DIY Drywall Patch To Fix Holes And Dents On Your Walls

Big or small, those holes in your wall can be quite an eyesore. Get rid of them with these quick and easy to do drywall patch tips and techniques.

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In this article:

1. Things to Remember Before You Start
2. Drywall Patch: Small Dents
3. Drywall Patch: Small Holes
4. Drywall Patch: Medium Holes
5. Drywall Patch: Large Holes
6. Finishing Your Repairs

Quick Drywall Patch Tips for Different Types of Holes and Dents on Your Wall

Things to Remember Before You Start

Before buying any materials or tools, consider whether you’ll simply touch up areas you’ll patch up or repaint the whole wall. Using a soft cloth, you can simply dab paint to cover up repaired areas.

When patching numerous damages or holes, make sure to prime first the patched walls (especially if you are using a shinier or semi-gloss finish) before repainting. Higher gloss tends to lead to more varying textures that appear between surrounding paint and the drywall patch.

Additionally, make sure to identify the placement of electric wires behind the walls. Often, these are secured with wall studs, which you must locate before nailing, drilling, or cutting.

Finally, make sure to wear protective equipment at all times. These might be considered minor repairs, but working with drywall still requires you to use dust masks, work goggles, and work gloves.

Drywall Patch Tools:

• Drywall saw
• Joint knife
• Utility knife
• Tape measure
• Drill
• Scissors
• Dust mask

Drywall Patch Materials:

• Drywall patch kit
• Construction adhesive
• Drywall screen
• Masking tape
• Drywall tape
• Drywall screws
• Joint compound
• Drywall scraps
• Drywall patch plaster
• Sanding sponge

1. Drywall Patch: Small Dents

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Step 1: Use Your Fast-Drying Spackle

Scrape any loose debris away from the hole or dent before covering it with fast-drying spackle. Make sure to apply it evenly across the hole to avoid bumps.

Step 2: Finish Up

Leave the spackle to dry for 24 hours before sanding it smooth and painting it over.

2. Drywall Patch: Small Holes

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Step 1: Use Your Mesh Patch

Small holes often created by doorknobs hitting the wall with a little too much force are easy to fix. Start by placing your mesh patch on the center of the hole.

Step 2: Cover the Patch

Use your drywall knife to spread your joint compound over the patch. Make sure to apply this following a crisscross pattern before feathering the compound’s edges to make it blend better with your wall.

In feathering the edges, note that you have to increase angle and pressure on the knife while going towards the patch’s outer edges. This helps in thinning or minimizing the lightweight compound on your drywall.

Step 3: Finish Up

Leave the patch to dry for 24 hours. If necessary, you can apply another coating of the joint compound before sanding and painting.

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3. Drywall Patch: Medium Holes

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Step 1: Cut a Drywall Piece

Measure the hole and make sure to cut the drywall in a size two inches bigger in both height and width compared to the area you’ll be repairing.

Step 2: Score Your Drywall’s Back

Using either a knife or box cutter, score the drywall’s back about 1″ on all sides. Afterward, snap the gypsum off but make sure to leave its paper backing complete.

Step 3: Cut Part of the Wall Out

While holding your drywall patch on top of the hole, trace around your gypsum square. Make sure you don’t include the border as you trace.

Now follow the traced outline and cut the wall using your drywall knife. Make sure to check for any electrical wires you might hit.

Step 4: Fit the Gypsum Into the Hole

Use joint compound and apply it to the paper border’s back. Now, fit the gypsum into the hole you cut out earlier.

Make sure to use joint compound to coat the paper edges before pressing them into place along the hole’s outside edge.

Step 5: Cover the Drywall Patch and Finish Up

Again, use your joint compound to cover the whole patch. Do this until the lines are completely camouflaged and before you feather the edges.

Dry the compound before applying a second coat. Leave it to dry for another 24 hours before sanding and painting it over.

4. Drywall Patch: Large Holes

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Step 1: Cut and Trace a Drywall Piece

Measure the hole before cutting a drywall piece that is slightly larger compared to the hole.

Hold the piece you just cut out and place it over the center of the hole before tracing around the drywall piece’s edges.

Step 2: Cut Part of the Wall Out

Using your drywall knife, cut the wall following the lines you traced on it. Again, make sure to watch for electrical wiring behind the walls before you cut.

Step 3: Prepare the Wall for the Drywall Patch

Attach small and thin pieces of wood called furring strips to the inside of the damaged portion of the wall. Use screws to attach these furring strips to both sides of the hole.

Make sure to drill them beneath the drywall’s surface.

Step 4: Fit the Patch Into the Hole

Place the patch on the hole and drill it into your furring strips before applying tape to the patch’s borders.

The tape helps keep the wall and your patch pressed together. It helps reduce movement and prevent cracks that may appear in the future.

Step 5: Cover the Drywall Patch and Finish Up

Using joint compound, cover both the tape and the patch before you feather the edges. If necessary, apply another coat of compound over the patch after the first one dries.

Sand the patch and paint it over.

Finishing Your Repairs

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Regardless of the size of the dent or hole you’re fixing, it is possible to make it look as though nothing ever happened to it. Do this by sanding the hole you repaired and painting it over.

A light sanding gives your work a smooth finish. It also helps make the patch blend seamlessly with the wall.

Once it’s satin smooth, cover the repaired area with a coat of primer. After it dries, paint it over and your wall is as good as new.

Interested to know more about how to properly install a drywall patch? Paul Sallee shows you some tips to perfect it right here!

You really don’t need to put up with that annoying dent or hole in your wall. A drywall patch is a quick and easy answer that any DIYer can easily do.

Do you have other questions about how to install a drywall patch? Ask us in the comments section below!

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