There are a thousand different ways that drywall becomes damaged, from small nicks as we move furniture to large holes from leaks or accidents. Fortunately, drywall is not too hard to repairusing a few simple steps. First, if the drywall is damaged by water, make sure the sourse of the problem is properly remedied.

To fix nail-holes and small scrapes, dents and holes, simply use a putty knife and light-weight spackle to fill the space  and smooth off the surface. After it dries, sand the spot  with fine sandpaper. If it is still not perfectly level, apply a little more spackle and repeat the process.

For holes or gaps larger than a dime, the repair will take more steps. You will need to spread drywall tape over the gap, and then smoothly apply drywall compound with a wide-bladed putty knife. Apply only a thin layer of drywall compound. When it has dried, use a drywall sanding pad to smooth it out. Repeat the process if the surface is not yet smooth.

If the damaged spot is larger than a softball, you will probably need to create a patch using a new piece of drywall. Some home-improvement stores will sell leftover or partial pieces of drywall for this purpose. First, use a good utility knife and a ruler to make your hole into a rectangle or square. If you can widen the hole until it has a stud on either side, that will provide the easiest fix. If not, you will need to create some tabs for the drywall patch to be screwed to. Get four pieces of wood, 3 or 4 inches square, and screw them behind the drywall surrounding the hole, so that there is at least 1 inch of wood visible in the hole.

Now cut your drywall patch to the size of the hole and set it in place. Use drywall screws to attach the piece to your exposed studs or the tabs you created. Next, apply drywall tape to the joints and spread drywall compound over the tape using a broad putty knife. Allow it to dry, then sand with a sheetrock sanding pad. Repeat if necessary.

No matter the size of your drywall patch, you will need to put primer on the spot before you repaint it. After priming, you will likely need to repaint that section of wall, as it probably cannot be painted to match the surrounding wall.

If your home or office has drywall damage, new star painting can quickly and expertly repair the affected area so that it looks just as good as new. Our craftsmen use the finest materials and techniques to restore walls and get them ready for a spectacular paint job. We are happy to provide a free estimates for all drywall repair and painting projects in the Kitsap County