Working with drywall and drywall tools can seem like an overwhelming task. But with some basic knowledge, it's one of the easier home repair jobs to complete. With a little bit of patience and elbow grease even a rookie can do drywall repair with end results like those of a pro. As with any major repair job, proper preparation is the key.

The Basics

There are three major types of drywall repair: patching a small hole, replacing one or several wall sheets or repairing ceiling sheets. To replace ceiling sheets, you'll need an additional specialty tool, but for now let's start with the basics. Every drywall repair job (except repairing very small holes) requires the following: a tape measure, electric drill, #2 Phillips screwdriver bit, drywall screws, utility knife, spackle (also called drywall compound), drywall tape, a taping knife (a flat-bladed device used to spread the spackle), dust mask, level, mud pan, hammer and 120-grit sandpaper, in addition to a piece of drywall large enough to cover the hole you're repairing. Make sure you have all of these on hand before you begin the project.

Patching a Small Hole

Patching a small hole--the size of a half-dollar or less--is the easiest task, and for this you'll need nothing more than the drywall compound, drywall tape, a tape knife and the 120-grit sandpaper. To begin, clean off any remaining crumbs of the broken drywall and sand the area down with the sandpaper. Take the mesh drywall tape, and run a single strap over the hole you're covering. Make sure the tape extends beyond the hole by about an inch on each side. Using the edge of the taping knife, scoop up a gob of the drywall compound and place it on the end of the tape. While applying firm pressure to the tape knife, spread the spackle so that it completely covers the drywall tape. Push hard enough on the tape knife to smooth the spackle as much as possible. Scrape off the excess and use the tape knife to return it to your container. Allow the spackle to dry completely. Use the sandpaper to smooth it once dry. Vacuum up the spackle dust when sanding is complete.

Prepping for a Large Hole

For any hole larger than a half-dollar, use a stud finder to find where the wall studs are. Run the stud finder about an inch above the hole and move it to the left against the existing drywall. A digital stud-finder will light up brightest when it finds the center of the stud. Mark that spot with a pencil. Do the same to the right of the hole. Using the utility knife, cut away all the existing drywall in a square or rectangular pattern using a utility knife. Apply firm pressure to the knife and score the spot several times. Use a yardstick or level to help you keep the lines straight. Use a hammer to knock the cut drywall out. Clean up rough edges by scraping with the utility knife.

Patching A Large Hole

Once the old drywall is removed, you'll need to prepare the new piece of drywall for installment. Measure the hole you've created. Cut an identical size out of your new piece of drywall, but subtract one-eighth inch from each side. Use the yardstick or level to create straight lines. Then use the utility knife to score the drywall. Run the utility knife through the drywall several times and then snap the piece off. You may need to use the utility knife after you snap the drywall to completely cut away the piece. Next, use the electric drill, with the #2 Phillips bit inserted, to screw the new drywall piece into the studs using the drywall screws. Insert one screw about every 1 vertical foot. Apply the drywall tape around the edges of the new piece. Place a generous amount of spackle into your mud pan. Scoop the spackle from the mud pan and apply to the wall with the tape knife. Use firm pressure to spread the spackle so that it completely covers the tape smoothly. Scrape the excess and return it to the pan. Allow the spackle to dry. Put on the dusk mask and then smooth out the spackle using the 120-grit sandpaper. Vacuum up the dust.

Installing a Full Wall Sheet

Installing a full wall sheet requires similar skills to repairing a large hole. A full sheet of drywall is 4-by-8 feet. In most homes, wall studs (the wood beams into which you'll screw the drywall) are spaced exactly 2-feet apart. To install the full sheet, make sure the left and right edges of your full sheet sit exactly in the center of the left and right outermost studs. Screw the drywall into the studs using the drywall screws and the electric drill. Working from top to bottom, install a screw about every 12 vertical inches. Use the stud finder to help you find the stud in the center of the drywall sheet, and again install a screw about every 1 vertical foot. Install as many sheets as necessary using this method. Apply tape to all the gaps, and apply spackle in the method described above. Allow the spackle to dry. Put on a dust mask, and use the sandpaper to smooth. A power sander can vastly decrease sanding time for very large areas.

Ceiling Sheets

Making a major ceiling drywall repair can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Most major hardware stores rent drywall lifts. These hydraulic, or hand-cranked devices, easily hold a full sheet of drywall and allow you to lift it into place. Once you've lifted the proper size sheet of drywall into the proper location, follow the same instructions used to install a full wall sheet.

Finishing the Job

Once the spackle has dried, apply your paint. With new drywall, it is often necessary to apply a second, and sometimes third, coat of paint, as new drywall is particularly absorbent.

Source:

Installing Drywall

Ace Hardware: Drywall Installation

This Old House: How to Hang Drywall