30

I have a large hole where a TV wall mount once was (I believe the hole was used to run power and coax cable to the TV). I have since moved the TV and would like to patch the hole. What is the best way to do this?

Doresoom
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mmattax
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5 Answers5

27

Correct way to do it as instructed on 'Canada's worst Handyman':

  • cut a piece of strapping (wood) that will be a couple inches longer than the hole on each side.
  • put the strapping inside the hole and attach it using a couple of drywall screws so that it is across the hole.
  • cut a piece of drywall that is the same size as the hole, as close as you can get
  • attach the patch to the strapping with a drywall screw
  • mud, sand, paint.

Same process works for larger holes and also on the ceiling which can be tricky.

Dilbert789
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14

There's an alternative to @dilbert789's solution when you're dealing with holes this small:

  • cut a rectangle of drywall about three inches larger than your damaged area in both dimensions.
  • score the back of the drywall one inch in from each edge.
  • break the drywall at the score line, and then remove the drywall from the paper.
  • trace the drywall portion of the patch onto the wall, over the damaged area. (the part that's still solid, not the paper that's 2" larger on each side)
  • cut out along that line.
  • test plug for fit, and if necessary, clean up the edge some
  • put down some drywall mud on the inside of the lip of paper.
  • insert the patch into the hole
  • mud over the edges
  • let dry, sand, and paint.

I would still use @dilbert789's answer for larger holes, though, or anything in the ceiling, but I had a few incidents of wrestling with strapping when repairing similarly sized holes (fists, doorknobs, etc.), as you need to hold the new reinforcement, the screwdriver, a screw, etc, which gets difficult to juggle for one person.

Joe
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3

Use a drywall repair patch. They are cheap and easy to find at the big box stores.

And here's a video on how to do it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvtoikKG318

brheal
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2

They sell dry-wall patches for this purpose.

Vebjorn Ljosa
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2

Do you have a stir stick for paint handy? Slap some thick glue on the ends and glue that in as your backer. No need for screws on such a small hole.

If you're daring you can just mud the inside lip of the hole and squeeze a plug cut to shape in there, too. But then you run the risk of it tilting all funny.

CPOKashue
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