel made of plaster, pressed between two thick sheets of paper. It is commonly used to make interior walls and ceilings. Drywall sheets can be made from fibreglass instead of paper for a more durable type of wall. It is also used to prevent the wall from being damaged when exposed to water due to leaks or floods.
When one is working with drywall, there are certain tools and equipment used. Drywall is different from a normal cement or wooden wall and therefore requires different tools and equipment. For instance, normal screws should not be used when working with drywall. Instead, specific drywall screws should be used.
There are many different types of screws available to be used in numerous different types of projects. Wood screws, sheet metal screws, and drywall screws are the most common types. the last mentioned types of screws have a coarse thread that is meant to secure drywall to wood while the fine thread version of the screw is used for attachment to metal studs.
Drywall screws are used for a number of different things and the type of screw being used would depend on the project. Other than what they are intended for, here are a couple of other things they are good for:
Laying deck boards: To lay deck boards evenly, drop the screws between each course before nailing it down. The big heads keep the boards in place so you can align the ends of the boards. You’ll be able to complete the project quicker and hassle-free.
Clean up a Connection: Before you install new fittings, use the screw’s fine point to dig old compound and tape out of the pipe threads.
Fix a squeak: For creaking or squeaking floors beneath a carpet, find where the floor meets a joist and put a screw into it through the carpet.
Stopper: drywall screws can be used as stoppers as well. Screw one into the nozzle of a tube that contains liquid to seal it. You can leave it in and use it as a top that screws off.
Create a starting point for a drill: tapping a small screw with a hammer chips away a tiny amount of glaze on a ceramic tile. This tiny “hole” will be a starting point for the drill and will prevent it from moving around.
Clear up a sink: Because the screw’s thread is so toothy, it can be tied to a string and lowered into a sink. It will clear a mild hair clog in the drain. This is probably the most creative use of the drywall screw I have come across so far, and, surprisingly, it works!
