Comments on: How to Patch a Hole in Your Drywall

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 27 May 2012 18:05:16 +0000

I keep a box of Popsicle sticks and use four of them for any patch required. From running wiring of course, not due to any anger management issues. Use hot glue or fast drying glue. Put one Popsicle stick in each corner of the hole at a 45 degree angle so that each end of the stick is glued behind the existing wall and the middle of each stick is exposed in each corner. Then glue in your drywall square and patch as you’ve described.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:16:41 +0000

Or, just screw in a light switch/power point. Who cares if it’s not connected?

By: Jogden

Jogden — Tue, 08 May 2012 04:26:01 +0000

Instead of feeling the edges with fingers try this Before you prime/paint.

1. Get yourself a flashlight and kill the lights
2. Shine the light from every angle to see the edges by the shadow
3. Sand/sponge until smooth/matching the rest of the wall

I’ve done entire rooms this way and people wonder how my walls are so smooth! Like glass!

By: Ladd

Ladd — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:46:39 +0000

I’m a contractor by trade and this is the correct way to patch a hole. Well done tutorial.

By: Seano

Seano — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:46:34 +0000

Use plaster. Setting compound is for hacks.

By: Kirk

Kirk — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:50:26 +0000

Good post I cut out the first few layers of the paper on the drywall to the point where the mesh or tape is flush. That way you don’t have to feather out your mud so far. Also if you have a orange peel or splatter type of finish you can take a whisk broom dip it in thinned out mud and flick the mud on the wall by running you hand over bristles.

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:42:31 +0000

Mack, I clicked this hoping to find out why anyone would want to punch a hole in their drywall.

By: Russ Davis

Russ Davis — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:56:34 +0000

Great post, Ethan. Here’s my method: move couch or other furniture in front of the hole.

By: Denny

Denny — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:54:13 +0000

This is an extremely complicated and unnecessary process for fixing a hole of this size.

Materials:
Sanding Sponge
Spackling Paste
Drywall patch
Putty knife

1. Slightly sand around the area the size of the patch.

2. Apply the patch to the hole (they come 4×4, 6×6 and 8×8 at Home Depot)

3. Spackle over the top of the patch.

4. Sand smooth.

I teach this class at the Home Depot. Ask any associate in the paint dept and they will show you how to do it.

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:37:07 +0000

I’ve patched lots of holes, and this is a pretty good article. There’s one thing that I do differently; instead of cutting a square hole in the sheetrock, and then trying to cut a patch to fit inside exactly right, cut the patch first. Then, put it on the wall over the hole and trace the shape, and cut out the outline. It’s much easier (no measuring or anything required – just eyeball the size of the patch you need and cut!) and it guarantees you an exact fit.