How to Repair Drywall

Figuring out how to repair drywall can save you money while renting. You can offer to barter a lower rent payment in exchange for the repairs you make. If you damaged the drywall, you can repair it before moving out, so that you don’t lose any of your security deposit over it. Having the tools and supplies you need on hand will help you take care of chips, holes and other repairs.

How to Repair Drywall with Holes

Find a piece of drywall that’s five to six inches larger than the hole you want to fix. Cut a square into the new piece of drywall slightly bigger than hole in the wall using a razor blade. Cut excess drywall off to keep the square you want. Use drywall mud to place the new piece of drywall over the hole. You only need to apply a small amount of mud, and you can use a knife to wipe off the excess mud. Let it dry for at least 24 hours, and add more mud again. After it dries for another 24 hours, the hole should be well covered. This method works well for holes that are not larger than 12 inches in diameter.

How to Repair Drywall with Tape

Joints in your drywall may need to be taped. Your options are primarily paper drywall joint tape or fiberglass mesh tape. There are arguments on both sides about which to use. Some people like the fiberglass mesh tape because you don’t have to mess around with drywall mud. It’s sturdier than paper tape as well. However, drywall paper tape is cheaper to buy. Whichever you use, the process is basically the same. Cover overlapping joints with the tape, to seal seams that are coming apart. If you use drywall mud, you’ll have to wait for it to dry.

Use tape to seal cracks as well. Take your knife and remove previous tape and materials before applying new tape. Fill the crack with mud if you use paper tape. Otherwise, just lay fiberglass mesh tape over it. One trick is to apply a few coats of drywall compound over the tape when you’re done. However, don’t apply too much for each coat, or it will crack. Add water if needed to get the consistency you want, because it may have dried in storage.  After you’ve applied coats of drywall compound, sand it down for a nice finish.

How to Repair Drywall with Sand Paper

Use sand paper to get rid of chips in the drywall. Fine grain sand paper works best, and is available at most hardware stores. Sand it down until the chips are no longer there or visible. Apply drywall compound when done.

Learn how to repair drywall by fixing small holes first. Then work your way up to larger repairs, but always notify your landlord about the work you’re doing. That way you’ll get the required permission you need, and you’ll have an opportunity to negotiate a reduction in rent.