How to Repair Drywall

Inevitably, there is shrinking or warping in the framing behind the drywall. As the wood studs age and shrink, nails loosen and pop out of the wood, producing an unsightly bump or hole in the surface.

No matter how many times you drive the nails back in, the problem is likely to recur, so it's better to fix it permanently the first time around. Here's how:

Step 1: Redrive the popped nails. If the nails are sticking out far enough to get a claw of hammer around them, pull them out first. To redrive them, hold the nail set over the nail head and hammer nail as far as you can into stud. The nail head will punch through the drywall's outside layer of paper and into the drywall itself.

Image © Publications International, Ltd. Nail pops in drywall are easy to eliminate. First drive the popped nail with a nail set as far as possible into the stud. The drive another nail about 2 inches above or below it.

Step 2: To make sure the nail stays in place (and to take pressure off it), drive another drywall nail through the wallboard and into the stud about 2 inches above or below the old nail. Pound the nail flush with wall and then give it one more light hammer whack to "dimple" drywall surface around the nail head.

Step 3: Using the putty knife, cover the new nail head and fill hole over old one with spackling compound.

Step 4: Let it dry, then lightly sand area. Since the spackling compound shrinks as it dries, you may need to repeat process once or twice more. Touch up the patches with paint or primer.

Drywall Holes
Tough as it is, drywall can withstand only limited abuse. A door flung open with too much force can produce a doorknob-size hole in the wall. This kind of damage looks bad, but even large holes are easy to fix. The easiest way is to purchase a drywall repair kit. Measure the hole, and visit your local hardware store or home improvement center for a kit. There are various sizes and types for different applications. For example, a drywall patch for a ceiling is thicker than one for a wall. Before you use the kit, remove any loose paper or plaster around the edges of the hole. Then apply drywall patch, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Small drywall holes: You don't need a kit to make a repair to a small drywall hole. Simply follow these directions:

Step 1: Prepare a tin can lid that is at least 11/2 inches more in diameter than hole in drywall for backing piece. Use a keyhole saw to cut out a narrow horizontal slit in wall on each side of the hole. The measurement of hole plus both narrow slits should equal the diameter of the lid so that you can insert the lid sideways into the hole.

Step 2: Use an awl to punch two holes in the center of lid. Thread a 12-inch piece of wire or string through the holes.

Step 3: Holding ends of the wire, slide the lid through the slit. Still holding the wire, pull the lid toward you until it's flat against the inside of wall. To hold it in place, set the stick of scrap wood over the hole on the outside of wall and twist the wire tightly over the stick. The can lid should be held firmly against the inside of the wall.

Step 4: Use a putty knife to apply a premixed drywall patching compound over the patch following the manufacturer's instructions. (Don't use a spackling compound because it shrinks as it dries.) You can also mix plaster of paris with water to make a thick paste. Pack the compound or plaster into the hole against the backing and behind the stick. Keep the compound inside the hole, cover the backing, and fill the slits, but don't spread it on the wall surface. Leave the patch slightly low, and don't try to level it. Let the patch dry until it turns bright white, typically at least 24 hours. When it's dry, cut the string or wire and remove the stick.

Image © Publications International, Ltd. Cut slits from the sides of the hole, then thread a wire through a tin can lid and slide it in. Pull the lid flat on the inside of the wall, and hold it in place with a stick.

Step 5: To finish the patch, fill it completely with more plaster of paris or drywall patching compound to make the patch level with the wall surface. Let it dry, lightly sand the area, prime, and paint.

Large drywall holes: Sometimes a wall can get a large hole or a section can be damaged by water or other causes. Here's how to fix it without a drywall repair kit:

Step 1: Cut a scrap piece of drywall with a utility knife into a square or rectangle. The scrap piece should be a little bigger than the hole or damaged area. If you don't have a piece of drywall, purchase a drywall patch from a hardware store. Set the patch against the damaged area, and lightly trace around it with pencil. Cut out the outlined area with a keyhole saw. Keep the saw cut on inside of the traced line so the hole in the drywall will be exactly the same size as the patch.

Step 2: To hold the wallboard patch in place, install the small board about 6 inches longer than the long dimension of hole. Put the board into the hole, center it horizontally, and hold it firmly against the inside of wallboard. To help keep it there, fasten the ends of board to the drywall with flathead screws driven through the wall at the sides of hole; countersink the screws below the surface of the drywall.

Step 3: Use spackling compound or wallboard joint compound as a glue to hold the patch in place. Spread the compound on the back of the drywall patch and around edges. Set the patch into the hole and adjust it so it's exactly even with surrounding wall. Hold it in place until the compound starts to set. Let the compound dry at least overnight.

Image © Publications International, Ltd. Secure a backing board on the inside of the wall to brace the patch; then coat the edges of the patch with spackling compound and set it into place in the hole.

Step 4: Once the compound is dry, fill the patch outline and cover the exposed screw heads with spackling or joint compound. Let it dry, lightly sand the area, prime, and paint.

Like drywall, plaster can be problematic. In the next section, we'll tell you how to repair the most common plaster occurrence: cracks.