How to Fix Small Holes in Drywall
Patch small holes with just paper tape and joint compound
Drywall is inexpensive and easy to hang, drill into, finish, and paint, but one of the drawbacks of drywall is that it can be damaged relatively easily. Larger holes require drywall patches. Fortunately, smaller holes in drywall are easy to repair, and the fix takes little time. Using simple paper joint tape and a small amount of mud or drywall compound is how to patch a small hole in drywall.
Safety Considerations
Whenever cutting into drywall or sanding the surface, you will encounter dust and should wear a respirator that shields against fine air particulates from entering your airways. Use safety goggles to seal and protect your eyes from dust or foreign bodies.
Knowing where your electrical and plumbing lines are is essential before cutting into the wall. To be safe, shut off the electricity and cut slowly to avoid damaging lines.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Utility knife
- 4-inch drywall knife
- Drywall sanding sponge
- Clean rag
- Paintbrush
- Latex or nitrile gloves
Materials
- Paper joint tape
- Pre-mixed drywall compound
- Interior paint
Instructions
How to Fix Small Holes in Drywall
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Remove Torn Paper
Using a utility knife, carve away any stray pieces of surface paper or gypsum that might be protruding out from the surface of the wall. You need the borders of the damaged area to be flat or recessed inward before you can repair the hole.
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Apply Paper Joint Tape
Cut off two sections of paper joint tape so that each length will extend at least 2 inches beyond each side of the hole.
Smooth down a thin layer of joint compound around the hole. Place the first piece of tape across the hole and press down to fully adhere to the wall surface. Apply another thin coat of compound over the first piece of tape, then adhere the second piece in a cross-shaped pattern. Press into place, but do not overwork the joint tape, as it can tear or fray.
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Cover the Paper With Joint Compound
Using a drywall knife, carefully cover the whole area with joint compound, lightly pressing down. Extend some of the joint compound beyond the hole, then smooth it down with the drywall knife.
At this point, do not worry if the tape is visible. It will be covered with more joint compound later.
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Let the Drywall Patch Cure
Allow this first layer of joint compound to dry. Drying time may take up to two or three hours. You can speed up the joint compound drying time by ventilating the area and keeping the room warm. Once the joint compound is dry and solid, lightly sand down any high spots with a drywall sanding sponge.
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Repeat the Process
Repeat the process once or twice by adding thin compound layers, drying, and sanding between each dried coat until you have a smooth patch over the whole area.
Take care not to sand too deeply. When you have applied and sanded the final coat, the joint tape should not be visible. Too much sanding runs the risk of exposing the joint tape.
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Clean and Paint
Wipe away all sanding dust with a clean rag, and paint over the patch area with matching paint. It generally takes two coats of paint to adequately cover the patch area, as the joint compound readily absorbs paint.
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How do you fix a 2-inch hole in drywall without a patch?
If the hole is small enough, you can fix a small hole in the drywall without using a drywall patch. You can use paper tape only for small holes—no more than 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Larger holes require a different repair method that provides more support than merely bridging the hole with joint tape. Large holes will require a patch.
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How do you fix a hand sized hole in drywall?
Hand- or fist-sized holes in drywall are not uncommon and they must be fixed with a drywall patch that replaces the missing area. Pieces of broken drywall will need to be removed; they cannot be reused.
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How do you fix small holes in drywall?
You can fix tiny holes in drywall with just drywall compound or spackle, minus the paper tape. Holes in drywall that are 1/2-inch in diameter or less can be patched by pressing the joint compound or spackle directly into the hole. More than one layer is usually required.
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How big of a hole can you patch with drywall?
Holes larger than 6 inches can be repaired with a piece of drywall and drywall compound, along with wood strips installed in the wall to support the drywall edges.