Ken Rader tells you how to repair sheetrock

Some Basics that you will find helpful
By:  Ken Rader, Professional Painter in Fayetteville Arkansas

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It wouldn't be at all uncommon for you to find a need to repair drywall in your home that has been damaged or you may find an occasional protruding drywall nail head or screw head that will require attention. If you choose to repair these damaged places, you might need a few tips. Here are 4 steps that will be of help to you in repairing damaged drywall.
Step 1 – Fill Dents or Holes

If your dent is shallow—that is, if it is ½" or less in depth—you will be able to patch it using only joint compound. If it is deeper, or if you have a hole through the drywall, you will need to apply a patch over the damaged area. For a shallow dent, spread a layer of mud (joint compound) over the dent. Then, cut a small piece of drywall paper or fiberglass screen and press it onto the drywall surface. The patch should cover the hole but should also leave a flat, even surface. Using your joint knife or putty knife, spread another layer of joint compound over the screen and allow the compound to dry.
You can use fast setting drywall compound.  It comes in a bag and is designed to set up and dry in 20 minutes, 45 minutes and 90 minutes.  I would recommend using either the 45 minute or 90 minute mix.  You have to be really fast if you want to use the 20 minute stuff.  It will set up in your mud pan and is a real job to get it cleaned out.  They are all easy sand and so you can fill and put on the final coat in just a couple of hours.

Step 2 – Apply Compound a Second Time
When the compound covering the patch is dry and you begin sanding, you may discover that the patch surface is slightly indented. If it is, apply another coat of compound and level its surface by drawing the flat edge of your joint knife across it. Be sure the surface is level. When it has dried and after you have sanded you find that the surface is still indented, apply another layer of compound. You can use regular joint compound for the final coating.  Just add a little water to it so that it will smooth easier.  Thin coats dry pretty fast.

Step 3 – Repair Protruding Nail Heads or Screw Heads
When finding a protruding nail or screw head, test it to determine if it is loose or whether it has simply not been driven deeply enough into the drywall and joint. Occasionally, a nail or screw will be driven into the drywall but will miss the stud into which it should have been driven. Pull these nails out of the drywall and fill the hole as described in Step 1. If the nail (or screw) is driven into the wall stud, but is not driven below the drywall surface, use a hammer or screwdriver to hammer it in or drive it further into the wall stud. The head will need to be sunk below the surface of the drywall. Then fill the depression with compound as described in Step 1.  It is usually best to use a drywall screw next to a nail that has popped.  This will keep the nail from popping again.  Be sure and recess the screw head into the drywall and fill the area with compound.


Step 4 – Sand and Paint
When the compound is dry the color in the center will be the same light shade as the color of the compound at the outer edge and you need to use your sand block and sandpaper to sand the surface. Using the sand block will be necessary to insure that the entire surface of the damaged area is flat and is the same level as the surrounding surface.  You can do what some describe as wet sanding.  Use a big sponge like they used for cleaning tile and lightly go over the compound.  Work with it just a little and you will see how you can remove some of it just like sanding, only without the dust. Finally, wipe the dust left from sanding and apply a coat of primer.  Use a premium acrylic primer that will dry in about one hour and you can paint it within 2 hours. When the primer is dry, apply a coat of paint that matches the rest of the wall.

Read more: We offer several articles that will help you make repairs, paint, wallpaper, strip wallpaper and choose you style of decor.

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