Lowes Home Improvement

Lowes Home Improvement is a rapidly expanding franchise that is serving it's customers across the nation. They have begun to expand these services into Canada with new stores planned across North America.

Lowes Home Improvement Tip - Repairing a Small Hole in Drywall
You can easily repair smaller holes in your drywall that are less than 4 inches in diameter. A nice, easy to use product is currently available. It consists of a self adhesive mesh attached to a non corroding metal drywall patch. It is no longer necessary to build up a small hole with filler material and wait between each subsequent layer. The most difficult part now is the spackling.

Patch the Hole
Measure the hole size you want to patch. Go to your local supply - Lowes Home Improvement is great, and buy the properly sized adhesive drywall patch. You should be able to find them in a 4", 6" and 8" patch size. Then you should only need to just peel and stick. Loews Home Improvement carries an expansive supply of drywall materials. They should have an appropriate product.

Time to Neaten up with Joint Repair Compound
Joint repair compound is not as thick as spackle and is made for smaller hole repairs such as nail holes or small dings. Spackle is thicker and will not spread as easy. It will not produce optimum results in these instances. You should not use spackle. Use wallboard joint compound.
Using a wide wallboard tape knife, trowel on 2 or 3 layers of the wallboard joint compound covering the wall patch.
Be sure to cover all the pores in the adhesive mesh and continue application of the compound outside the repair patch by approximately six inches. Blend or feather the material into the surrounding area. Allow the repaired area to dry and then sand smooth with a sanding block or drywall sanding material. You should be able to find all the tools necessary at a big box store such as Lowes Home Improvement. 
You should not just use a sheet of sandpaper and your hand. This will always result in a surface that does not appear perfectly flat when painted. If required, repeat the application of joint compound, feathering and sanding. The larger home building supply stores such as Loews Home Improvement will often conduct seminars to teach you these home repairs.

Priming and Painting
After you have created a nice smooth and flat repair, it is time to prime. Cover the repaired area with an appropriate primer for your paint product. Again, Lowes Home Improvement staff will gladly assist you in selecting primer and paint that will serve your needs. They will mix the color you require and provide a sample of the color as it will appear after it dries. A great way to help blend in the patch is to use a small roller with a medium nap. If you simply apply the primer to the wall, it will have a different texture to the surrounding wall paint. After the wall is primed and dry, paint it with matching wall paint or repaint the wall entirely if you experience difficulty in matching your old color.

Larger Repairs
Repairing larger holes in drywall up to about 24 inches square differs from repairing small holes in drywall. You will require a large section of drywall and possibly structural support for the patch. These products are all available at stores like Lowes Home Improvement.

Prepare Opening
Unlike a small hole in drywall where you need only cover the hole with an adhesive patch, holes larger than 8 inches require a piece of drywall. Using a framing square, mark off a rectangular section around the area to be repaired. Trim the receiving area neatly to prepare for the insertion of the drywall patch.

Support Blocking likely Required
The patch will probably be supported and fastened to two of the sides of the opening with wood blocking. If possible you should support the wallboard patch in all four corners. Cut two lengths of scrap wood 4" to 6" longer than the cut out area. You can use 1x4 or a 2x4. Place one length of wood along the longest edge inside the hole. Position it so that half of it's surface is revealed and the other half is covered by the existing wallboard. Holding the board in place, fasten it with 1" to 1-1/2" long drywall screws. Place a screw at the ends and about 6" apart along the length of the opening. Repeat with the other side.

Install Drywall Wallboard Patch
Measure the thickness of the existing wall or ceiling you're repairing and make sure to use the same thickness of wallboard for the patch. Check supply at Loews Home Improvement. Determine measurements for the area to receive the patch. Cut a piece of drywall to fit the opening. Insert the patch into the opening. Be sure the light color paper on the drywall is the surface that will be painted. Secure the patch to the blocking supports with the drywall screws in each corner and approximately 6" apart.

Tape Joints of Drywall Patch
You can either use paper joint tape and drywall mud but you will find the repair is easier using a fibreglass mesh adhesive backed joint tape. It is stronger than paper tape and does not require drywall an undercoat of adhesive material. Cut lengths of the fibreglass mesh tape and apply to the joints of the patch. Be sure to cover the entire length of seam with one continuous piece. Overlap the corner joints.

Apply Wallboard Joint Compound as described above.

Prime Patched Area and Finish Paint as described above.
Remember, Lowes Home Improvement can help you.