How to Fix Torn Drywall Facing
Torn drywall facing can be repaired, but you take your time. Loose bits of paper will eventually cause bubbles to appear, so the key is to focus on the initial surface preparations. Move slowly and carefully. Try not to cause further damage by peeling away paper that is not already torn. If the drywall is wet, wait until it dries before removing the torn facing. Wet drywall tears easily and you will end up with far more damage to repair. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Utility knife
- Sandpaper (100 and 150 grit)
- 12-inch drywall knife
- Joint compound
Instructions
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1
Peel away all the loose material you can, but don't cause more damage. Sometimes the drywall facing just keeps peeling more and more. If this seems to be happening, use a utility knife to score around the area that has the torn facing. This will prevent the damage from spreading farther.
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2
Sand the area using 100-grit sandpaper. Use a circular motion so that the paper bits twist off. Do not sand too hard. The goal is to remove only the loose paper, not to remove all the paper. Leave the area as smooth as possible.
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3
Lay a thick coat of joint compound over the entire area. Use a 12-inch drywall knife. Leave the area as smooth as possible. Allow your work to dry.
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4
Cut out any bubbles that appear by scoring around them with a utility knife and then prying them out. Sand the entire area with 100-grit sandpaper. Remove all ridges and tool marks.
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5
Lay another thick coat of joint compound over the entire area with your 12-inch drywall knife. Allow it to dry.
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6
Check for new bubbles and cut them out if necessary. Sand the entire area around the cutouts with 100-grit sandpaper.
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Lay a thin coat of joint compound over the entire area with your 12-inch drywall knife. Work in small sections, applying some joint compound and then wiping it away. Allow it to dry.
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Repeat the sanding/coating process until the area is smooth and ready for paint. For the final sanding, use 150-grit sandpaper instead of 100-grit.
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Tips & Warnings
If you find the joint compound difficult to work with, you can thin it by adding room-temperature water.
Use quality tools. Cheap tools cause more problems than they fix.
A halogen light will make your job easier. Use it to check for bubbles after each coat.
If the room is too humid, try putting a fan in the room to circulate the air.
