Step-By-Step Instruction on Drywall Repair by Washington DC Area Contractor
Drywall is one of the most powerful and flexible of the modern interior construction surfaces. Easy to repair, replace, and remove, and install, working with drywall is an easy and satisfying way to transform your interior.
You may want to work with drywall if:
– You have sections of your walls that are damaged by moisture, mold, abrasion, or normal wear and tear
– You want to add or remove a wall
If you are installing or removing a wall, you will also need to work with the studs or rafters that lie within the drywall, and that takes greater expertise than simply manipulating the drywall. However, if you simply need a section of your drywall replaced, the procedure is simple enough that it can be undertaken as a do-it-yourself project. Blue Door Painters outlines the steps in the discussion below.
Step 1: Remove the Damaged/Undesired Drywall
In order to remove the damaged drywall, first use a ruler, pencil, and squaring tool to sketch out a rectangular section that extends slightly wider in all directions than the damaged area. You want to make sure that your section has right angles, and that when that section is taken out, the damaged area will be fully removed. Next, using a sharpened utility knife, cut along your sketched boundaries. Once you have made cuts along the full perimeter of the damaged area, you will need to remove that isolated portion by releasing the mounting devices and then prying it off the wooden framing. To access screw or nail heads that might be anchoring the drywall, remove any taping within the damaged section.
Step 2: Inspect, Measure and Cut Replacement Drywall
Once you have removed the old drywall, you need to replace it with a segment of new drywall that is the exact same size and shape. Carefully measure the old section that you have removed, and trace out a section of new drywall that has the same parameters. Prior to cutting, inspect your new section of drywall for any structural or aesthetic flaws, including cracks, dents, and disfigurement. You also need to inspect the surface where the drywall is going to be mounted, making sure that all fixtures and residue from the damaged drywall have been thoroughly removed, the wood has been patched and sanded, and the underlying substrate bears no sign of mold or water damage. If you do have mold or water damage in the wood or insulation behind your drywall, further work – such as wood replacement – may need to be undertaken.
If both the drywall and the mounting surface are ready to go, use a utility knife to make your cuts smooth and straight.
Step 3: Mount the Drywall
Drywall can be mounted using screws, nails, or adhesive (glue). Each method has advantages and disadvantages. Mounting with screws gives the sturdiest attachment, able to withstand changes in the underlying wood without popping free, but it is also the most expensive and time-consuming. Nail installation is cheaper, and still affords a sturdy mount if executed correctly (make sure to hammer the nails in at the dead center of the wall stud). Adhesive installation is even easier to execute, and leaves the surface smoother, but it is also the most vulnerable to warping. Choose your method of mounting drywall thoughtfully, and stick to the same method for the whole of your project.
Step 4: Tape, Finish, and Re-coat
The final step is to tape, finish, and re-coat your new section of drywall. Drywall tape runs along the joints, covering the seams and any fasteners you might have used. Drywall tape is paired with joint compound, which is a plaster-like substance that is worked into the seams to create a smoothed-out surface, covering drywall tape and hiding the marks of any fasteners. Joint compound should be applied with a smoothing spatula that allows it to neutralize the seam between the new section of drywall and the rest of the wall.
Once tape and joint compound have been applied, and the wall has assumed a level surface, it is time to repaint the entire wall, so that the new section blends into the old and becomes undistinguishable. Use a strong primer over the entire wall before painting, one that is suitable both for old paint and for bare drywall. With only a topcoat, your patch might stand out from the rest of the wall, making the repair obvious.
In four simple steps, you can repair your own drywall. For further information, or to request a free estimate on your drywall repair or replacement project, contact Blue Door Painters.