Drywall is a large part of nearly every home and business today, and yet it is something that most people know very little about. This article will review the both basics of drywall and its many uses in today’s world - including drywall texture and drywall finish – and the most common questions relating to drywall repair. While drywall is often easily overlooked, one hole in need of drywall repair can completely ruin a room’s appearance by drawing attention to the problem area. The same thing goes for a drywall finish that was not done correctly, creating a real eyesore. And reversely, a well done drywall texture can add both depth and balance to a room.

Drywall is a common manufactured building material used globally for the finish construction of interior walls and ceilings. A drywall panel is made of a paper liner wrapped around an inner core made primarily from gypsum plaster. The plaster is mixed with fiber (typically paper and/or fiberglass), foaming agent, various additives that increase mildew and fire resistance, and water and is then formed by sandwiching a core of wet gypsum between two sheets of heavy paper or fiberglass mats. When the core sets and is dried, the sandwich becomes rigid and strong enough for use as a building material.

Drywall is typically available in 4 ft (1219 mm) wide sheets of various lengths. Newly formed drywall sheets are cut from a belt, the result of a continuous manufacturing process. In some commercial applications, sheets up to 16 ft are used. Larger sheets of drywall make for faster installation, since they reduce the number of joints that must be finished. Often, a sizable quantity of any custom length may be ordered, from factories, to exactly fit ceiling-to-floor on a large project. The most commonly used drywall is one-half-inch thick but can range from one quarter (6.35 mm) to one inch (25 mm). For soundproofing or fire resistance, two layers of drywall are sometimes laid at right angles to each other. In North America, five-eighths-inch-thick drywall with a one-hour fire-resistance rating is often used where fire resistance is desired.

Drywall repair can be easy, depending on the type and size of the hole. There are three types of holes - "doorknob," "fist," and "large." The equipment needed is easy and the job is easy, so hesitate no more!

Tools to use:

• drywall or keyhole saw
• razor knife
• 6 inch (15 cm) drywall or putty knife
• straight edge (a 24 inch (60 cm) level or framing square works best)

Steps to follow:

1. Install a door stop first for doorknob holes. Buy a 6 inch (15 cm) round cover that sticks on without repairing the hole. If this is not feasible, treat doorknob holes as small holes.
2. Cut a square around the hole. Make it as small as possible. Do not worry about studs or backing. Sand the edge of the hole lightly to remove burrs from sawing.
3. Cut a patch. On the face of the new drywall, cut a patch 3 inches larger than the hole. Turn the new drywall over and cut one and a half inches off each side with the razor knife. Be careful not to cut through the face paper. Carefully peel the one a half inch pieces off of the face paper and discard. Clean the back of face paper on the patch to remove any bits.
4. Place mud (joint compound) around the edges of the hole for at least 2 inches (5 cm) each side and on the raw edges of the old drywall.
5. Insert the patch into hole and drag mud down each side.
6. Cover the entire area with a very thin coat of mud and let it dry.
7. Sand the area very lightly. With luck, it may be ready to paint. If not, apply a second coat.
8. Large holes need to be cut back to the closest stud. Do not try to cut to the middle of the stud. Cut flush with the stud and screw a nailer on it. For the other side, hold a 1x4" (2.5 cm x 10 cm) flat and fasten it with screws.
9. Cut a patch the same size as the hole and screw it into place.
10. Apply mud 4 inches (10 cm) wide along the joint. Apply drywall tape and squeeze the mud out with a knife. Repeat on the other 2 sides and the overlapping corners. Cover all tape with a thin coat of mud. Let it dry and sand it. Repeat as needed.

Of course, not everyone has the time and inclination to work on even the simplest types of drywall repairs. Handyman Matters is a great avenue to easily take care of all types of drywall repairs – from a doorknob punching a hole in a wall to water damage and replacing an entire wall. Handyman Matters specializes in a time plus materials (T+M) business model, and can easily handle all types of drywall repairs. They will also make sure the drywall finish is done professionally, with no blemishes from drywall screws visible. If you are interested in adding drywall texture to an area Handyman Matters can take care of that as well.

Drywall has many areas that can be addressed – including drywall finish, drywall texture, and drywall repair – and while each is related they are all separate areas with their own issues. Both the full-time contractor and the weekend DIY’er are confronted with regularly in their attempts to create the surroundings they desire.