Photo by Ksenia Chernaya

The Patch Boys specialize in small drywall repair in the US and other significant services, but for minor damage, homeowners can learn to do it by themselves!

For anyone doing DIY, the best advice is to stop what you are trying to do and get a guide. Some people have it in them that they can fix just about anything if they know which parts to hit and which not to. While one certainly can learn how to repair things, the problem with many first-time do-it-yourself enthusiasts is that they rush in without setting up a plan of action.

This inevitably results in lots of situations where the best thing to have done is to simply call the professionals.

This is especially so with drywall repairs. Although they may look easy—it’s only a hole, and who can’t fix a hole?—and that is where most problems lie.

Photo by Skylar Kang

The Most Important Thing to Do

Before working on drywall repairs or anything really, you should always take a step back and assess the situation first. The extent of the problem should be investigated before proceeding forward with anything else. Taking account of each significant scratch, indent, and hole and determining if they can be done by yourself is the essence of the do-it-yourself mindset. You should never chew more than you can handle. Doing so will only result in potentially disastrous outcomes. So, if it’s doable, do it. If it’s not, don’t.

Also, be mindful of your tools!

What NOT to Do During Do-It-Yourself

Image by Michal Jarmoluk
  • DO NOT waste time patching things up. If you’re thinking of manually replacing damaged drywall, you should stop. People commonly think being economical means spending the least amount of money possible, but being economical also means taking the shortest amount of time possible. If the damage is not severe enough that you can fix it yourself, then that also means it’s damage that can easily be fixed by taking advantage of pre-made products. 
  • DO NOT be reckless with cutting! Watch out! Always watch out when attempting to fix a hole. Make sure that nothing is behind the area of drywall you are trying to cut into. Verify if electrical wiring and plumbing lines are running along the panels or in the spaces immediately behind them. And double-check. If expanding the hole is necessary, then be careful to ensure that you do not cut into hot wires. Even if you have an extensive map of where the cables are, do not be reckless. There is always the possibility that a stray line exists.
  • DO NOT forget to watch out for nails. The enemy of every house is gravity. When they are first constructed, gravity is already pulling down on them. As time passes, this becomes obvious, and slowly the frame of a building can bend in a lot of places. The force acting on the building also squeezes several fasteners outward. The nails holding the drywall are quite prone to this phenomenon. Be sure to take care of them before covering most of the damage.
  • DO NOT be lazy when sanding. When you are done patching things up, be thorough and keep things as flat and smooth as possible. Shoddy sanding work can be an obvious marker of where there was damage and will be very noticeable, especially if it’s from a large hole.
  • DO NOT forget to double-check. Double-check. Triple-check. Quadruple-check! Sometimes, you may think you are done but never fall into that trap. Always give a thorough once-over or two after doing your work. This is most important if it’s your first-ever DIY project. You might think you did a splendid job, but it’s no harm trying to check if that’s actually the case.

Bad at Do-It-Yourself and Want Professional Drywall Repair?

Image by Laura Shaw

Nine times out of ten, anyone who can work their way with a tool can do minor drywall repair. Do-It-Yourself is fairly easy. Yet, sometimes there are issues too complex, regardless of size, that need professional work. The Patch Boys specialize in small drywall repair in the US and are some of the best in the industry. If you’re not confident enough in patching up that hole, give them a call, and they’ll have it fixed good as new.

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