Repairing sheetrock hole.?

Question

Someone in my house punched a hole in one of the walls. I have it cut out so it's a clean square. Now, awhile back I heard about a method of repairing: You take a piece of sheetrock 3/4" larger on each side than your hole, then you peel the rock off of the paper for the 3/4". Then, spread mud on the wall (3/4" around the hole), then put the new piece on so the paper shows, mud over, let dry, sand, and paint. But since that was years ago, I thought I would look for the same method on the info-net (Making sure my method wasn't of madness :-P ) Has anyone ever heard of that, and is that the best way to repair sheetrock holes?
Thanks.

Answer 1

It's an acceptable way to repair provided the hole isn't too big. Leave more like 3" of paper, not 3/4 an inch and it will take more than one coat of mud before it's ready for paint. Mark the size of the hole on the back of the piece you're working with. Score the marks and just snap and peel away.

Answer 2

I have read through the answers here and my method of repair is not listed. Want a backing for the drywall? One that will not slip or allow the drywall to push in when touched? After you have squared the hole you want repaired, cut a piece of drywall 1/4" inch smaller than the hole for replacing. First find a piece of 2x4 or a small peice of flat wood longer than the hole and place inside the hole, hold the flat side against the back of the drywall and screw to the inside of the wall. Place the screws on the outside of the hole so that they can be filled with compound. Next place the new piece over the hole and screw it to the wood you just placed in the hole. Fill with the edges and screws with compound, let dry, sand level and paint. You will never have an issue with the peice coming out or pushing in and it will be guaranteed to be level with the wall.

Answer 3

That sounds logical, but I'm not sure if the 3/4" paper with mud would hold this in place securely. But it depends on how big the hole is in the wall. If it is a two inch square, that would probably work, that is what I would do, but how to get hold of a three inch square piece of sheetrock would be my next challenge. You can buy a kit at the hardware store that comes with a screen that you mud over. The screen is screwed into the wall.

Answer 4

that sounds retarded. the best way is to get a scrap piece for a patch thinner than whats on your wall.if you have 1/2 inch on the wall get 3/8 for the patch.get the mesh tape also.secure the 3/8 in the square hole a little smaller than the hole with screws.apply the mesh tape to the perimeter and skim the whole patched area.because the 3/8 isn't as thick as the 1/2 when you skim it it will not protrude out from the wall.after t dries give it the once over with a wet sponge and blend it in.

Answer 5

I heard f one way to fix a small hole was to get a piece of cardboard thats bigger than the hole in the wall. Slip in a pencil or stick tied to a string (about 1 foot long)and punch it through the center of cardboard and pull it taught. Slightly fold the cardboard so that you can pass it through the hole in wall stick facing away from you.Now push the piece of cardboard into the hole and let it wedge inside the wall while you hold the string tight.Thus creating a back to 'mud' upon. Hold this tight while you apply the mud. When its kinda set cut off the string. I suppose this only works for smallish holes.

Answer 6

That is almost perfect. The difference is that you spread glue on the patch piece of plaster and then hold it in place with a coat hanger hooked into the center of the piece and jammed against the edges of the hole in the wall. When it has dried get the coat hanger unhooked and then spread Spackle on the glued-in piece to make the patch flush with the rest of the wall.

Answer 7

thats the way its done.
although when we were kids my brother and i would fight when my folks went out .. we often put a hole in the wall and fix it buy stuffing paper in the hole and plastering and painting over it.. once we even had to find a scrap of wall paper to match over a hole... we almost never got caught ..
anyway in your case the better you "spackle" [mud] the better the job will look ....be patient and dont paint till its smooth.

Answer 8

I have heard something like that and it sounded like it might work but I don't like to do a job twice in case it didn't work so I would just cut the hole out to the center of the studs and patch it in taping & muding the seams, sanding , paint.

Answer 9

I saw this explained on an Ask this old house episode. See if this link below helps.

Answer 10

The link below will show you how to make all types of repairs in drywall (with pictures).
Good luck!