Drywall Repair Las Vegas is messy and time-consuming work, especially for large projects. It’s also important to be careful not to cut into a wall that contains electrical cords or plumbing lines.

Small holes and dents can be fixed by filling them with a thin layer of spackling paste or joint compound, which is known as drywall mud. After applying several coats and sanding until the patch is flush with the surrounding wall, paint over the area to hide your work.

Small holes happen for a variety of reasons. A hammer or drill accidentally punches through the wall; a child knocks over a picture frame and creates a hole; or a doorknob gets loose and wiggles through a thin layer of drywall. Even though a hole in drywall might be unsightly, there are ways to fix it so that the repair is virtually undetectable when finished.

For a small drywall hole, use spackle or a drywall patch kit (the 3M high-strength kit is pictured above). If you have the right tools, this type of repair can be done in one step. Make sure to clean the area and remove any nails or screws that were used in the hole. Then, using a putty knife or spackle brush, apply a thin coat of spackling compound (or joint compound) over the entire surface. Be sure to cover the entire area of the hole and surrounding drywall, as well as the edge of the mesh patch. Allow the spackling to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once the spackling is dry, sand the entire surface of the drywall patch until it is smooth and flush with the rest of the wall. Then you’re ready to paint.

If you have a medium-sized hole, you can use the same technique. If the hole is larger than 4 inches across, you’ll need to add a brace, as shown in this video. The brace is made from small strips of wood installed on the studs, as well as a new piece of drywall that is cut and attached to those boards.

If the damaged area is in a corner, you may need to add a furring strip to ensure that your drywall patch is securely fastened. If the hole is located near a utility line, it’s important that you know where the wires run before you cut into the wall. This will help you avoid cutting into them or drilling into the line, which could cause a hazardous situation. Depending on the location of the hole, you may also need to install a corner bead or replace the entire piece of drywall.

Large Holes

Small holes in drywall caused by nails, screws, picture hangers, or wall anchors are easy to patch with a little mud and a putty knife. Larger holes from doorknobs, door hinges, or other hardware require a bit more prep work but can also be repaired easily with a few tools and the right materials.

Larger holes can become entry points for critters and are unsightly to look at. They may also affect the structural integrity of a wall.

If you have a hole in your wall that’s larger than 6 inches across, consider using one of the drywall patch kits available from stores. These kits are designed to fix a hole in the drywall that’s about the size of a doorknob and come with self-adhesive mesh patches. This type of repair is quick and easy to accomplish, but because the patch goes on top of the drywall rather than inside it, the surrounding area will remain slightly raised after the repair.

The other option for fixing a larger hole in your drywall is to use a wall patch kit that includes a piece of drywall that can be installed over the damaged area. This is a better choice than using self-adhesive patching tape over the hole because it will be much easier to clean, according to the reviewers at Consumer Reports.

Before installing the drywall patch, mark the edges of the hole on the back side with a framing square. Then cut a piece of drywall that’s about two times as wide and four inches longer than the hole, according to the product instructions. Unlike small holes, this piece of drywall will have the front paper intact.

Once you’ve cut the drywall patch to fit the hole, place it in the opening and screw it into the framing strips. Then apply a thin coat of joint compound over the patch, spreading it evenly and working it in thoroughly. Wait at least 24 hours for the compound to dry, sand it, and apply a second coat if necessary.

Dents

Dents in drywall are a common household problem, but they are also an easy one for do-it-yourselfers to fix. The key to a good repair job is to get the surface as smooth as possible so that when it is painted, it looks like it never happened. A few basic tools and materials are all that are needed to do this, and they can be found for under $50 at your local home improvement store.

For small dents or holes that don’t go through the wallboard, you can use spackle or drywall joint compound (also known as drywall mud). It is best to apply a thin coat, so be sure to spread it out evenly with a putty knife that is designed for repairing drywall rather than a narrow utility blade.

Before you begin, locate the studs in the wall where the hole is located by using a hand level and a pencil to trace vertical lines across the surface. This will help you identify the location of the stud and avoid cutting into pipes or electrical wires.

If you do cut into a wire or pipe, immediately turn off the power to the area at the circuit breaker box or in your home’s junction box. This will prevent an expensive and dangerous electric shock.

For larger dents, you can cover them with a patch kit that has a metal panel and self-adhesive tape. These kits are available at most hardware stores. If you choose to do this, follow the instructions on the package for preparing the area for the patch. It is recommended that you apply a piece of fiberglass mesh tape over the patch before you apply the drywall mud.

Once the drywall has a chance to dry, use a putty knife or sanding block and sandpaper to smooth the patched area so that it is as smooth as possible. After sanding, you can touch up the spot with a bit of paint to make it look as if it never happened.

For dents or holes in a room that have already been painted, use color-matched paint to ensure a seamless match.

Cracks

Even well-installed drywall may experience cracks over time. These cracks can be cosmetic, or they may indicate a structural problem. It is important to recognize when a crack is cosmetic and when it is structural so that the correct repairs can be made.

The most common type of drywall crack is one that travels horizontally across a wall seam. These cracks are commonly found in areas that see a lot of wear, such as near doors or windows. Horizontal cracks should be patched with drywall compound.

It is also possible for drywall to crack from the stress of expansion and contraction. If you live in a hot climate or in an area that has a lot of temperature fluctuations, you may notice that your drywall is expanding and contracting more than it should. This can cause the drywall to pull away from the wall. If you have a large amount of horizontal cracking in your drywall, it is a good idea to contact a professional drywall company to determine if there is a larger issue that needs to be addressed.

Another way that drywall can crack is from water damage. This can be caused by a leaky window or roof or by a problem with the attic water line. If the drywall is not repaired quickly, it can become saturated and deteriorate, resulting in cracking.

Drywall contractors should always check the drywall after water damage for signs of mold. If there is mold present, it should be cleaned and treated before any repairs are made. If you suspect a water problem in your home, it is best to call a drywall contractor right away to assess the situation and make the appropriate repairs.

If you have a small crack, you can usually just fill it with some caulk or spackle and paint over it. However, this is not the best option in the long term. The crack will still be there, and it is likely to reappear as a result of the normal expansion and contraction that occur in your home throughout the year. For this reason, it is important to use a product such as drywall tape in addition to drywall compound when repairing these types of cracks.