How To Repair A Dent In Drywall

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Drywall is pretty tough, only an accidental elbow or a doorknob slam can create dents in information technology that are hard to ignore. Fortunately, fixing a dent in your wall isn't tough, and y'all can DIY information technology with just a few tools and an hour of labor. Continue reading to learn how y'all tin patch a small paring that'south less than ^ane⁄_two  in (1.iii cm) wide or a large dent that'southward more than ⁱ⁄_two  in (i.iii cm) wide all on your ain.

Things You lot Should Know

• Set pocket-sized wall dents with drywall mud and a plaster grid.
• For large dents, utilise a drywall patch kit.
• Utilize 100-grit sandpaper to smooth the repair before painting over information technology.

1. one

   Polish on drywall mud with a putty knife. ^[ane] Pick up a tub of drywall mud and catch a putty pocketknife from the hardware store. Scoop up a small glob of drywall mud, then use your putty knife to spread information technology over the paring. You don't need a ton of drywall mud—just add together a sparse layer to cover the paring completely.^[2]

   • This method works all-time for small dents that are ¹⁄_two  in (ane.three cm) across or less.

2. 2

   Use a plaster filigree for reinforcement. Buy a sheet of plaster grid and cut out a minor square, but large plenty to encompass the paring. While the drywall mud is notwithstanding wet, stick the plaster grid onto the wall to cover and reinforce the paring.^[3]

   • Using a plaster filigree is optional, just it volition help reinforce your wall and foreclose new damage in the hereafter.

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3. 3

   Embrace the plaster filigree with more than drywall mud. Grab your putty knife again and add more drywall mud in a sparse layer over the grid. Add only enough then you can't see the plaster grid anymore, and use your putty knife to smooth out any lumps in the mud.^[iv]

4. 4

   Wait for the putty to dry. ^[5] Drywall mud usually takes well-nigh 24 hours to dry. It's of import to allow the drywall mud cure completely; otherwise, your next steps could damage your wall even further. To speed up the drying process, betoken a fan at the wall overnight.^[six]

5. 5

   Sand the putty until it's affluent with the wall. ^[7] Before yous starting time sanding, put on an N95 mask to avoid breathing in any drywall dust. Grab a canvas of 100- or 120-grit sandpaper, so sand the drywall mud until it's flush with the wall. Accept your time, and make certain the wall is really smooth before you motility on.^[viii]

   • If you want to ensure that your patch task isn't noticeable at all, you tin add together another layer of drywall mud after the first circular of sanding. Let it dry for 24 hours, then do a final round of sanding again to smooth it all out.

6. 6

   Paint the wall to match the colour. Pick up a bucket of paint that matches your wall color. Use a paint brush or a roller to paint the entire area so it looks seamless and smooth. Once the pigment dries, you won't be able to see your patch job anymore!^[9]

   • If you aren't sure what the exact color of your wall is, chip off a small sliver of paint and take it to a hardware store. They'll be able to match the paint color precisely and so you don't have to gauge.
   • If your wall is textured, pick up a can of wall texture spray and spray information technology over the patched area before you add paint.^[10]

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1. 1

   Buy a drywall patch kit from the hardware store. Most kits come with a stencil and a drywall patch that you can cut to match the size of your verbal dent. Y'all tin find these in the drywall department at your local hardware store, or y'all can search online. Some of them also come with drywall mud and a putty knife, only if yours doesn't, be sure to choice those things up at the store before you start.^[11]

   • Large dents are whatsoever dents that are wider than ^ane⁄₂  in (ane.3 cm) across.

2. ii

   Apply the stencil to cut a hole around the dent. Take hold of your drywall patch stencil and use a pencil to draw a circle around the dent. Cutting the drywall with a box cutter to remove the dent from the wall. And then, pry the cut circle of drywall off of your wall and throw information technology away.^[12]

   • If your drywall patch kit didn't come up with a stencil, that's okay! Just cut a circle around the dent with a box cutter. You'll be able to alter the drywall patch if you need to.^[13]

3. three

   Spread drywall mud around the inside of the circle. ^[14] Grab a putty knife and scoop upwards a thick glob of drywall mud. Spread the mud all over the perimeter of the circle, smoothing it out onto the wall virtually 2 in (5.i cm) in all directions. It'southward okay if you get a piffling bit of mud on the inside of the drywall, too.^[15]

   • The drywall mud here acts equally an anchor to concord your drywall patch in place.

4. 4

   Attach the patch to the wall with more than drywall mud. Take hold of your drywall patch and place it over the hole in the wall. Scoop up more drywall mud, then add together a thin layer over the entire drywall patch. Smooth the mud out from the patch about 2 in (5.1 cm) to actually anchor it on.^[16]

   • If you need to cut your patch, practice that with scissors outset earlier putting information technology on the wall. Cut a circle that's about 2 in (5.1 cm) larger than the hole in your wall.
   • To prevent the patch from falling back into the wall, avoid pressing too hard directly on the center of the circle. Focus on smoothing the drywall mud out over the edges of the patch and onto the wall around information technology.

5. five

   Wait for the expanse to dry out, so sand the wall. Drywall mud usually takes about 24 hours to dry. Once the area is completely dry, employ 100- or 120-grit sandpaper to completely sand the entire area until it's smooth. Wearable an N95 mask when y'all sand drywall, every bit the dust isn't great for your lungs.^[17]

   • Sanding the wall is the longest function of this unabridged process. Sanding by manus can take up to 30 minutes.

6. six

   Paint the wall to match the color. Pick up a gallon of pigment that matches your wall color exactly. Use a paint brush or a paint roller to cover upwardly the patched area, then let information technology dry. If y'all're using a lighter paint color, you might need to add multiple coats.^[eighteen]

   • If your drywall is textured, grab a can of texture spray from the hardware store and spray it over the patched expanse. Look for it to dry, so add paint on meridian.^[19]

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• Drywall dust can crusade throat and airway irritation. Always clothing an N95 mask when sanding drywall.^[20]

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Things You'll Need

• Drywall mud
• Putty pocketknife
• Plaster grid
• 100- or 120-grit sandpaper
• N95 mask
• Paint brush or roller
• Pigment

• Drywall patch kit
• Pencil
• Box cutter
• Drywall mud
• Putty knife
• 100- or 120-dust sandpaper
• N95 mask
• Paint brush or roller
• Pigment

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