How to Patch Drywall – With Videos!

Did you swing your door open too hard? Maybe you were moving furniture and someone miscalculated a turn. Or you tripped and fell, putting a hole in your drywall. Either way it happened; we won’t tell Mom.

Drywall is composed of a solid gypsum core extruded between thick sheets of facer and backer paper. This means that while drywall is a phenomenal construction material, it’s relatively weak as compared to its counterparts. Since drywall is very prone to damage, it’s a good idea to know how to repair drywall unless you want to pay a handyman.

Don’t worry visual learners, we’ll be linking a video.

Traditional method

Cut a piece of drywall that’s slightly larger than the damage on your drywall. Trace the cut-out piece of drywall and, using a drywall saw, cut out the drywall. It’s crucial that you exercise caution; shine a flashlight and check for any electrical wiring that may be hidden behind the drywall. Using drywall screws, take small furring strips and secure them on the left and right sides behind the hole.

Grab the cut-out drywall and carefully screw it into place, making sure not to overdrive the screws. Apply joint tape on the perimeter of the hole and over any screws. Using a drywall knife, cover the hole and joint tape with compound.

Once the compound has dried, sand the patched area until everything is smooth. Removing all dust prior, prime and paint the patched area. Voila! Watch the traditional method (Skip to 3:50).

California patch

A great method for patching holes 6 inches and smaller is the California patch. First, you’ll want to cut a square piece of drywall that’s roughly 2 inches bigger than the hole. Turn the drywall piece over and score the drywall an inch from each side. Leaving the paper untouched, make sure to carefully remove ONLY the drywall you’ve cut.

Once you’ve got a drywall piece with an inch of extra paper on each side, place it over the hole (so it’s completely covering the hole) and make an outline on the wall using a pencil. Using a drywall saw, you’ll want to cut out the marked area; don’t forget your safety gear!

Now that you’ve cut out the outline, you’ll want to flip the drywall piece over and apply joint compound to the back of the paper. Press the drywall into the outline and cover it with a couple of coats of drywall compound. Finally, sand, prime and paint the area. Voila!

Recap

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