REPAIRING A HOLE IN PLASTERBOARD / DRYWALL
Tools required : - Pad saw / Stanley knife, tape measure, pencil, cross head screwdriver, adhesive gun, plastering trowel, filler knife, sanding block.
Many recently built properties have plasterboard stuck in place on interior walls (Dot & Dab), this method of fixing the plasterboard’s to the walls leaves voids between the plasterboard and wall, therefore a good knock with a piece of furniture etc, will result in a hole in the plasterboard (see fig 1). The same problem occurs with none load bearing walls such as dividing walls between bedrooms, they will more than likely be constructed from timber and plasterboard / drywall.
Fortunately these holes can be repaired fairly easily by anyone with a little DIY skill and a few tools.
Start the repair by cutting the hole in the plasterboard as square as possible (see fig 2) using a pad saw or sharp knife, taking great care the knife does not slip as a lot of pressure may need to be applied to cut through the plasterboard.
If the hole when squared up measures as an example 5″ (125mm) square, cut a piece of plasterboard 4 3/4″ (120mm) wide by 7″ (175mm) long. Note you may have to reduce the longer measurement if there isn’t enough space to to slide the new piece of plasterboard behind the existing plasterboard.
Screw a couple of drywall screws around 1″ (25mm) apart in the center of your cut piece, apply a grab adhesive (Gripfill, etc) to each end of the cut piece (see fig 3) and slide the cut piece of plasterboard into position inside the hole, now pull on the two drywall screws gently so the adhesive bonds to the inside edges of the existing plasterboard, hold the piece in position for a couple of minutes until it bonds and then allow the adhesive to set (see fig 4).
As an alternative to using drywall screws for grip you can poke a small hole in the centre of the piece of plasterboard with a screwdriver, then pass a piece of string through the hole and tie it to a small piece of wood (e.g. a peg), when you have placed the piece of plasterboard in position and the adhesive has set , simply cut the string flush with the hole it comes through.
When the piece of cut plasterboard is stuck in position, the remainder of the hole can be filled with an appropriate plaster (e.g. one coat plaster), or if it is only a small hole use a flexible filler. If your finished plaster or filler is not very smooth, use a sanding block to obtain a good level and smooth finish (a short piece of 3″ x 2″ 75mm x 50mm timber with sandpaper wrapped around it will do the job).