How to EASILY Repair Holes in Sheetrock Walls

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By Granath Color Works
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Typical sheetrock damage

I will explain how to quickly repair holes from doorknobs, hammers, or whatever else puts holes in your sheetrock or wallboard walls!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Small piece of sheetrock (home improvement stores DO sell small pieces!)
Utility knife
Spackle (Joint Compound)
Spackle knife
Sponge
Tape Measure

Step 1

Roughly measure the size of the hole and cut a square piece of sheetrock drywall about 2 inches bigger than the hole. This will be the "patch".
Step 2

Using any square or rectangular object that you can trace around (paperweight, playing card, etc.) that covers the hole when pressed against it, trace the shape on the wall.
Step 3

Utility knife

Use a utility knife or a drywall saw to cut the rough edges of the broken hole to the line that you traced onto the wall in the previous step.
Step 4

Using the same object from step 2, trace the same shape onto the BACK side of the sheetrock. Normally, the front side of the sheetrock is grey and the back is brownish.
Step 5

Use the utility knife to carefully cut along the traced line, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. Your cut should go through the backing paper and only slightly into the plaster material.
Step 6

Carefully "break" the sheetrock along the cut lines and peel away the backing paper and plaster material that is outside the cut lines, leaving you with a "chunk" of wall material in the middle of the patch. The "chunk" should fit into the hole in the wall.
Step 7

Apply spackle around the hole in the wall, allowing some to cover the edges of the hole, and insert the patch. The "chunk" should fit into the hole leaving you with the remaining paper portion flush against the wall. Be sure that the spackle is under all portions of the patch.
Step 8

Spackle knife

Working from the middle towards the edges, use the spackle knife to smooth the patch so that is is firmly flush against the wall. Apply more spackle over the entire patch and allow to dry before using a damp sponge to smooth before painting.