When it’s time to paint your drywall, the prep work is the key to success. It pays to prepare properly on the front end because it will save you time and money later on. If you want to look like a professional came in to do your job, there is nothing more crucial than that initial prep work.
At some point, you are going to need to repair your drywall from all the abuse it will take over time. Here, we provide some pointers to help you learn how to repair holes and small issues yourself.
Patching Material
There are different materials for patching and the first thing to determine is which the right one for your particular job is. Light-weight joint compounds are appropriate for holes with about a dime’s thickness. If the wall merely has imperfections that are thin, spackling that is light-weight will do the job. A bit of sanding afterwards with a fine grit sanding block will suffice.
Deeper dents and holes will require a couple of joint compound coats. This is the only way to get that perfect look as though nothing ever happened. The first coat will fill in the dent or hole and the second coat will be much more generously applied and sanded down to evenness. In this way, you will achieve a result that looks perfect. Just remember to only sand when the compound has completely dried! Start with thin layers, let them dry and then sand, repeating until everything is perfectly flush with the wall. You will want a 6 inch putty knife or even larger depending on the hole. Your ultimate goal is to keep sanding and feathering out the edges of the joint compound until it’s flat and seamless again. Spread the joint compound all around the hole so it extends out several inches and repeat this as many times as you need to get the desired result of perfection.
Drywall Tools
It might seem obvious, but keep in mind that all your tools need to be kept very clean! Dirt, sand, debris, etc., can get on them and transfer to your paint or your spackling and you don’t want that! Also, make sure your materials don’t get dried out. If they do, you’ll need to replace them. These materials aren’t expensive, so don’t fret. Take a little time to look through the containers you may have of spackle or joint compound for drywall repair and if it looks dried out or has little chunks in it, you need to toss it.
Good materials and quality, clean tools is the key to getting the job done right, with a professional look. Drywall repair doesn’t have to be hard, but it just takes a little time, good tools and some patience. It’s one of those DIY jobs that you can feel good about knowing how to do, so if you have holes in your walls that need repair, jump in and give it a try!
But if you get in over your head, or for more tips and help with drywall repair, call Century Drywall, and we’ll help!
