Patching Drywall....you can do it!

Patching Drywall....you CAN do it! Patching drywall is easy....once you know the steps. Patching your drywall also requires using the proper materials....that is, if you're patching the drywall area the same day. Do you have 3 days for patching your drywall? Neither do I! That's why it's important to use the right materials.

I recommend using webbing tape for patching your drywall. This tape has an adhesive on the back of it so it will stick to the wall without using sheetrock mud first....cool! Use the webbing tape over the open seams or hole areas. Apply it, wipe it down, & you're ready to install the sheetrock mud. That's it.

Patching drywall requires using the right sheetrock mud (for a one day turn-a-round). The product to use is called "quickset" because it sets up "quick". It's a non-shrinking material when it dries so this makes patching drywall a snap because you can do your entire patch "the same day".

The quickset doesn't take very long to dry so you can apply the next coat soon after the first coat dries. You can purchase the quickset in different "minute" increments at the store. I would suggest you use something like 30 minute mud. It comes in a dry form so look for the bags of product at the store. If you have any questions, talk to your local hardware associate.

Apply 2 coats of quickset to your patching drywall area. The first coat will only take a few minutes to harden up enough to then put on the next coat. You don't have to wait (between coats) a full 30 minutes....just until the material is hard enough that you can scrape off the excess ridges before applying your next coat. 30 minutes (if you use the "30 Easy Sand Material") is how long the material will dry 100% but you can go over it before 30 minutes, as explained.

You can use 20 minute, 45 minute, 90 minute, or even 5 minute quickset if you want. I was just suggesting 30 minute for a happy medium is all. They're all good & patching drywall can still be accomplished in a day (just a bit of a time difference depending on what minute material you decide to use).

Once you have applied the 2 coats of quickset to your patching drywall area, you will now use a different mud to complete your project. Yes, you now have to apply one more coat of material. A third coat as it were. You will use a premixed wet mud material. You can either use "all purpose" or "topping" material you'll find at your local hardware store. This will be used for your 3rd coat (better known as the skim coat).

Apply a thin layer of this material over your patching drywall area. Skim over the area making the overall patching drywall area larger so you can bridge this material further over into your existing wall area.

You need to use this product over your quickset so the paint will cover properly, at your patching drywall area, or your patch will stand out & it will look like you didn't know what you were doing. Quickset material is very pourous & will not take paint very good (meaning....your patch will show!) Now you know better don't you?

You have now completed your patching drywall lesson, other than sanding, & you can do that just before you paint your patching drywall area. Don't be afraid to use quickset as it's easy to use. It takes just a bit longer since you have to mix it up with water but it's not a problem. Plus the remaining quickset you don't use, will store forever....pretty much, since it's in the dry form. Next time you need it, whip it out, mix it up, & you're ready to go. A little bit goes a long way.

Patching drywall yourself just takes a little knack & you'll just keep getting better & better the more patches you do. You'll always learn more the next time you do a patch on your drywall so get started. It will give you a sense of accomplishment plus you will save some money too, since you won't have to call in the pros. A who couldn't use some extra cash right about now?

Patching drywall is a fun project. You can do it. Step in & get your feet wet!

Click here for some great tips on painting your sheetrock patch

Patch On!

VideoJoeKnows

Sheetrock Repair....what tape do I use?

Sheetrock Repair....what tape do I use? Does it really matter what tape I use to do a sheetrock repair? It depends on how many sheetrock repairs you will be making. If you are doing alot of little sheetrock repairs, I would suggest using a webbing tape. Here's another reason:

Webbing tape comes with an adhesive on the back of it. You simply put the webbing tape on your sheetrock repair area & you are ready to apply the sheetrock mud. It's a pretty simple process & one that keeps your hands clean from the sheetrock mud you will be applying as you don't put any mud on until you have completed putting on the webbing tape.

I usually put the tape on then use a 4" sheetrock putty knife to cut the end of the tape with. Unroll & put the tape on your sheetrock repair area then place your 4" knife on the tape end. Hold the remaining roll of tape at a 45 degree angle & quickly "rip" it off. This may take you a couple of times to master but you'll get the hang of it. Now gently wipe down the applied tape with your knife. That's it.

If you have an open seam area at your sheetrock repair (I'm talking a fairly large open seam), you might want to think about applying 2 overlapping layers of the webbing tape. This will give it a little more support than just one layer. Once you apply the sheetrock mud to the sheetrock repair area, the mud will penetrate through the little holes of the webbing tape & will make a good bond to this area.

You can even patch over large sheetrock repair areas like an unused light switch or old electrical plug location. You will want to put several overlapping layers of webbing tape here. Apply the sheetrock mud & presto. Make sure you apply at least two coats of mud over this sheetrock repair area to get a great bond, then apply a final thin layer of sheetrock mud over that (called a skim coat).

Read my article/post: "Drywall patch.....what material do I use" for installing "quickset" to your patch areas (as a suggestion). For all your sheetrock repairs, webbing tape is the way to go, hands down.

Yeah, you can use paper tape for your sheetrock repairs. You have to install the mud first then apply the tape then wipe the tape down. The trick here is making sure you have applied enough sheetrock mud to your sheetrock repair area before applying the tape, as you do not want any air bubbles under the tape or your sheetrock repair area will have ripples in it when you are done.

You may get some sheetrock mud on your hands while doing the paper tape process & once this happens, it starts getting worse (depending on how many sheetrock repair areas you will be completing). I like to keep my hands clean, when completing sheetrock repairs, & don't like to stop & start, stop & start between tape, mud, tape, mud, if you know what I mean.

The webbing tape will accomplish the same thing but cleaner & in some cases, you will get a stronger sheetrock repair. Paper tape also will not properly cover large sheetrock repair areas like old electrical box locations or gapping holes in your sheetrock. Now you're seeing what I'm talking about huh? Webbing tape just makes so much more sense for your sheetrock repairs......doesn't it?

Click here for some painting tips to paint your sheetrock repair

Patch On!

VideoJoeKnows