How to Repair Damaged Wallboard

• Drywall knives: 6" and 8"
• Drywall saw
• Rubber sanding block
• Screwdriver
• Straight edge
• Utility knife

• Joint compound
• Scrap piece of wallboard for patch
• Medium 150 grit sandpaper

Before You Begin

Below are the steps involved to repair damaged wallboard. If you don't want to get involved doing this job yourself click Home Advisor, a free referral service that connects homeowners with local prescreened contractors.

• Step 1 : Enlarge the ragged hole

  

  Use a straight edge to draw a square or rectangular box around the hole. Then use a drywall or keyhole saw to cut along these lines to enlarge the hole and square off the edges.

• Step 2 : Cut the repair patch to fill in the hole

  

  Measure the hole you cut and add 2 inches to the length and width of the hole. Use a utility knife to cut a piece of drywall 2 inches larger that the hole in the wall to use as a repair patch.

  

  Place the drywall repair patch face (paper side) down and draw straight lines 1 inch in from the edges of the patch. Then use a utility knife to cut along these lines into the gypsum core of the drywall. Score the drywall several times with the knife, then break off the outer section of core. Don't cut through the paper facing.

  

  Peel off the gypsum core and leave the paper backing attached. Do this on all four sides and then clean off any gypsum core left on the paper with sandpaper.

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