_____________________________________________ Drywall Repair - the Diverse Patch Method Drywall contractors - installation & repair Submit your drywall patch project if you care to find a contractor for patches, OR Handyman Services For those who work with drywall patching also. With different methods of going about repairing a hole in drywall, you will mainly need to consider: (1) the size of the hole to be repaired and (2) its location on the wall. Note: do not attempt this method on ceilings/horizontal surfaces as these have different requirements. Most patches can be performed with the following: • fiberglass tape [recommended over paper tape] • spare piece of drywall of same thickness as being patched • drywall gun & screws, coarse thread [optional] • taping knife • bedding/topping compound [lightweight all purpose is suitable for smaller areas and minimizes cleanup, yet topping is still nice to finish with] First, measure the needed cutout size in square form. Say, 1’ by1’. Using a utility knife, cut out this 1’ given square section on your spare piece of drywall. Then, overlay the shaped section directly on top of the area to be cleared for affixing the patch. Hold it there, trace its border with a pencil, always taking special care as to wall cavity wiring and other potentially dangerous obstructions - cut the marking out with your knife, only as deep as necessary. Proceed then by cutting (4) strips of fiberglass tape that will extend either way off the drywall edge at least a couple inches beyond your cutout size, from behind, about 18 inches total each piece for our example. With your compound, liberally back-butter the wall board. Place your (4) cut fiberglass strips in sets of parallel two, each in ways of direction that cross each other at ninety degrees, while atop the compound on this backside and press the strips down firmly in order to embed them. Tilt your cut-out up in place, and pull the fiberglass strips outward to fairly taut, leveling the board surface with the wall as you go. Once a level is achieved [slightly sunken better than risen] firm the strips to the wall. A screw in a convenient stud will usually help but that is the beauty of this patch. It can work without nails or screws. Float a layer of your bedding compound then smooth with topping mixture. Final top coat the patch at least once, sand to a smooth plane and finish to desired color and texture. Check on your hvac filter after competion.