During the renovation of my fixer-upper built in 1972, I had to repair all kinds of drywall damage – so I know a thing or two about the process of fixing drywall.
Whether you have small dents, medium-sized holes, or large gashes in your walls, repairing them is a manageable DIY project for most homeowners. In this article, I am going to show you how I repair small, medium, and large holes in drywall using various methods (California Patch, Eclipse Patch, etc.) No matter what size hole you have in your drywall, this guide will show you the fundamentals to repair it.
If you are more of a visual learner, you can watch my “How to Repair ANY Size Hole in Drywall” YouTube video linked below. This video will cover everything in this article in a detailed video format.
Tools and Materials Needed to Repair Drywall
- Putty knife (also know as a drywall knife)
- Utility knife
- Sandpaper (120 grit)
- Drywall (joint) compound and/or spackle
- Drywall patches
- Drywall Joint Tape (Mesh or paper)
- Drywall screws
- Screwdriver or drill
- Drywall (jab) saw
- Paint and primer
- Paintbrush or roller
Joint Compound VS Spackle
Before getting into the details, I want to address the age old drywall question: IS JOINT COMPOUND THE SAME AS SPACKLE?
Well, Joint compound and spackle are both used in drywall repair and finishing, but they have distinct differences in composition, application, and use cases.
Joint compound (also know as drywall “mud”) is made from gypsum dust mixed with water and is a bit more “runny” (less viscous) than spackle. Typically, joint compound is used for large drywall repairs that involve taping, blocking, etc. You can buy premixed joint compound or you can mix your own by adding water to a dry mix.
Spackle includes gypsum dust AND binders (vinyl or acrylic base), which makes it more flexible and easier to sand. Spackle, in my opinion, is easier to apply than joint compound and it is ideal for small drywall repairs like nail holes, dents, etc.
Here is a summary on when to use joint compound VS when to use spackle.
Joint Compound: Best for large-scale drywall projects, embedding tape, and creating a smooth finish over drywall seams. It has a longer drying time and is applied in multiple coats.
Spackle: Best for quick, small repairs on walls, like filling nail holes or minor dents. It dries faster and typically requires fewer coats.
With that out of the way, let’s talk about repair drywall!
Repairing Small Holes (Nail Holes, Dents, and Dings)
Repairing small holes in drywall is SUPER easy. Here are the steps:
Clean the Area
Start by cleaning the area around the hole. Remove any rough or protruding edges using a utility knife, etc. Then, use a damp cloth to remove any dust or debris. This ensures the joint compound or spackle will adhere properly.
Apply Drywall Compound or Spackle
Using a putty knife, apply a small amount of drywall compound or spackle over the hole (personally, I think that spackle works better for small holes). Spread it smoothly and thinly over the surface, making sure to fill the hole completely.
Let It Dry and Sand the Surface
Allow the compound to dry completely. This can take a few hours, depending on the size of the hole and the type of spackle / joint compound is used. Once the compound is dry, sand the area lightly with 120 grit sandpaper until it’s smooth and flush with the surrounding wall. If needed, apply a second coat of spackle and sand again. However, one coat is typically sufficient for small holes.
Paint
Prime and paint the repaired area to match the rest of the wall. This will blend the repair and make it virtually invisible.
Repairing Medium Holes (1-4 Inches)
Repairing Medium holes in drywall requires a few more steps than repairing small holes – but it is still not very difficult. Here are a few different methods for repairing medium holes in drywall.
Method 1 – Mesh Tape Drywall Repair
If you are trying to repair a drywall hole that is around 1”-2.5”, the repair process will be similar to the method used repair small holes, expect you will need to include mesh tape in the repair.
Clean the Area
Remove any loose drywall around the hole. Clean the area with a damp cloth (to remove dust).
Apply Mesh Tape
Place a piece of self-adhesive mesh tape over the hole. This will provide a base for the compound to adhere to and help reinforce the repair. If your mesh tape is not self-adhesive, first apply a small coat of drywall compound (mud) on the surrounding drywall and then press the mesh tape into the mud.
Apply Drywall Compound Over the Mesh Tape
Using a putty knife, apply a layer of drywall compound over the mesh tape. Spread it evenly and feather the edges to blend with the surrounding wall. Basically, you will want to “build up” a layer of joint compound over the repair and then gradually feather it out to the surrounding drywall.
Let It Dry and Sand the Surface
Allow the compound to dry completely. This can take a few hours, depending on the size of the hole and the type of spackle / joint compound is used. Once the compound is dry, sand the area lightly with 120 grit sandpaper until it’s smooth and flush with the surrounding wall.
Apply a Second Coat (if necessary)
If the first coat shrinks or doesn’t cover the mesh tape fully, apply a second coat of compound. Let it dry and sand it smooth. As the drywall repairs get larger, the likelihood of needing a second coat of mud increases.
Paint
Once the repair is sanded smooth, prime and paint the area to match the rest of the wall.
Method 2 – California Patch Drywall Repair
The “California Patch,” also known as the “Hot Patch,” is a drywall repair technique used to fix medium to large holes. It involves cutting a piece of drywall slightly larger than the hole, then scoring and snapping the back paper around the patch to create a border of paper. The front paper remains intact, acting as a “built-in” tape. The patch is then inserted into the hole, with the paper border adhering to the surrounding wall using drywall compound. This method provides a seamless repair without needing additional mesh tape, making it an efficient and effective solution for drywall damage. Here are the steps to using the California patch to repair drywall.
Step 1: Cut a rectangles around the hole that is 1”-2” larger than the hole on all sides. You want to ensure that all of the damaged drywall is removed.
Step 2: Using a patch piece of drywall, cut a rectangle that is 2” larger than the drywall hole that you created.
Step 3: Mark the patch on four sides where it intersects with the hole. I recommend that you flip the patch over and mark the back of the patch using a utility knife. Next, use a utility knife and a straight edge to “score” the drywall, cutting through the paper face only. After scoring the paper face on the back of the patch, peel away the paper on the back and the gypsum in the middle, leaving only the paper on the front face of the patch.
Step 4: Test fit the patch into the hole to ensure that it fits in place properly and that you have approximately 2” of paper overlap on the existing wall. After confirming fit, remove the California Patch from the wall.
Step 5: Apply joint compound to the back of the patch and the surrounding drywall and press the California Patch into the hole and press the paper into the mud on the perimeter of the hole.
Step 6: Use a drywall knife to apply additional joint compound over the repair and feather it out towards the egest.
Step 7: Allow the joint compound to dry and then sand the repair smooth using 120 grit sandpaper.
Step 8: Apply a second coat (and third coat, if necessary) of mud to the repair. Build up mud over the repair and feather it out towards the edges – trying to blend the repair into the surrounding drywall. Once you are happy with the repair, prime and paint the repair to match the surrounding wall color.
Method 3 – Drywall Patch Kit
If you are looking for an easy method to patch medium holes in drywall, I recommend that you check out “Repair Patch Kits” that include everything you need to make the repair in one package. Overall these drywall patch kits are a super convenient all-in-one solution for repairing small to medium drywall holes. Here’s a short summary on how to use a drywall patch kit to repair a hole in drywall.
Prepare the Area:
Clean the area around the hole, removing any loose debris or paint.
Apply the Patch:
Peel the backing off the adhesive patch included in the kit and place it over the hole, pressing firmly to ensure it sticks well. If your patch kit does not have an adhesive patch, apply the provided spackle to the back of the patch and the surrounding drywall and the press it in place over the hole.
Cover with Compound / Spackle:
Using the putty knife provided, spread the included drywall compound over the patch, smoothing it out to blend with the surrounding wall. Feather the edges for a seamless finish.
Let It Dry:
Allow the compound to dry completely as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Sand Smooth:
Once dry, sand the area with the provided-grit sandpaper until it’s smooth and flush with the wall.
Prime and Paint:
Prime and paint the repaired area to match the rest of the wall.
A drywall repair kit simplifies the repair process, providing all the necessary tools and materials in one package – which makes the process super convenient if you only have one small hole to repair.
Method 4 – Eclipse Drywall Patch (only requires paint!)
The Eclipse Drywall Patch is designed for quick and easy repairs of small to medium-sized holes in drywall. All you need it the Eclipse Patch and paint (no drywall compound, spackle, or sanding needed) Here’s a short summary on how to use it:
Clean the Area:
Remove any loose debris and clean the area around the hole.
Apply the Eclipse Patch:
Peel the adhesive backing off the Eclipse patch and place it over the hole, pressing firmly to ensure it sticks securely to the wall.
Apply the first coat of paint:
After applying the Eclipse patch, paint over the entire patch using the same paint color as the surrounding drywall.
Let It Dry and Peel Off the First Layer:
Allow the first coat of paint to dry and then peel away the tab on the Eclipse patch – removing the first layer.
Apply the Second and Third Coats of Paint:
Apply the second coat of paint over the patch and allow it to dry. Apply a third coat, fourth coat, etc. of paint until the patch is indistinguishable from the rest of the wall.
The Eclipse Drywall Patch is a very quick and easy way to repair small and medium sized holes in drywall, but it does not have as much durability as the other methods described herein.
Repairing Large Holes (Larger than 4”-24” Inches)
Large holes in drywall require additional steps to repair. However, the overall process is rather simple:
Assess the Location of the Hole
Large holes in drywall will almost always required a drywall patch and repair panels (approximately 2’x2’). You can pick up a replacement drywall patch panel at your local big box store. However, there are various thicknesses of drywall (e.g. 3/8”, ½”, 5/8”, etc.). Measure the thickness of the surrounding drywall and be sure to purchase a repair drywall panel with the same thickness.
The location of the large drywall hole will dictate the type of blocking / support you will need to install behind the repair panel. Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs (typically located 16” on center behind the drywall) on either side of the drywall hole. If it makes sense based on the location of the drywall hole, I recommend that you use the wall studs to serve as the support backing for the drywall patch. If you have a smaller hole in between the studs, you may want to install additional blocking (scrap lumber) behind the repair. This will make more sense in the next section.
Cut a Drywall Patch
Once you have decided on how the drywall repair panel will be supported, you will need to cut out the damaged section of drywall.
Use a tape measure (or use the repair panel as template) to mark the cutout in the drywall. Be sure to mark out at least 2” of undamaged drywall on each side of the hole. You want to ensure that all of the damaged drywall gets cut out.
If you are relying on an existing wall stud for backing, you will want to ensure that cut line runs vertical down the center of the stud.
Next, cut out the damaged drywall using a jab saw, oscillating tool, utility knife, etc. Be sure to use caution when cutting the drywall to ensure that you don’t damage pipes, wires, etc. that might be hiding behind the drywall.
Attach the Patch
Once the damaged drywall has been cut out, place the drywall patch over the hole to ensure that it fits.
If you are installing supplemental blocking to support the drywall repair, hold the blocking in place and screw through the existing drywall and into the blocking. You want to ensure that all corners of the repair have solid support blocking for the repair patch.
If you are using an existing stud(s) to support the drywall repair patch, simply screw through the repair patch and into the wall stud(s). Once the drywall repair patch is secured in place with a few drywall screws, ensure that the repair patch sits flush with the surrounding wall.
Apply Mesh Tape
At this stage, apply a thin layer of joint compound around the entire perimeter of the repair, filling the seams. Next, apply fiberglass mesh tape or drywall tape around the edges of the patch to reinforce the seams and to cover the seam (this will prevent drywall cracks from surfacing in the future).
You can also use fiberglass mesh tape in lieu of the paper drywall tape.
Apply Drywall Compound
Once the tape is in place, you will want to apply additional joint compound over the entire repair area and over the tape. Using a putty knife, apply a layer of drywall compound over the patch and mesh tape. Spread it evenly and feather the edges. Essentially, you want to build up the repair with joint compound (~1/8”) and then smooth it out at the edges so that it seamlessly blends into the surrounding drywall.
Let It Dry
After applying the first coat of drywall joint compound, allow it to dry completely.
Sand the Surface
Once the joint compound has dried, sand the repaired area smooth with medium (120 grit) and then fine-grit (200 grit) sandpaper until it’s smooth and level with the wall.
Apply Additional Coats
Typically, large drywall repairs will require 2 (or sometimes even 3) coats. Apply additional coats of drywall compound as needed, allowing each coat to dry and sanding between coats until the patch is seamless. If you are new to working with drywall, it is expected that you will need a few extra coats to get everything perfect – and that’s OK!.
Paint
Once you are happy with how the repair looks, prime and paint the area to match the rest of the wall. If you don’t have textured drywall, you’re done! If you do have textured drywall, read on!
Matching Drywall Texture (Orange Peel, Knockdown, Popcorn, etc.)
If you are repairing drywall on TEXTURED Drywall (orange peel texture, knockdown texture, etc.) or a popcorn ceiling, the drywall patch will not match the surrounding texture drywall.
Fortunately, there are a bunch of different spray textures that you can purchase from any big box store that will solve this issue. Simply purchase a spray texture that matches the drywall texture of your existing drywall and shake the product in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Next, hold the product 12”-24” away from the repair and spray the texture over the drywall repair patch. The density of texture you apply will depend on the surrounding drywall texture. Basically, try to match the surrounding drywall texture as best as possible. Once the drywall spray texture has dried, paint over the repair. After painting, your textured drywall repair is complete!
For more information on repairing textured drywall, I highly recommend that you want the last few minute of my drywall repair video linked at the beginning of this article.
Conclusion
Repairing drywall holes, whether they are small, medium, or large, is a straightforward process that can be tackled by the average homeowner with the right tools and materials. Thanks to spray texture, repairing holes in textured drywall (like a popcorn ceiling) is also relatively easy.With a bit of patience and attention to detail, you can restore your walls to their original condition and maintain the aesthetic appeal of your home. Happy repairing!
Thanks!
DISCLAIMER: This is a reference guide only. Consult local code requirements. Links included in this article might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide, I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting ATimprovements so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!