Whether you’re a renter navigating the quirks of a leased space or a homeowner putting your personal touch on a property, chances are you’ve encountered the pesky problem of a hole in the drywall. It could be the result of an accidental bump with furniture, a change in your decorating scheme, or the inevitable mishaps during a renovation project. I’ve certainly had my fair share of drywall – patching adventures over the years, and like many, I often reached for the trusty patch kits in various sizes to fix those unsightly holes.
Currently, I’m knee – deep in the renovation of our new mid – century home, with a long list of drywall projects to tackle. This journey down the DIY drywall lane brought back a nostalgic story from my childhood, shared by my mom. She recounted the time when a kind carpenter neighbor came to our rescue, patching a hole in my childhood bedroom. What made his approach so memorable wasn’t the use of a typical mesh patch or the laborious task of building up the wall behind the hole. Instead, he employed a simple yet ingenious hack that I had never heard of before. He cut a small piece of new drywall, just a few inches larger than the hole itself. Then, with a utility knife, he lightly traced the shape of the hole onto the back of the drywall and deftly snapped off the excess chunks, leaving the front drywall paper layer intact. It was like fitting a puzzle piece into the wall, and it turned out to be a legitimate trick for repairing custom – shaped holes with just a bit of spare drywall. Intrigued, I decided to give this method a try, and lo and behold, it worked like a charm! Here’s a step – by – step guide on how you can do it too.
The first crucial step is to trace your hole. Place a piece of paper over the hole. If the edges of the hole are visible through the paper, you can simply trace around it with a pen. However, if the lines aren’t clear, use your fingers to create an indent around the edge of the hole on the paper. Once you remove the paper, you can then trace the indent with a pen. In case you’re dealing with a particularly oddly – shaped hole, don’t fret. You can gently tap the edges with a hammer or screwdriver to knock out some extra drywall, gradually shaping it into a more uniform circle or oval. This will make the patching process much smoother.
Next up is cutting your drywall scrap. Grab a utility knife (the kind with a foldable blade is ideal, especially if you have little ones around the house for added safety). Cut and snap a piece of drywall that’s a few inches larger than the hole. Then, center the tracing you made on the paper over the back of the drywall scrap. Using your knife or an X – Acto knife, carefully trace the shape of the hole onto the back of the drywall. Remember, the tracing should be reversed so that when you insert it into the hole, it will fit perfectly. Don’t worry if your first pass isn’t too deep; after removing the tracing paper, go over the lines a second time to make them more defined.
Once you have the shape traced, it’s time to get rid of the extra parts. Score a straight line across the top and bottom of the traced shape on the drywall. Then, with a firm but gentle snap, break off those extra sections. The key here is to keep the front drywall paper layer intact. This paper layer will act as a seamless cover when you insert the patch into the hole, giving your wall a smooth finish.
This easy drywall – hole – patching hack has been a game – changer for me during our home renovation. It’s not only a cost – effective solution but also a satisfying DIY project that anyone can master. So, the next time you find yourself faced with a hole in the drywall, skip the traditional methods and give this clever trick a try. Your walls will thank you, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve fixed it like a pro.
