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Drywall Maintenance Tips

The more time you work in your business or live in your home, the more commonplace drywall repairs will become. Damaged ceilings and walls can occur for many reasons: water, young children, pets, teens, social gatherings, etc.



Sheetrock and gypsum wallboard are other labels for drywall that comprises most interior spaces. This material is strong; nevertheless, very susceptible to water damage and indentations or cracks. Damage can arise with normal day to day living thanks to pets and individuals. Just having a doorknob make contact with the drywall can leave a ring of damage or maybe a hole if nothing prevents contact.

Among the unappealing damaged drywall list consists of peeling joint tape, cracks, holes, and dings. You need to properly mend these problems before putting a brand new coat of paint on. Luckily, nearly all drywall problems can be fixed easily. If you have the proper hand tools and resources, it is simple to fix most drywall problems.

Before commencing any DIY object, safety is paramount. Common drywall repairs including cracks beneath windows, sagging ceilings and doorknob dents still require adequate safety precautions.

Mind Your Back When Working With Drywall

Drywall is very heavy and it is necessary to lift with caution or you can do any harm to yourself. Modest drywall repairs can be found in 2-foot square pieces or you can find 4x8' sheets available. Most contractors buy in bulk and then cut down the size they need from full sheets. Never forget that a full piece of ½-inch drywall weighs in at around 54 lbs.

Arrange your delivery and pickup in advance by hiring help ahead of time. Always lift with your knees and definitely not your back as this is a significant and awkward load. Don't plan on lifting drywall by yourself. Take care when leaning pieces against a wall since they can tumble over and crush pets and children.

Don’t Leave Empty Buckets Unsupervised Around Kids

While you can buy premixed joint compound in a variety of different bucket sizes, many opt for 5-gallon buckets. Young children and small children need to be protected from 5-gallon buckets. They could fall accidentally headfirst inside the bucket while innocently glancing in. Unfortunately, kids can drown in only one inch of water should they become trapped in the bucket. Never leave buckets outdoors to catch rainwater. Drilling holes in pails that are used primarily for carrying instead of mixing is an easy safety precaution.

Remove Drywall Dust

Sanding layers of joint compound perfectly into a smooth finish produces tons of powdery, uncomfortable drywall dust. This produces a respiratory irritant because it is full of fine particulate matter including gypsum and silica. This produces a respiratory irritant because it's full of fine particulate material including gypsum and silica. If possible, create a well-ventilated area by cracking open windows and doors.

Hire someone to use a shop vac and closely follow you all through the sanding process. Make certain your shop vacuum is certified with a HEPA filtering system. IEradicate even more dust afterward with your household vacuum. Next, wet-dust baseboards, shelves, window ledges and also the fireplace mantle and then mop all floors to grab more drywall dust. Tape off all heater air vents with a piece of paper or your drop cloth to curtail dust from settling there.



Research Different Joint Compounds To Use the Right Kind

Understand that there's two designated types of premixed drywall compounds to pick from. The all-purpose and lightweight products perform differently. In comparison to the all-purpose compound, the lightweight item calls for less drying time and weighs less than the all-purpose kind. The lightweight product doesn’t take as much sanding effort. The all-purpose compound is cheaper and dries more durable than the lightweight version.

Quick application is noted for either compound. They can survive at room temperature for roughly 9 months. Choose a 5-gallon bucket when you have major drywall repairs to complete.


There is a dry-mix joint compound available on the market too. This is a powder form product that needs to be mixed to the right consistency with water before using. With regards to economical options, the dry-mix compound will cost less than premixed versions. The premix version is quicker and easier to apply; specifically for DIY choices.

Common Doorknob Damage

We’ve practically all witnessed it. Opening a door too harshly can lead to undesirable indents, circular or semi-circular that occur, or even a hole from the doorknob striking the drywall. It can occur even if your door was opened casually, unfortunately, if there's no stopper to catch it. An effective fix is to apply a peel-and-stick repair. These safeguards consist of an adhesive-backed screen made from aluminum. It features a fibreglass mesh for reinforcement. These are actually manufactured for easy application. Simply remove the backing and push the patch above the hole.

Use a joint compound over the patch with a 4” to 6” wide drywall knife. Carefully force the compound through the mesh by using the right amount of pressure during application. Once the compound dries, sand it lightly and include a thinner, second coat of compound. Somewhat lengthen the second compound coat a few inches beyond the first coat. Do this process a third time and when everything has dried, lightly sand the surface. After it is even and seamless, prime and paint your patch.

Cracks In the Drywall

Drywall fractures are seen vertically below and above windows and doors. Hairline cracks are normally brought on when the house frame settles and the wood shrinks. Utilize a sanding sponge to begin repairs by sanding the crack until it's smooth. Vacuum the fracture to eradicate all of the debris and dust as soon as your sanding is complete.

These kinds of cracks are frequently found above or below doors and windows. These vertical cracks are often caused by your house frame settling due to lumber shrinkage. Use a sanding sponge to prep the fractures. First, smooth them with sanding after which vacuum away the dust. Take a putty knife and apply a thin coating of joint compound. When it has dried, sand it smooth and vacuum. Apply a second thin coat and repeat the process. Once the repair is finally completed and flush with the rest of the drywall, it's prime and paint.

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