Plumbers and electricians frequently create holes in drywall when accessing pipes or installing fixtures, as this allows for greater ease in their work. If agreed upon beforehand, some plumbers may agree to patch any extensive works by sealing the holes afterwards.
Small holes can be repaired using an adhesive-backed patch kit; larger ones need professional assistance using spackle or joint compound. Once dry, patches can be sanded down and painted to match their surroundings.
Drywall Repair
Plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople often leave behind holes in your walls after finishing their work. In some instances, they might choose to repair these themselves directly if agreed upon beforehand; otherwise they might contract out their repair to a professional drywall contractor.
the cost to repair your drywall may depend on its extent, with costs depending on its severity. In order to provide an accurate quote for fixing it, be sure to provide your contractor with information such as how many holes need mending and their sizes in addition to where they’re located on your wall – this will allow them to provide the best estimate possible. Furthermore, how neatly holes were cut will also have an effect on its cost.
At an outside corner, two sheets of drywall are held together with an L-shaped metal strip known as a corner bead that serves to hold them together. However, this strip can become dented through various activities, including vacuum cleaner run-ins, children throwing toys around or moving furniture.
Patching small holes in drywall requires spackle or drywall compound, while larger ones call for a patch kit and piece of cut drywall cut to the required size. Mesh joint tape on the edges of both should help strengthen repairs, reduce shifting and cracks from forming further; feathering with a putty knife then makes feathered areas blend more into their surroundings before light sanding completes the task and makes your patch smooth for painting over.
Spackle or Joint Compound
Homeowners frequently get spackle and joint compound confused. While both products may look similar, their composition, purpose and ease of application vary drastically.
Spackle is an adhesive mixture of binders and gypsum powder with the consistency of toothpaste (according to Lawrence Journal-World). Used primarily to fill small holes in walls, spackle can also cover minor dings, dents, nail holes or any other imperfections on the wall that require repair. Since spackle dries faster than drywall compound it makes an excellent option for smaller patchwork projects.
Joint compound, on the other hand, is designed for large-scale use over an extended period. Similar to drywall mud in thickness and typically sold in 1-quart containers or larger (via International EnviroGuard), joint compound is often used when hanging drywall to put together seams before painting over them. Proper tape application must then cover seams before covering them with thin coats of joint compound before painting over them.
Both spackling paste and joint compound can be purchased in either dry or wet forms; wet formulas tend to cost more but last longer without drying out quickly. When not being used, store both products in airtight containers to prevent drying out or mold growth; once dry, simply sand the patch down before painting over it.
Mesh Joint Tape
Professional drywall finishers often utilize mesh tape in areas requiring extra strength, such as butt joints and corners that have sharp angles. The tape has a slight crease that allows it to fold easily for a perfect corner or angle, as well as helping areas that have been altered due to settlement or lightning strikes.
Mesh tape is self-adhesive and will adhere directly to drywall surfaces without needing for a bedding coat, saving time during the taping process. Plus, its moisture resistance makes it more durable than paper tape!
But since bedding coats strengthen joints, they’re best used in large areas where strength of finish is crucial. Unfortunately, however, bedding coats take more time and effort to apply and dry than regular mud applications, and perfect smooth application is often challenging.
A good rule of thumb when using tape is if your sandpaper starts showing through it, coat it again with mud and re-sand until the surface is smooth again. Otherwise, the tape could begin to break down over time, creating weak spots in your wall that lead to cracking over time. Fiberglass tape may be more suitable as it less likely to disintegrate over time.
New Drywall
Instead of simply repairing nail holes with joint compound and a putty knife, larger holes in walls typically require a patch kit that contains self-adhesive patches that must first be cut to size before being adhered over them. Furthermore, furring strips often support these patches from within walls before being painted over with new joint compound for final repair.
This entire process should result in a nearly invisible patch of drywall. When properly sanded and primed before painting, most people should find it hard to tell there was ever a hole in the wall. For optimal results, use a primer specifically formulated for use on drywall – this will even out how quickly both layers absorb paint evenly.
Many plumbers provide wall patching services. If that is the case for you, ensure a written contract that clearly outlines itemized costs and your payment structure to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding after work has been completed. This will also help ensure there are no responsibilities left unclear after completion of services rendered.
