Mini-Project #1: Fix the ceiling drywall, damaged by the leaking roof last summer.
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| Water build-up from my leaking roof, eventually soaked through my ceiling drywall, causing it to split on the seam and fall in. There was a lot of loose drywall to scrape off before I could begin the repair. |
I'm embarrassed to admit it took me a year to fix this. May I never leave something this long again. I'm not sure why I put this off so long. It turned out to be low on the handyman-toughness scale. It was also low budget. Now, that it's done I feel all the more empowered to tackle dry-walling the closet. That will be Mini-Project #2.
The correct way to fix damaged drywall, if it has a hole in it, is to cut out around the hole, then fit it with a new piece cut to match.
Unfortunately, I didn't really have a hole, but I certainly had more than just a crack or peeling tape. I seriously doubted my dad's advice that putty alone would do the job. After some research though, I decided this was going to be the easiest solution. I set to work, gobbing on putty then scraping it smooth; the whole time envisioning myself on Canada's Worst Handyman. I have to admit it took 2 tries, gobbing and sanding to get a smooth finish, but I am happy with the final result! Here is the lowdown.
Tools Used:
- Drywall putty
- Drywall knife
- Drywall tape
- Exacto knife to cut old tape and new tape
- Drywall sander & paper
Steps to Repair Damaged Drywall (Not a Hole)
- Scrape, chip and sand off flaking and crumbling drywall around the hole. You need a 'clean' surface to work with. Wear eye protection also.
- Use drywall knife to apply putty to the hole. Scrape excess off so surface is smooth.
- Press tape into putty and smooth out any air bubbles. Make sure all sides of the tape are set into the putty.
- Putty over the tape to hide and hold in place. Smooth and scrape off excess with putty knife. Ensure tape is entirely covered. Otherwise, you won't get a smooth surface when you sand because you'll be pulling up paper.
- Feather putty around the edges of patching to 'blend' with existing surface.
- Allow to dry overnight.
- If your putty is thick and pretty rough, use coarser sandpaper to remove excess. Change to a finer paper to finish and smooth your work.
- Clean up dust.
- Prime or prepare for ceiling or wall finish (paint in this case).
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| You can see this is still a little rough and could use some smoothing out. An even layer of putty, dried and sanded and it looked much better! |
Posts
Thanks for this one! Aside from repairing walls, do you have any more tips on how to repair a roof effectively? 'Coz some find difficulty in fixing them. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteI am totally an amateur. If it's a large repair, I would suggest hiring a pro. We are working on a small wall now and it's been a nightmare with trying to get it matched with the old plaster.
ReplyDeleteThat looks much better. I think painting the drywall would hide its uneven color. Plus, it’ll make the drywall look smooth and new again. I agree with what you said that you should hire a professional when you’re dealing with big repairs. Professionals are better equipped and trained in handling such huge tasks.
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