About Drywall Damage

Drywall is fairly soft, and drywall damage repair is an inevitable part of preparing any room for painting. The damage can be minor, like nail pops, dings or hairline stress cracks. Removing stubborn wallpaper can cause extensive drywall damage. Repairing drywall is an easy job with the right tools and a bit of patience.

History

Drywall (also called sheetrock) didn't come into wide usage until the 1940s. Prior to that, plaster was the construction material of choice for walls and ceilings. However the old plaster and lathe system was time consuming and labor intensive. When drywall became commercially available, the low cost and ease of installation made it the wall construction material of choice. Compared to plaster, drywall is easily damaged and has lower insulation properties but the benefit of lowered construction costs trumped all else.

Function

Drywall comes in 4 by 8-foot sheets of varying thicknesses. The core is soft gypsum reinforced with fiberglass, covered by paper. Drywall is fastened to the framing, then taped and mudded for a smooth appearance. Texture may then be sprayed on, or applied by hand. If the wood used in framing is damp, nail pops appear within months as the wood dries, shrinks and forces the fasteners up. Normal settling of a house can also result in nail pops or stress cracks along the joints.

Considerations

Assess drywall damage to determine the best way to repair it. Small dings and holes are best repaired with non-shrink spackle instead of joint compound. Stress cracks may need to be retaped and coated with two or three coats of joint compound, feathering it out to blend with the surrounding surface. Large holes can be bridged with metal patches available at hardware stores and coated with drywall compound. Matching a textured wall is easy with texture patch available in spray cans. These can match spatter textures of different sizes, or skimmed with a drywall knife after application to match knockdown texture.

Prevention/Solution

There are several ways to prevent or minimize drywall damage around the home. Use baseboard or hinge mounted door stoppers to prevent door handles banging holes in the drywall. Vinyl protectors can be glued or tacked onto high traffic corners to prevent dings and chips. Installing chair railing will save walls from being banged when dining room chairs are pushed back, and wainscoat panelling is a low maintenance, attractive solution in hallways.

Expert Insight

In a well lived-in house, particularly with children, some drywall and wall damage is inevitable. There are ways to minimize the appearance of wall dings. Minor damage will be less apparent on faux painted walls, and faux paint can be easier to touch up than a solid color. Deep colors are popular, but even minor drywall damage will be glaringly obvious as the white gypsum shows through. The glossier the paint finish, the more surface irregularities will show. There are tough, scrubbable matte finishes on the market now that will protect your walls and be easier to touch up.