How to Fix Drywall Damage for Painting

A section of drywall is damaged and you need to repair it before you repaint the wall. There are several methods you can use to accomplish this. One is very easy and works for most small to midsize areas. With a little practice you can make the drywall look like the damage was never there.

Things You'll Need

• Small piece of drywall
• Box knife
• Measuring tape
• Sanding paper
• Drywall cement

Instructions

How to Fix Drywall Damage for Painting

1. 

   If the damaged area is extremely small you can repair it with a small amount of drywall cement. The area should be smaller than the size of a dime for this repair method. If repairing a hole, carefully fill it with drywall cement which is a semi-solid plaster you can apply with a putty knife. Fill the hole, attempting to keep the surface smooth and only slightly higher than the surface of the wall. You will need to apply the cement over several applications to allow for drying and shrinkage. if filling an indentation, smooth a small amount of cement over the area, attempting to keep it as level and smooth as possible. Once the cement dries, sand the surface smooth, remove all dust, and you are ready to paint. For slightly larger areas you will need a more substantial patch.

2. 

   Using either a box knife or a keyhole saw, cut out a square slightly larger than the damaged area. Attempt to keep the opening as square and smooth as possible. You also will also want to keep the opening as small as possible, but not smaller than 1 inch square.

3. 

   From a scrap piece of drywall cut out a square approximately 1 inch wider and taller than the hole you are to repair. With your box knife make a cut 1/2 inch from each edge of the square. Carefully break the drywall and peel it away from the front paper. Repeat this on all four sides. The remaining square should be the same size as the hole to be repaired and should have a half-inch paper flap on each side.

4. 

   Being careful not to pull the paper away from the drywall, insert the repair patch into the hole. It should fit snugly, but you do not want to force it. Carefully trim away any excess until it slides smoothly into the hole. Apply a small amount of drywall cement to the back of the flaps and press them against the drywall.

5. 

   Sparingly apply drywall cement to the outer edges and allow it to dry. Once the cement has dried use a fine sandpaper to smooth the entire area. It may be necessary to apply a second coat of cement and resand the area to achieve the smoothness you desire. Once the sanding is complete, remove all dust from the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply the drywall cement in small amounts to avoid excess sanding. You can purchase small containers of ready-to-use cement at your local hardware or home improvement store. A little cement goes a long way, so if you only have a small repair to make, purchase the smallest size available.

• Be careful not to pull the paper away from the center section of the patch as this will weaken the patch and make it much harder to work with.