3 Tips To Make Your Next Ceiling Repair Invisible
There’s nothing terribly fun about performing ceiling repairs for damaged drywall. Repairing drywall is a tedious process that requires a good deal of preparation, patience, and persistence. When done correctly, even a small patch can take a couple of days. And on top of all that, it’s also messy. Professional drywallers describe sheetrock installation and repair as a bit of an artform. And if you could see before and after shots of some of their work, you would probably agree. But there are some tricks that you can use to help make your next repair disappear.
Before we get into our tips and tricks for ceiling repair, there are a couple of caveats we’ll mention. There are a few types of damage that will be beyond the scope of this article and would necessitate looking at drywall companies to handle the repairs. Any water damage will require not only repairing the ceiling, but finding and fixing the cause of the leak. Small water stains on the ceiling are just a symptom of a much bigger problem. Any ceiling damage near or against crown molding will be more difficult to repair. And finally, any damage near or against a light fixture might call for the services of an electrician. So be careful when working close to any electrical devices.
Cut A Big Hole
A small hole or scratch can often be filled with sheetrock joint compound, but anything larger than a quarter is worth cutting into a larger, more regular shape for a professional style patch and repair. Of course, most homeowners are shocked at the idea of cutting into their walls. But with some sheetrock repairs, it makes sense to make a bigger hole. This is especially true in cases where the edges of the damaged area are broken and dented. Your repair will be much stronger and easier to work with if you have solid sheetrock on all sides.
So cut a square hole making sure that the sheetrock is solid on all sides of the new hole. Now take the piece of sheetrock that you just cut out and lay it on a new piece of sheetrock. Use the old piece as a stencil and trace the outline using a pencil. Avoid using a pen, as sometimes the ink will show through paint. Once you have traced the shape of the hole onto the new piece of drywall cut it out with a utility/drywall knife.
Use Drywall Clips
Once you’ve cut your patch drywall to size you’ll need to insert it into the ceiling. There are many different methods you can use to attach the new piece of sheetrock to the ceiling, but we want the fastest and easiest. Drywall clips are the perfect solution. These clips will hold the new piece of drywall flush to the ceiling. Using drywall clips, secure the new piece of drywall to the ceiling using drywall screws. Make sure to the screws are in far enough to cause a small depression in the sheetrock immediately around them. This way you can put joint compound over them without forming bumps. Once secured, fill the gaps around the patch with joint compound, then tape the egdes and put a thin layer of compound over the tape. Make sure to extend the compount well past the tape so that you can feather the drywall. This is a crucial part of making your repair invisible. Usually 3-4 inches is enought.
Use A Flashlight
Once you’ve put the first layer of compound over the patch, allow 24 hours for it to dry. The next step is to sand it down. Since the ceiling repair is now raised up compared to the rest of the ceiling it will cast a shadow. Using a flashlight held close to the ceiling shine light across the patch to find the areas that need the most sanding. The less shadow that it casts, the less likely you are to see the patch. Once sanded, apply another coat of joint compound. Add a bit of water to the compound to make it a bit thinner. This will make the second sanding easier. Allow 24 hours to dry, then repeat the process until there is very little shadow.
There’s nothing fun about working for extendend periods with your hands above your head. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what is required for this sort of fix. But with these tips, you’re next ceiling repair will disappear as though it never happened.
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Category: Ceiling Repair