Have you ever kicked a hole in the wall?

My earliest memory of damaged drywall is as a child. My sister and I were jumping on the bed. Right before my eyes my sister crashed into the wall leaving quite a big impression. To say that my parents were not happy is an understatement.

As a teenager, my fist would often fight against walls, again to the dismay of my parents.

Now, as a parent, it’s me who has to patch the holes in the wall. My boys are always playing one game or another. Many times this ends in damage.

This is how we fix the small holes.

Get a repair kit at the hardware store

These are simple pre-cut patches. You will need a putty knife, sandpaper, goop (joint compound), and preferably child-free time.

Then cut off any excess drywall. Clean the area. Glue the patch on top of your hole, cutting off any excess. Be careful as it bubbles very easily – slowness wins this race here.

Now you can add some putty with your knife. You want to add bits at a time to get a thin, even layer. Go in one direction from top to bottom.

Let it dry again before adding a second coat. Add a third layer if necessary.

After drying once more, sand it down with some sandpaper to smooth out the edges.

Tips for Plastering a Large Hole

The larger holes are a bit trickier. The hole my sister made was a very big hole. You will need a utility knife or drywall knife and a ruler.

Carefully draw a rectangle or square around the hole. Cut out the entire piece of the wall.

Next, you’ll need the help of a carpenter or your local hardware store. You need some strips of plywood cut a little longer than your hole. These back up your hole and give it support.

Once you have them, place them inside the hole vertically and screw them into place.

Now, measure your drywall, cut it to size, and screw it to the plywood strips.

Add drywall tape to the outside edge of your rectangle.

Using a putty knife and joint compound, coat the edges making sure to cover the screws.

Let dry and add an extra coat.

Use sandpaper to smooth and even out the edges.

Have you ever kicked a hole in the wall? Did you repair it yourself?

With these helpful tips and tutorials on YouTube, you can fix this common problem.