It’s important to patch up any dents or holes in drywall before painting, and Zenith Painting & Coatings is happy to take care of the hassle for you. If you’re curious about what it takes to fix drywall, here’s a quick guide.
You are going to need some joint compound, a putty knife, a razor knife, a drop cloth, sandpaper, and mesh drywall patches. It’s also a good idea to wear a mask to keep out drywall dust.
1. Set up your drop cloth under the area to be repaired
Dust, flakes, drips, drops: They’re going to happen, so protect your floor first.
2. Remove loose drywall flakes and dust
Scrape away any ragged edges. Be especially careful of areas where a layer of paper has peeled to reveal the core of the drywall; the core is sensitive to water and will visibly blister when exposed to wet drywall compound.
Cut away any peeling areas with your razor knife, then sand the edges lightly to leave clean lines.
3. Apply drywall patch
These aluminum screens hold joint compound in place as it dries. Some are self-adhesive, some require a light layer of compound for initial placement.
You’ll want to use a screen for actual holes in drywall, but dents can be filled in without them.
4. Begin applying joint compound
Use your putty knife to apply the compound. Use a smooth stroke and even layers, moving across and even above and below the patch.
Then, wait for the first coat to dry. Some compounds are designed to dry quickly and require less sanding, others are more durable but can take as much as 24 hours to set.
5. Sand, add more coats, and sand again
Sand very lightly, just enough to remove ridges. Then apply another coat, allow it to dry, and sand again. Then- you guessed it- apply another coat, allow it to dry, and sand it a third time.
At this point, you should have a clean, flat wall. Too bad it’s got a big, ugly patch of joint compound on it! Now it’s time to prime and paint the wall for that brand new look—and you know Zenith Painting wants to help you get it done. From Highlands Ranch to Westminster, give us a call at 800-381-4601 and we’ll give you a free quote on any work you’d like us to take care of.
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