Drywall repair

[Cheap5.0]

Im asking here, because its been proven the members of this forum are the handiest bunch of people of all the forums i belong too

I am putting laminate flooring down this weekend in room, while im doing it and the room is empty of furniture id like to repair a 2'x2' section of drywall that got water damaged from an open window last summer.

I am pretty sure i can figure out the proper technique to repair the wall, but im wondering where can i get a partial sheet of drywall?

Do i just have to buy a full sheet and throw the rest out, or do the big box guys keep scraps around?

Also, if anyone has any tips they would like to pass on...im all ears!

 

[bmxr4life87]

Box stores around here sell a 4x4 half sheet pretty common

 

[1991Syclone]

Lowes and Home dept sell partial sheets of plywood so you don't have to buy a whole big sheet. I had to repair a hole in the garage ceiling and used that.

I added a 2x4 between some studs in the ceiling so that i had something to screw the edges into. Just make sure you cut out all the rotten parts, have something secure to screw it to and you should be good to go.

 

[rasit]

Do i just have to buy a full sheet and throw the rest out, or do the big box guys keep scraps around?QUOTE]

You can get a 2'x2' piece at the big box stores. It will cost you about half as much as a full sheet....

 

[little d]

The trick to patching an area like that is to "feather out" your joints as much as possable. What I do is use the cheese cloth type tape, its sticky and will stick to the sheet rock with out any mud. stick it on over lapping where it meets. Take a 6" knife and lay in the bed mud, ya want this as shallow as possable, just covering your tape. let that set over nite. if ya layed the bed mud in smooth and flat you shouldent have to sand it but if it is rough, hit the high spots to get it smooth.
it is critical that you dont have any junk in your mud, if you do, throw it out and go get some more, its cheep compared to the ageravation you will have if it has chunks in it. now after you water down the mud a little (it doesent take much, ya want it about like penutbutter)take a 12" knife and make 2 passes on the joints, one above and one below, or each side of the joint, overlapping just a little, in other words a 24" skim coat. ya put a little more presure on the knife blade on the out side of the skim coat and again the inside(where the joint is) is as shallow as possable, just covering the bed mud.
let that dry over nite. now using a sander, cut in the out side edges so that it is a smooth transesion from the sheet rock to the mud, if you can feel it you WILL see it, then sand the rest as smoth and flat as posable. chances are there will be spots that need to be fixed, i always do anyway, so take your 6" kinfe, fix them and again, let that dry sand and you should be good to go.

 

[wssix99]

Here are the instructions. Some hints for your repair:

- Use a mirror to look at the back side of the drywall after you cut your hole to make sure you have cut out all the water damage. Any place that was wet will show up as stained on the back paper.
- Use screws to fasten the patch.
- Use scrap pieces of 2X4 to act as a backer to mend the existing drywall to your patch where you don't have good overlap with studs.

 

[shoot summ]

As stated most of the home centers sell smaller "patch" pieces of drywall, you pay nearly as much as a full sheet for it though.

An oscillating tool is great for cutting out the old piece. For areas that don't overlap a stud just get some 1/4" plywood scraps, hold it to the back of the old existing drywall and run a screw though the drywall into the 1/4" ply. Creates some "tabs" around the opening you can screw to.

 

[dodge610]

Lumber yards sell partial sheets in varying sizes and the pricing is not really that bad.

 

[jhelrey]

Sometimes you can find damaged sheets for super cheap.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Your local Habitat for humanity might have some scraps. I also see people giving away scrap drywall on craigslist all the time. That said Lowes and Home depot both sell 2x2 sheets. But they cost almost as much as a full one.