How to Repair Bathroom Walls & Ceilings

Wall repairs require more patience than skill.

Bathroom ceilings and walls will sustain damage over time and require repairs. Hiring a handyman or contractor is costly, so having the knowledge and patience to do the job yourself is a huge benefit. For the most part, water and steam cause bathroom damage, and the repairs may be on a large scale. You may also have to perform small repairs, such as fixing screw holes from towel racks, or repairing a wall that becomes exposed when changing cabinetry.

Things You'll Need

• Drywall
• Drywall taping knives (6 inches, 8 inches and 10 inches)
• Sanding sponge
• Razor knife
• Straight edge
• Drill with screwdriver attachment
• Drywall joint compound
• Drywall topping compound
• Drywall mesh tape
• Measuring tape
• 1 1/4-inch screws
• Drywall saw or drywall router
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Assess the damage to your bathroom walls and ceiling. If the drywall is molding, you may need to remove all of the drywall from a given wall or ceiling and start from scratch. If you find the mold on or inside your walls, consult with a mold specialist, as it can be highly hazardous to your health.

2. Mark the damaged section of drywall on your wall or ceiling, using a straight edge, measuring tape and pencil. As much as possible, keep the lines straight and corners square. Cut out the marked section with a drywall saw or drywall router.

3. Measure the section you cut out of the wall, and cut a matching piece from the new sheet of drywall. Secure the new piece to the existing framing, using 1 1/4-inch screws and the drill with screwdriver attachment.

4. Apply drywall mesh tape to each edge of the new piece of drywall, laying it so that it is half on the new piece and half on the existing drywall. Use the 6-inch drywall taping knife to apply a coat of drywall joint compound. Apply it so that approximately 4 inches of compound are on each side of the tape. Allow the compound to dry.

5. Sand the drywall joint compound smooth with a sanding sponge. Apply a coat of drywall topping compound over the sanded joint compound, using the 8-inch drywall taping knife. Apply so that approximately 6 inches of compound are on each side of the tape. Allow the compound to dry and sand smooth with a sanding sponge.

6. Apply a coat of drywall topping compound over the sanded topping compound, using the 10-inch drywall taping knife. Apply so that approximately 8 inches of compound are on each side of the tape. Allow the compound to dry and sand smooth with a sanding sponge. Repeat this step as needed until the repair patch is blended into the plane of the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• For small patches, such as screw and nail holes, use spackling compound to fill the holes and then sand smooth.

• For small patches that require cutouts, consider using a thinner piece of drywall and filling the inner part of the patch to help blend the patch to the plane of the wall.