Drywall repairs can be a true pain in the neck if they’re done incorrectly. Luckily, errors are easy to avoid if you know what signs to watch out for. Here are three of the most common mistakes made when repairing drywall.
Common Mistakes Made When Repairing Drywall
1. Over-sanding
Drywall may seem indestructible, but it can still become damaged from regular activities like vacuuming or children throwing toys around the room. Luckily, such damage is straightforward to remedy using an aircraft-type snip to cut away and replace any severed corner beads with new pieces before applying joint compound and sanding each coat to smooth the surface.
One common misstep when trying to repair drywall is over-sanding. This can be a costly mistake as it weakens and exposes your walls to future damage. An alternative solution would be using a light touch hand sander instead, though always wear a respirator when doing this to protect against inhalation of Gypsum and Silica dust particles; additionally, clean up after every session with a damp sponge to help minimize dust build-up on the walls as you work.
2. Hanging Drywall with Nails Instead of Screws
Drywall is attached to wall studs and ceiling joists using nails with long shanks and large heads known as drywall nails. Over time, however, those nails may lose their grip and pop through the surface – something which may happen due to shrinking wood framing, shifting in the home, or because it wasn’t driven solidly into either stud or joist. Nail holes may be repaired temporarily by tapping them back down with a hammer; however, this won’t solve the underlying cause.
Instead of replacing the nail that was lost through popping out, use drywall screws to reattach it back onto its frame in the area where the hole appeared. This can help stop future instances of pulling away from the wall due to tension from pulling drywall away again. To do this, locate any nearby studs and use screws designed specifically for drywall when driving screws into place.
Once the screws have been securely mounted, use a lightweight patching compound applied with a putty knife to fill and smooth over any new holes that have opened up. After drying, lightly sand the area with a sanding block to eliminate any rough patches and provide a seamless repair patch finish; finally repaint over it so as to hide its marks of sanding.
3. Applying Too Much Mud
Drywall repairs usually involve filling in dented, holes and cracks with mud. While smaller dings and scratches may be patched easily with lightweight spackling compounds and putty knives, larger holes and cracks require greater support as well as thicker fillers in order to achieve durable repairs that remain virtually undetectable.
Too much mud applied during drywall repair can create an unattractive bulge on the wall that can become easily visible and more susceptible to cracking over time. To avoid this scenario, try using a smaller tool for applying your mud instead of large brushes or sponges; it will allow for greater control in controlling how much is being applied across all sides and ensure even coverage.
Too much mud can also be hazardous because it traps moisture inside walls, leading to mold growth, mildew formation, and other serious health concerns that are hard (and costly) to address.
To avoid this scenario, always wait 24 hours for your mud to fully set before beginning to paint it. Additionally, it is a good idea to wait until humidity levels have decreased before starting your new drywall painting project since high humidity can cause wood framing to expand and contract which in turn results in cracks in your wallboard.
Make sure you avoid these three common mistakes made when trying to repair drywall, so that you don’t end up with bigger issues.
