Okay...say you're the maintenance person at the Thai Legislature or
the Boston Pops Orchestra building, and you need to repair the wall
after the last fist fight. Or possibly you're Hank the owner of Hank's
Dockside Cantina, and you're in mucho need of sheetrock expertise...or
possibly you are the owner of a home in Garden Oaks where cousin
Penelope flung open the bathroom door last Thanksgiving and now you have
a hole the size of Rhode Island in the wall! What's a person to do?
Never fear Dr. Fixit is here!
And, by the way, why is Rhode Island not an island? Anyway, this week
we are going to repair your larger sheetrock problems (sheetrock is
sometimes called wall board or drywall).
Materials needed are:
- piece of sheetrock 1/2 inch thick
- wall board saw
- 1 1/4 inch sheetrock screws
- adhesive backed mesh tape
- utility knife
- pencil
- two foot level
- all purpose joint compound
- putty knife
- fine sand paper
- piece of wood about 3/4 inch thick
- drill with phillips bit
- primer and finish coat paints
At about two inches above the damage in the sheetrock draw a
horizontal level line. Using the tip of the wall board saw, work through
the sheetrock and start sawing along the line one way till you reach a
stud. Do the same in the other direction. At about two inches on the
other side of each of the studs work the saw through the sheetrock and
finish the sawing of the line.
Clean up sheetrock over the studs. Finish the process around the hole
till you have a square. Always be aware of any electrical wires which
may be hidden behind the wall and saw appropriately. Now attach the wood
piece to the back of the sheetrock and secure with sheetrock screws.
Measure and cut the new piece of sheetrock a tiny bit smaller than
the hole. Secure with screws at each stud and at the wood piece added by
you. The screws should be set in the sheetrock just below the surface of
the paper without breaking the paper.
Now, as shown, apply the mesh tape. With the putty knife apply the
joint compound and completely cover the mesh tape...it's not too
important that the compound is perfectly smooth. Wait overnight and sand
smooth the area. Repeat process till the wall is smooth. Prime paint and
finish coat.
Next Thanksgiving tell Penelope to use the neighbor's bathroom!
