I helped a friend of mine close up an inlet in his chimney, and we then needed to patch the dyrwall hole that the metal chimney stack originally went thru.
This is the how to repair holes in drywall method that I used, there are others. If you have a good drywall how to, please tell us below.
This method works well for damage drywall also
To repair a hole in drywall, you cut a replacement piece of drywall that fits inside the hole. I prefer to use drywall that is slightly thinner than the drywall we are repairing. So if we are repairing ⅝" sheetrock, I like to use ½" sheetrock.
The reason for the slightly narrower sheetrock is I find it allows you do a better repair that is less noticeable. If you use a piece of same width sheetrock, the joint compound you apply over the repair is more obvious.
screw in a piece of scrap wood as a support
Find a piece of scrap wood that is about 4" wider than the hole you need to repair in the sheetrock. Slip this wood in behind the existing sheetrock, and using drywall screws, screw the wood support in.
cut a piece of sheetrock to fit the repair
cut a piece of sheetrock that fits just inside the hole you are repairing. Home improvement stores sell 2'x2' repair pieces, or you can find a piece of scrap at a construction site.
screw the patch into the support
After the the drywall is screwed in, use well stirred drywall compound with a little plaster added , and using the most flexible wide blade you can find, lay an initial layer of joint compound over the patch. let this dry completely, and go over it with 2 more layers. The smoother the layers, the better it will look.
When its all dry give it a light sand to even out any ridges or marks. Prime the repair then paint with the wall paint.
How do you repair sheetrock or drywall? Let us know below.
ck
I would point out (before people think we just crammed some bricks in the old chimney opening) that the old flue had been sealed many years ago. Instead of patching the drywall, they had hung a cabinet that concealed the drywall hole.
I would recommend using 2 pieces of backer wood. With one piece, the drywall wants to pivot over that single line. Even with 3 coats of mud, it would take one small bump to pop without enough fasteners in enough places.
PompanoBeach
Good stuff, thank you for this. As a contractor this really helps keep me fresh.... Thanks Again...
Simon Richards
Thanks for posting articles like this, it is good to have validation for customers who think you should be doing something their way, not the right way.