Around the housePatch a small hole
Cover a doorknob-sized hole in dry drywall with a mesh patch and two thin coats of joint compound.
About an hour of work, plus drying timeEasy6 steps
Tools you need
- Self-adhesive mesh drywall patch
- Lightweight joint compound
- 4-inch putty knife
- Sanding sponge
- Dust mask
- Primer and paint
- Flashlight
Photo: Timothyjosephwood · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSteps
Use this only for a hole about the size of a doorknob or smaller. Press the wall around it. The board should feel dry and firm.
Shine a light into the hole. Continue only when you see empty space, with no cable, pipe, or wet insulation.
Brush away loose paper and crumbs. Peel the patch backing and press the mesh flat so it overlaps solid wall all the way around.
Spread a thin coat of joint compound over the mesh and a little past it. Let it dry until the color lightens.
Smooth the ridges with a sanding sponge, wipe the dust, and add a second thin coat. Dry and sand again.
Prime the patch, then paint. Match the sheen as closely as you can.
More around the house jobs
Steps written by Sureno. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.
