No one wants to see a hole in the walls or ceilings of their home. If your plasterboard has a hole, you’ll want to fill it in quickly for both preventative and aesthetic purposes.
Holes could lead to more damage if you don’t fix them soon, and they’re not pleasant to look at.
The good news is that you don’t need a professional to fill holes in your plasterboard. Instead, you can handle it yourself in just a few steps.
To fill holes in plasterboard, you can use a repair kit or cut around the holes and add new plasterboard. If you have to cut a new patch, you may need to add furring strips and joint tape for support. Then, cover the patch with joint compound and sand it smooth for future painting.
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What Is Plasterboard?
Plasterboard is another name for drywall. It also goes by names gypsum board and wallboard. This popular construction material contains gypsum sandwiched between a facer and a backer board.
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In construction, experts use plasterboard for interior walls and ceilings. It’s easier to install than lathe and plaster layouts, it’s lightweight, and it has a smooth surface for easy decorating.
It also comes in different forms that offer various protections. The following are some of the most common plasterboard types:
| Type Of Plasterboard | Common Uses |
|---|---|
| Dense | High-density board that protects against damage |
| Fire-resistant | Fulfils building regulations for fire safety |
| Moisture-resistant | Protects against moisture damage, especially for external boards |
| Sound-resistant | High-density board that insulates sound; also called acoustic plasterboard |
| Vapour-resistant | Moisture protection; often has a foil backing; can be used with insulation |
How To Fill Small Holes In Plasterboard
Small holes – up to about two and half inches – are the easiest to repair. There are plasterboard/drywall patch kits available at most home improvement retailers.
You should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any product, but here is a general guide to help you along.
What You’ll Need
- Patch kit
- Spackling or lightweight joint compound
- Sandpaper
- Joint knife
1. Clean The Hole And Apply The Repair Patch
Scrape the edges of the hole with your joint knife to remove any loose and crumbling pieces of drywall.
Following the instructions on the package, apply the self-adhesive mesh repair patch over the hole. You can also use strips of self-adhesive mesh without buying a whole repair kit.
2. Cover The Patch With Compound
Using a joint knife, cover the patch with either a lightweight joint compound or spackling compound. Use an “X” pattern as you apply and “feather” the edges for better blending with the wall.
“Feathering” is increasing both the pressure and angle on the knife as you pull towards the outer edges. As a result, the compound thins out in a gradual manner.
3. Apply A Second Coat Of Compound (Optional) And Sand
Let the first layer of compound dry. After that, if it doesn’t appear to completely cover the mesh, you can add a second coat. You can do so using the same method as the first.
Once any and all layers of compound are dry, sand the surface. Not only will this smooth out any uneven patches, but it will allow for better paint adhesion.
How To Repair Medium Holes In Plasterboard
Anything between two and a half and six inches requires a little more effort than a patch kit.
What You’ll Need
- Square plasterboard patch two inches in width and height larger than the hole
- Plasterboard saw
- Utility knife
- Pencil
- Joint compound
- Sandpaper
- Joint knife
1. Score The Back Of Your Plasterboard Patch
Using a utility knife, score a square on the back of your plasterboard patch, about one inch from each edge.
2. Break Away The Hard Gypsum
Break the gypsum wall at the scoring lines but be careful to leave the paper intact.
Afterwards, you’ll be left with a smaller square of wall inside a larger square of paper.
3. Trace The Patch Onto Your Wall And Cut A Hole
Place the small square against your wall, centring it over the hole. The large paper side should be facing you.
Then, trace the edges of the smaller square onto your wall; don’t include the paper border.
Once the outline is in place, use your drywall saw to cut out the outline on your wall.
Note: Be sure there are no electrical wires in the wall around where you’re cutting.
4. Apply Your Compound And The Patch
Using your joint knife, add joint compound to the back of the paper border of your patch. Then, insert the gypsum square into the hole you just cut, pressing the paper against the wall.
Smooth out the edges of the paper so there are no bubbles or flaps.
5. Apply A Second Coat Of Compound (Optional) And Sand
Let the first layer of compound dry. Then, if necessary, you can add a second coat.
Sand the compound after it dries for easier painting later.
How To Fix Large Holes In Plasterboard
You can fill large holes over six inches using a similar method to filling medium holes.
What You’ll Need
- Square plasterboard patch a little larger than the hole
- Pencil
- Plasterboard saw
- Furring strip (a small and thin piece of wood)
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Joint tape
- Joint compound
- Sandpaper
- Joint knife
1. Trace The Patch And Cut The Wall
Centre your square over the hole in your wall and trace the edges with a pencil.
With a plasterboard saw, cut out the traced shape. Above all, be sure not to cut any electrical wires that may be inside the wall.
2. Put Furring Strips In The Hole
Screw a furring strip to the left and right edges of new hole in your hole. Make sure the wood strips are longer than the edges of your square.
Additionally, you only need to add screws to the top and bottom of the strip, screwing straight through the plasterboard.
3. Screw The Patch To The Furring Strips
Place the plasterboard patch into the hole and screw the edges to the furring strips.
In the same way as the furring strips, you only need two screws per side on the patch.
4. Put Joint Tape On The Edges Of The Patch
Apply joint tape, making sure it overlaps the edges of both the patch and the hole in the wall. Since the patch is large, the mesh joint tape will provide a stronger bond between the patch and the wall.
As a result, there will be less movement underneath the joint compound you’ll add next. It will also help prevent more damage in the future.
5. Apply Joint Compound And Sand
Cover the patch area with joint compound, feathering out the edges. Then, let the compound dry and apply a second coat if necessary.
Once all of the compound is dry, sand it smooth against the wall.
Summary
Plasterboard is one of the most popular construction materials today. However, plasterboard can still suffer damage from everyday life.
This can range from nicks and dings to full-on holes. If you have the latter, it can be frustrating, but it is fixable.
A repair patch kit can help with the small holes, along with some joint compound. Medium or large holes, however, will need a full plasterboard patch. But either way, you can fix your holes in no time.