How to Patch a Hole in the Wall | Drywall Repair in Arlington, VA
Having a hole in the wall can be a distracting sight as a homeowner. Even small holes can be an eyesore — and if left untreated, they may weaken the wall and cause further cracking over time. Luckily the fix can be simple; given you’re armed with the right knowledge and tools to give yourself the peace of mind that you deserve. Once you successfully complete your first drywall patch, it will be surprisingly satisfying to see the fruits of your labor, like a part of your mind gets smoothed out simultaneously with the drywall.
We will walk through everything you need to know to patch drywall like a pro. We will discuss various scenarios from repairing small dents and dings to replacing an entire drywall sheet. Each of these scenarios follows similar principles but have nuances depending on the size of the repair. We will provide a step-by-step framework that is applicable to drywall repairs of all sizes. We will also cover the various types of joint compounds, different use cases for each and our professional opinion on which ones we recommend. We will walk through all the materials and tools required and most importantly, the cost estimates and pricing for it all so you can have the answers to questions like, “How much does drywall repair in Arlington, VA cost?”
Drywall Repair Costs in Northern Virginia
Drywall repair costs can vary heavily depending on the size of the repair and whether you are hiring a professional for the job or doing the repair yourself. While doing the repair yourself can be more cost-effective, it may not yield the smooth, seamless results you’d get from a professional. If you opt to do the repair yourself, your costs will be significantly lower since you’re only paying for materials and tools. We’ll discuss the materials and tools required for the job in a later section below!
How Much Does Professional Drywall Patching in Alexandria Cost?
In Arlington and the surrounding Northern Virginia area, the labor costs tend to be on the higher end due to a higher cost of living. For small to medium repairs, you can expect to pay between $267-$534 for a typical drywall patch in Alexandria. If you are hiring a professional handyman in Northern Virginia for a larger drywall replacement or ceiling repair, you can expect to pay upwards of $500, especially if there’s water damage involved and it turns into a multi-day job. If you have multiple drywall patches, you will often get a bundled rate that is more cost-effective as the handyman is already on site for one repair.
If you’re planning on getting handy yourself, a basic DIY drywall repair kit (patch, spackle, putty knife, and sanding sponge) usually costs $15–$30 at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Larger repairs may require a full sheet of drywall ($15–$20), screws, and joint compound ($10–$15).
Pro Tip: Be sure to clarify if the handyman you are hiring will also include touch-up paint as part of the repair. This can be an additional material cost that will be billed to you.
Different Types of Drywall Repair
Dents, Dings, Stains and Minor Imperfections
These are the small cosmetic imperfections usually smaller than a couple inches in diameter such as nail pops, screw holes and more. For small repairs like these, you may not need to cut into the drywall or patch it with a replacement piece. Instead, simply cleaning the area properly, adding drywall spackle and a little touch up paint is all you need for a smooth finish over minor dents and dings. Once the area is clean and the spackle applied, it’s important to allow enough drying time for the spackle to cure. When the spackle is dry enough to sand, sand it down to a smooth finish before applying the touch-up paint.
Pro Tip: If the wall has stains on it, we recommend you clean the area properly and then apply “Kilz” to prevent the stain from bleeding through the fresh coat of paint.
Drywall Patching – Holes Less Than 1 Sqft
This is where you step into a more traditional drywall patching job. This is usually when a little spackle isn’t enough to cover the gap at hand. You want to start by cutting past the damaged area in a square or rectangle shape. Then you can either apply a pre-purchased mesh patch or make your own “California patch”: by cutting a piece of drywall scrap about 2 inches larger than the hole and leaving a paper flange. Embed either of these patches and apply joint compound. Once it’s dry, you are ready to sand, prime and paint.
Pro Tip: Multiple coats of joint compound help feather and smooth out the edges for a seamless finish. If you are having a hard time getting a smooth finish with joint compound, apply a thin coat of pre-mix for ease of sanding and a smoother finish.
Drywall Replacement – Holes Larger Than 1 Sqft
For bigger holes, the process is similar from here on out and we may as well call it an all-out drywall replacement rather than just a drywall patch. This is where you cut out a larger section of drywall, reinforce with a new 2x4 piece to serve as a stud behind the new drywall piece, screw in the new drywall sheet, set, finish and paint as usual. The key differentiator here between drywall replacement and a small drywall patch is the need to screw in the new drywall sheet instead of just relying on drywall mud to hold it in place.
Pro-Tip: Use USG Plus-3 as the topcoat. It will take 12-24hrs to dry but it will be much easier to sand than an alternative setting compound. For a DIYer, this will be the easiest to get the smoothest result possible instead of having to do multiple coats of mud and skimming until you get it just right.
Step-by-Step Drywall Repair Framework
I know we’ve thrown a lot of terms and information at you that you may not know the exact meaning of. If this is you, this section is for you. First, we’ll walk through a general step-by-step framework, then we’ll differentiate between different drywall joint-compounds, spackles and when to use which ones.
We could have a different step-by-step guide for each of the different types of drywall repairs we discussed above. To keep it concise, we’ll cover a general framework that applies to all types of drywall repair:
1. Demo – Remove loose drywall and square the hole.
This is where you are removing the current drywall in place. The size depends on whether you’re doing a small patch or a larger replacement. If you are doing a smaller patch, cut a rectangular or square piece a couple of inches larger than the hole. If you are doing a larger replacement, the same concept applies. For ease of cleanup and preventing dust from getting everywhere, having some tarp and trash-bags nearby helps!
2. Stud Inspection – Reinforce with 2x4s if needed.
You can skip this step if you are doing a smaller patch away from a stud. For the rest of us, ensure the exposed stud(s) are in good condition, serving as proper reinforcement and ready for the new drywall to be screwed into. If you need to replace or add a stud, do so as needed.
3. Hanging Drywall – Use drywall scrap, mesh patch, or new sheet depending on size.
If you’re doing a smaller patch, this is when you appropriately cut out a piece of drywall to fit. Leave some extra paper on the outside of the piece if doing a “California patch”. Additionally, you can use a pre-built drywall patch kit here. “Hanging Drywall” is more meant for larger replacements. This is where you are taking your drywall sheet, cutting as needed, and screwing it into the drywall studs.
4. Mud & Tape – Apply joint compound in thin layers, feathering the edges.
Now that you have your fresh drywall in place. It’s time to set it in place and get it ready for painting. There are various joint compounds to use that all achieve the same purpose but have their nuances. We recommend using EZ Sand for initial coats and taping. If you’re extremely skilled you can do multiple coats, wait for the compound to cure and do a thin skim coat to get it just right and smooth. If you’re having a hard time getting it as smooth as possible, use USG Plus 3 as the topcoat. Once it dries, you can sand it down for a smooth texture. Now you’re ready to paint!
5. Sand, Prime & Paint – Sand smooth, then prime and paint.
Once the drywall is smooth, you’re ready to add some color! We highly recommend you prime the surface first, wait for the coat of primer to dry, add your first coat of paint, wait for it to dry and then add the second coat. We can do a whole guide on how to paint properly, maybe that will be the next blog!
Best Drywall Compounds and Spackles (When to Use Each)
Easy Sand – This is a setting compound best used for pre-fill and initial coats. Despite the name, it’s not easy to sand. Unlike typical compounds, this does not rely on dry time. Instead, it undergoes a chemical reaction and cures in place depending on the bag you get. There are options for 20 minutes, 45 minutes, 90 minutes and more. If you’re an absolute pro, you can skim just right and get a smooth finish with this.
USG Plus-3 – This is a pre-mixed joint-compound. You can generally use this from start to finish but we recommend using it as the topcoat. It has a dry-time of 12-24hrs. Once dry, it’s usually ready to sand the next day — and the big selling point is its ease of sanding. Even if you did not get the perfect coat on, you can sand away until it’s smooth as ever.
DAP Fast Dry Spackle – This is best reserved for the small patches and repairs. It has a fast dry time, and you can start sanding in 1-2 hours.
Materials and Tools for Drywall Repair
Drywall repair requires both tools and consumable materials:
Tools
Drywall Saw
Stud Finder
Putty Knife/ Taping knife
Tape Measure
Carpenters pencil
Drill
Painters Tape
Tarp
Trash bags
Paint brush/ rollers
Sanding sponge
Materials
Drywall Sheet
Drywall Screws (For larger repairs)
Joint-Compound/ Spackle
Caulking (if needed)
Primer
Paint
Trusted Drywall Repair & Handyman Services in Arlington & Northern Virginia
Hopefully, we’ve given you everything you need to hang drywall like a pro! In all seriousness, drywalling is no easy task — it takes countless reps and years of experience to get it just right. But hopefully, we’ve given you enough to attempt your first small repairs and patches. Inevitably, experience and trial and error is the best way to learn.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a professional handyman in Arlington and the surrounding Northern Virginia area, we’re here to help! HandiHuman provides handyman services in Alexandria, Falls Church and the nearby Northern Virginia areas. Our services cover a range of handyman tasks, including drywall patching and drywall repair!
