I have a small hole (2" x 1") in my drywall. The problem is that it is very close to a work box, so the smallest patch I can find it 4" x 4".
What can I do to patch this hole?
Drywall – Patching a Small Hole in Drywall
drywall
Related Solutions
Since you want to have the drywall piece be 5" high I think you will want to have backer behind it for its full height. Consider making it 5.5" high and then using a piece of 2x6 lumber (that comes 5.5 inches wide) as the backer piece. Cut a couple of pieces to straddle across the bottom of this opening at the back and middle to hold up the shelf the full length. To install the front backer piece pre-drill clearance holes through the 2x6 that let your screws slide in place. Then use screws about 3" long to secure through the existing drywall at the corners. This will end up surprisingly strong! See picture below.
The trick to get the 2x6 to screw in place would be to start two screws from each end on each side (eight screws total) and tighten them down evenly and gradually. Make sure to stagger the pre-drilled holes from side to side of the 2x6 on each end so that the screws do not collide with each other as they enter the existing corner studs.
A hole that size should be taped to prevent cracking. You don't need to use tape though. Another method uses the patch piece of drywall's paper:
Square the opening to be patched.
Cut a pice of drywall about 4" x 4" larger then the hole.
Score the back side of the patch piece of drywall along lines 1 & 2, about 2" in from the end.
Place the drywall face down on a table, lining up the score line with the edge of the table and snap it along the line.
Repeat steps 3 & 4 for score lines 3 & 4.
Peal the outer edges of the drywall off leaving just the front paper so that your pice looks like fig 2.
Place the patch pice over the hole and mud.
Related Topic
- Drywall – How to detect patch on drywall
- Drywall – Must I replace drywall after very small fire
- Drywall hole slightly too large for mounting bracket to cover
- Drywall – Patching small-medium drywall hole with wall cutout
- Plumbing – How to support this large drywall patch
- Drywall – the best process for a first-timer doing a small drywall finishing job
- Drywall – Cheapest way to screw in drywall close to a big hole without patching the hole
Best Answer
Using a level, and straight edge, draw a tight rectangle around the hole. Using a razor blade, or drywall saw, cut a clean hole. A saw will allow you to remove most of the material, and the razor will cut it cleanly. Then you can use the hole as a template to cut out the patch.
Before the patch can be installed, you will need to install a backer board to prevent the patch from falling inside of the wall. You can use just about any piece of wood as long as it is thick enough to hold a drywall screw without splitting. The wood needs to be long enough to be securely attached to the existing drywall on 2 opposite sides for strength. The screws must be at least an inch away from the edge of the hole so it does not crumble. You can also put a screw in the middle of the backer board prior to installation to give you something to hold onto while it is being installed.
Then screw the patch to the backer board to hold it in place. You can then clean up the edges of the drywall pieces to fix any imperfections. Use drywall compound to fill in the cracks, and cover up the screw heads. Keep this coat very thin, and just put in enough to fill in the voids. Let this dry, and then tape the edges with drywall tape. After this, you can skim coat the whole area to blend in the patch.