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How To Fill Holes/Cracks/Gaps in Drywall

Man fixing the drywall

Drywall is fairly sturdy but a strong enough impact can cause a hole, crack, or gap in drywall. Drywall is a unique material made of gypsum and it’s best to repair it correctly to maintain the structural integrity of the wall, and make the repair last a long time. Today, I will explain how to fill holes, cracks, and gaps in drywall.

As a general rule, holes and cracks can be filled with builder’s mud or Spackle. Mud is easy to apply and very cheap. For holes smaller than about 1 inch (2.5 cm), apply the mud into the hole using a putty knife. Holes larger than that require special techniques, explained below.

Repairing holes, cracks, and gaps in drywall is not very complicated, and even someone with no experience can do it themselves. Below, I will explain different options for repairing drywall. Which ones work, and which ones don’t, and finally explain step by step how to fill holes, cracks, and gaps in drywall properly.

How To Fill Holes/Cracks/Gaps in Drywall

Drywall is very sturdy, and can withstand a decent bump even with something hard. But, when installing drywall or fixtures to the wall there can be visible holes, it can get a dent which cracks the drywall, or the drywall hasn’t been installed just right there can also be a gap. All of these need to be filled in and/or repaired to create a perfect finish to the wall. Here’s how to do that.

Overall, builder’s mud or Spackle is the best to use to fill holes, cracks, and gaps in drywall. Small holes, under 1 inch (2.5 cm) can be filled with builder’s mud using a putty knife. Larger holes require a few different techniques. How to fill those is explained below.

For larger holes – larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm) across – there are specially made stickers that can be placed over the hole. Then a layer of builder’s mud or Spackle is applied on top. These will work for holes up to about 4 inches across (10 cm).

Anything larger than that will need a backing installed behind the hole before Spackle or builder’s mud/clay is used to fill it in, and create a smooth surface. After a hole has been filled in it’s left to dry, then sanded and painted. There are a few ways to install backing for larger holes. But, all involve cutting a large square in the drywall, to make it easier.

For cracks or gaps, the same methods can be used.

Can You Fill Holes in Drywall With Toothpaste?

Man fixing the drywall

There is a hack that has been floating around the internet that holes in drywall can be filled in with toothpaste. I wanted to know if this does in fact work, so I looked into it. Here’s whether it works.

As a general rule, toothpaste can be used to fill holes in drywall. But, it’s not a permanent solution. Toothpaste will reduce the appearance of small holes in drywall, however, over time it will crack. Certain pest insects will also eat toothpaste.

If you are going to use toothpaste as a temporary solution to fill holes in drywall use standard Colgate or a similar brand. And use white toothpaste rather than colored toothpaste.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/20/2022.

Can You Fill Holes/Gaps in Drywall With Foam?

Confused man standing

Foam is very easy to use, and is great for filling in spaces behind walls because it expands to fill uneven spaces. But, can you fill holes and gaps in drywall with foam?

In general, foam can be used to fill holes and gaps in drywall. But, it doesn’t create the best finish. Therefore, it will require a builder’s mud to create a nice finish. The general procedure is to fill it with foam until it’s overflowing. Then let it dry, and cut off the excess flat to the wall.

After that, sand it as flat as you can, and smooth it over with builder’s mud or Spackle. After it dries, sand it off, and apply a layer of builder’s mud/clay or Spackle again.

Let it dry, and sand it smooth. Then it’s ready to be painted.

Can You Fill Holes in Drywall With a Spackle?

Woman fixing drywall with spackle

Spackle is a common thick paste that dries completely hard. Holes in drywall need something that molds to the shape of the hole but also dries hard so Spackle seems like the perfect product. But, can you fill holes in drywall with Spackle?

Overall, you can fill holes in drywall with a spackle. Spackle works very well for filling holes with drywall. All types of spackles, even those that are shrink free will shrink somewhat as they dry. Therefore, it’s best to overfill holes in drywall with Spackle. Instructions are provided below.

Spackle is applied using a putty knife. Holes that are larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm) will need some sort of backing for the Spackle to be applied to.

Can You Fill Holes/Cracks in Drywall With Caulk?

Confused man standing

Caulk is most commonly used to seal gaps in bathrooms, and various places around the home. It’s very easy to apply accurately using a caulk gun. However, is caulk good to use to fill in holes and cracks on drywall?

In general, caulk can be used to fill holes, and cracks in drywall. However, for holes larger than about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter a backing is required for the caulk to adhere to. For small holes caulk can be squirted directly into the hole, and smoothed over with a putty knife.

However, a backing is required whether you use caulk or something else to fill in large holes. The backing can be either another piece of drywall cut to fit. Or, a specially made stick on drywall patch that you can buy in hardware stores.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/20/2022.

Can You Fill Holes in Drywall With Drywall Mud/Joint Compound?

Man fixing the drywall

Drywall mud, also called joint compound, comes in various sized buckets. It’s very easy to work with and dries completely hard. Drywall is a unique type of material so here’s whether drywall mud or joint compound can be used to fill holes in drywall.

As a general rule, mud/joint compound is the best for filling holes in drywall. It works very well, and is very cheap. The general procedure is to fill the hole completely with mud/joint compound and remove the excess using a putty knife. Large holes require a few extra steps that are outlined below.

For larger holes drywall mud or joint compound won’t have anything to stick to. Therefore, it’s impossible to apply it.

For this reason, a piece of drywall needs to be attached to the hole. Or a specially designed drywall patch can be stuck on, and then drywall mud or joint compound can be applied over the top using a putty knife.

Can You Fix Cracks in Drywall With Tape?

Confused man standing

Tape can seem to be a good thing to put over a crack, and then to make it smooth by adding a filling compound like Spackle. However, is this a good method and does it work? Here’s what I found.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on July 20, 2022.

In general, tape can’t fix cracks in drywall. Tape can patch cracks, then you can paint, and apply Spackle over it. But, the finish won’t be as noticeable as filling cracks using mud, or Spackle. Additional steps to fix cracks perfectly are covered below.

In general you should forego the tape, and simply fill them with Spackle, or builder’s mud. The tape can cut down on the amount of Spackle or builders mud you need to apply. However, both these products are very inexpensive, so it doesn’t make sense to use tape for this reason.

Can You Repair Drywall Cracks With Bondo?

Man fixing the drywall

Bondo is a somewhat well known material used in a range of different industries. Drywall is made of special materials and so it’s important to use the right filler for the job. Here’s whether you can repair drywall cracks with Bondo.

Generally, Bondo All-purpose Putty can be used to repair cracks in drywall. There are a few different types of Bondo, however, All-purpose putty is the best for repairing cracks and holes in drywall. Apply it using a putty knife, and then do the steps below.

When you apply it with a putty knife, push it as deep into the crack as it will go. This will fill it up and provide more structural integrity to the drywall panel. After that scrape is flat using your putty knife to make the area as flat to the wall as possible.

Any that is sticking out, and a bit rough will need to be sanded later. So, it’s best to make the finish as good as you can while it’s still wet.

After that, sand it off using sand paper, and apply another layer of the Bondo if it’s not perfectly flat. Then it’s ready to be painted.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/20/2022.

Can You Repair Drywall With Plaster of Paris?

Confused man standing

Plaster of Paris is another good compound that goes on wet, and dries hard. It’s easy to work into various holes and cracks. But, can it be used to repair drywall?

Overall, you can repair drywall with plaster of Paris. Holes that are smaller than 1 inch (2.5 cm) or cracks can be filled in with plaster of Paris using a putty knife. But, according to expert renovators, spackle or builder’s mud is better, and plaster of Paris is instead best used as a final coat.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on July 20, 2022.

Another good option is to create a mixture of Spackle or builder’s mud, and add plaster of Paris. The most important thing is to mix them very well together because they have different drying times.

Can You Patch Drywall With Plywood?

Man fixing the drywall

Plywood is a very common building material and comes in a range of different thicknesses. Holes in drywall can be large or small, and covering them using plywood can be a good option. To figure how it actually could be done is a bit tricky, so here’s whether it is indeed possible to patch drywall using plywood.

In general, plywood can be used to patch drywall. Plywood is best for holes that are about 5 inches (12 cm) in size, where it’s used as a framing to install a piece of drywall to fit into the hole. This is done by cutting a square area around the hole, and screwing in plywood strips along each of the sides.

This is then used as a place to screw in a piece of drywall that is cut to fit. Without the plywood framing there is nothing to screw the drywall patch into. Plywood isn’t the only wood that can be used, and any other type of wood can be used too.

Can You Use Cardboard To Patch Drywall?

Confused man standing

When patching drywall, builders mud or Spackle is applied wet. With larger holes, there needs to be at the back of the hole to provide something for the builder’s mud or Spackle to be applied on to. But, can cardboard be used to patch drywall, or used as a backing for the builder mud or Spackle.

As a general rule, you can use cardboard to patch drywall. Cardboard can be used to create a surface for builder’s mud, or Spackle to sit on while it dries. However, a specially made patch is easier to use. It’s quite difficult to use cardboard as a patch, below is how to do it.

The idea for using cardboard requires that the cardboard be stuck to the back of the hole. Doing so requires double sided tape. You would need to push the cardboard through the hole, and then attach a piece of string to the middle and pull it against the back of the drywall.

At the end of this article is the best method to patch drywall. It’s best to use these methods rather than cardboard.

Can You Use Wood Filler To Patch a Drywall Hole?

Tools tp use for drywall holes

Wood filler has a similar texture and works in a similar way to compounds used to repair drywall such as builder’s mud/clay and Spackle. Wood filler is designed to be used on wood, so here’s if it’s possible to use wood filler to patch holes in drywall.

Overall, wood filler can be used to patch holes in drywall. However, it should only be used on small holes that are 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter or smaller. Larger holes should be patched with Spackle or builder’s mud. It’s designed specifically for drywall, whereas wood filler is not.

Wood filler can often be dark colored, so if you’re going to use it, then use a very light colored wood filler. Wood filler is also typically significantly more expensive than Spackle or builder’s mud. So, it’s much better for larger holes.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/20/2022.

How To Fill Holes in Drywall Correctly

Confused man standing

Holes in drywall can be of different sizes. This makes it more or less difficult to fill them in. But, it’s important to use the right method to fill in holes in drywall so the repair lasts a very long time. So, here are instructions for how to fill holes in drywall the right way.

In general, use either Spackle or builder’s mud, and fill them in with a putty knife. Wait for it to dry, sand it, and then paint it. If your drywall has a specific texture like Santa Fe style, use what’s called a knockdown texture in a can. There are additional caveats explained below.

A specific texture like orange peel, or Santa Fe style, which is very popular in Europe, but can also be found in the USA, can also be created yourself. Details on how to do that are shown in the video at the end of this article. Here’s a more detailed overview of all the steps for filling holes in drywall.

Holes larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm) will need a backing. A backing can be patches that are specifically designed for drywall, or a piece of drywall can be cut to fit. Specially made drywall hole patches are stuck over the hole.

You then apply builder’s mud or Spackle on top of it using a putty knife. Doing so pushes it through the patch and sticks to the back of the patch. The other method for much larger holes or if you prefer not to use a stick on patch is to use a piece of drywall to patch a hole.

To do this you need to install a frame around the hole. The piece of drywall patch is screwed into the frame. Before installing the frame, first cut a reasonably perfect square around the hole using a utility knife.

And break off the pieces of drywall to make a square hole. This makes it far easier to install the frame, and cut a matching piece of drywall to fit into it.

Overall, fill them in using Spackle or builder’s mud/clay using a putty knife, wait for it to dry, sand it off, and then paint it. Holes larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm) will require a patch or backing for the compound to adhere to. Details on how to do that are explained below.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/20/2022.

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