Holes happen. Usually by accident, but still, an inconvenience. Luckily it’s not the hardest thing to fix and I can help you do that. I would say a large hole is about the size of an orange. Of course, there are all different sizes of holes. A very common one is when a towel rack gets pulled off the wall and there are screw holes or worse, if the screws had wall plugs and those get pulled through the drywall.
How to fix a large hole in the wall? How you fix holes in drywall will depend on the size of the hole. Smaller holes will only require drywall tape and mud where larger holes can require extra backing or even cutting out a larger piece of drywall back to the studs.
That’s a high level explanation and I am sure explaining it in more detail would be more helpful. So that’s what I will do! I am going to go over a few scenarios for you which should cover just about any type of hole that will need to be fixed. Okay, let’s do this!
How to Fix a Large Hole in the Wall?
Since the title of this article is fixing a large hole, then let’s start with that.
Large holes to me are anything larger than a grapefruit size. These holes may or may not be able to be fixed with some backing, however, if the hole is quite large your best solution is to cut the drywall back to opposing studs.
The first thing I always do with these larger holes is decide if it will be fixed as is or cut back. Let’s go through both situations.
- Sometimes larger holes can be fixed by adding some backing and then drywall and that’s it. I determine this by seeing how close the hole is to a stud. Is it worth cutting it back or can I just fix it ‘as is’. Here are the steps.
- If you feel you can fix it ‘as is’. Using a keyhole saw or utility knife do your best to square off or rectangle off the hole. Meaning cut it this way.
- Once done, measure the hole adding a few inches to the measurement. Use that measurement to cut some 1×2 or 1×4 whatever you have laying around. It can be another dimension as well. Just make sure it will fit into the hole.
- Once cut, have some drywall screws and a drill handy. Slide the piece(s) one at a time into the hole, holding in place and screwing into the drywall then wood, to draw in the wood tight. Attach as many pieces as you feel necessary. Usually one or two centered are sufficient.
- Now you can measure and cut a piece of drywall then screw it to the wood.
- Use drywall mud and tape to finish with either two or three coats.
That is about it for a moderate-size hole. Now, let’s look at the steps for fixing a very large hole.
- When I know I will be cutting the drywall back to the studs, I use a level and mark on the wall where I am cutting.
- Using a utility knife, roto-zip or keyhole saw cut the piece out. Your hole should be right up to the studs. I would now cut the drywall back about halfway across the stud so the new drywall can be attached to it. This way, no backing should be required.
- Studs are 1.5” thick so cut back about ¾”
- Once your hole is cut out, measure and cut drywall. Screw to studs. If you find the middle of the drywall feels like there is too much push in it, you could cut a piece of backing and install that. You will have to take the drywall off and put the backing in then reinstall the new piece of drywall.
How to Fix a Medium Hole in Drywall?
A medium hole is something around the size of an orange. This explanation will be very quick because we went over almost everything in the large-size hole situation.
- First thing to do is square out the hole with your choice of cutting tool.
- Measure, cut and install a piece of backing.
- Measure and cut drywall then install.
That’s it. So simple, isn’t it?!
How to Fix Small Holes in Drywall?
Small holes, to me, are holes that are left from screws or nails. I just fixed a bunch in my bathroom because my son kept pulling on the towel rack. The first area on the wall was ruined so I moved the towel rack a bit then those screws got pulled out. I then decided to just remove the towel holder completely for the time being and fix the wall. Here’s how to fix small holes in drywall.
- The first thing I do is make sure there are no loose pieces of drywall by using a utility knife and cutting that away. Sometimes you just need to take a hammer and lightly hammer on the holes to flatten them out. Making an indent is even better because you are filling in with drywall mud. It will turn out better.
- Once the area is prepped, go ahead and fill with mud and a small knife. Wipe off excess. Repeat this process a couple of times.
- Widen the mud as much as possible so when sanded, the wall will be perfectly flat.
And that is how you fix a small hole in your drywall!
How to Fix a Hole in the Wall Fast?
Using the techniques above and using a quick drying drywall mud compound, you can speed up the process of fixing holes in the wall. These quick dry or quick set compounds are widely available. If you don’t see them at your local DIY store, just ask someone.
Using these drywall muds, you could potentially patch and finish a hole within a few days. Maybe, even have it painted. Just start first thing in the morning.
How to Fix a Hole in the Wall without a Patch?
I found this question online and wanted to take the opportunity to answer it.
You can try fixing holes in the wall without using drywall tape but it really is recommended to use the tape. Chances are, wherever there is a seam, it will crack over time.
If it is just a screw hole, then you don’t need tape. Anywhere two pieces of drywall are joining always needs tape.
Do it right the first time.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Large Hole in the Wall?
It is very inexpensive to fix a hole in the wall, if you do it yourself. You need a small piece of drywall, a small amount of drywall tape and a small container of mud.
Chances are you can get some of these items from friends or family.
A tip for drywall is to drive around new areas where new construction is happening and chances are you will be able to find a piece or drywall sitting by the garbage bin that you can take.
If you have to hire the job out, it’s not super expensive but it will cost you maybe $100 or so to fix. The handyman will have to come back a couple times for each coat of mud and sanding. Unless you do the sanding yourself, then you could save a few dollars.
Conclusion
Just to wrap this up, the process in which you fix a hole in the wall is dependent on how big it is?
For larger holes, you will have to cut a larger squared off hole to repair and if your just fixing screw holes, you can just pound the hole in a bit and use mud alone to repair.
Want to learn more about drywalling?
Check out my article on How to Estimate Drywall?
Or maybe your situation is better suited for the content of this article – How to fix cracks in drywall?
