Drywall Repair and Maintenance

Drywall is the material most commonly used to construct interior walls in houses built since World War II because it is quicker to install than plaster. Although drywall can dent or puncture more easily than plaster, it is easier for the average homeowner to repair. Here are four methods for fixing surface defects ranging in size from the smallest dent to large holes of a foot or more.

Drywall, also called wallboard, gypsum board or plasterboard, is often simply known by the brand name Sheetrock. It consists of a hard gypsum core sandwiched between piles of fiberboard, paper or felt. Drywall is sold in a 4 by 8 or 4 by 12 foot sheets that are nailed or screwed to studs.

Just as the classification for drywall varies, so do the names of the plaster like substances used for sealing drywall. The substance most commonly used to finish joints is called joint compound. When you have the time, use this for making repairs. It applies smoothly and sands beautifully. The disadvantages are: it takes 24 hours to dry and it shrinks while drying, so you need two or more layers to level off a wall surface. There are also a variety of other patching substances. Spackling compounds dry faster and shrink less but are harder to sand smooth. Patching plasters dry quickest (one to two hours) without shrinking and are strong fillers, but dry hard and are difficult to sand. If you use one of these, fill a hole almost flush with the wall, then finish with join compound for easy sanding.

Small dents of up to one inch can simply be filled with joint compound or patching plaster, and sanded. If nails have popped through the surface of your wall, remove these or sink them with a hammer and nail set, drive a new screw an inch above or below the old nail, then fill the new dents.

Patching with wire screen is a good method for repairing holes from one to five inches or so. Cut the screen patch slightly larger than the cleaned-out hole.