How can I hide this huge old hole?

Mon Edwards
by Mon Edwards
Hi my question is, how do I go about closing this hole because the wood is missing, I don't know how to apply plaster.
Please help. Ilook forward to hearing your Ideasicon .
Thank you.

Monica
  9 answers
  • William William on Jun 29, 2018

    A drywall patch should work. Cut the plaster so you have straight lines. Measure and cut a piece of drywall to fit. Take the switch cover off. Cut the hole in the drywall patch for the box. Then screw the patch on. Fiberglass tape for the seams and no shrink drywall compound. Sand, smooth, prime, and paint.

  • DD DD on Jun 29, 2018

    Hi Monica This is not something that I have ever attempted but this link sounded like it gave some pretty detailed instruction to repair the wall. https://www.doityourself.com/stry/repairdamageplaster

    In another article it did say to turn off the electric because you are using a moisture compound by the electric and also to be careful with the putty knife by the electrical box

    Good luck, would love to see your finished project!!

    • Mon Edwards Mon Edwards on Jul 02, 2018

      Thanks DD for reminding me about the electric.

      I will post pics when the job is complete.

  • Ft.29298732 Ft.29298732 on Jun 30, 2018

    Hi Monica! I think you can grab some rigid plaster screen at the hardware store or your neighbor‘s stash of extra tif bits if you have a nice neighbor. Get the screen and cut a piece to fit what has no wood or close. Don’t panic; you can double the screen thickness by doing a fold over of pieces to start sticking them around your switch/outlet ( OFF while working) and get it shoved in there. It will stay because it’s thick and yet pliable enough to bend and tuck. You can tap it smoother and flatter after you get your first blob of plaster type stuff they sell or even putty that will stick. The plaster is about one gallon or less in size. Take these pics to the wire mesh Dept. at your local store & they will get you the right kind. It’s not as difficult as you think. That screen has holes the size of your little finger, sometimes a diamond pattern but it will cover the areas with no lath & areas with lath. When used to finish up, you will just be smearing plaster over the lath to build it up to same level. You can do it! Try and a good person may offer to help get it right!;)🌺


    • See 1 previous
    • Ft.29298732 Ft.29298732 on Jul 04, 2018

      You are very welcome & it can’t hurt to try! I made gobs of mistakes & some mini-miracles but it feels good to know you did it or at least tried.🌺

  • Macysmom Macysmom on Jun 30, 2018

    You need to try to dry wall over the spot. Don't worry about the wood hole. Frame houses have 16 inches of space open between the switch and the next stud. William gave great advise. You can do it!!

  • Deen Deen on Jun 30, 2018

    If you go to a local Home Depot/Lowes and ask for Structolite (perilited gypsum) you can mix it with water until it's the consistency of oatmeal, then apply it with a spackle knife until the hole is just slightly less than filled. Stuff newspaper or cardboard into large holes to stop the Structolite from falling into the wall.

    It will dry in a few hours, then can be skim coated with spackle (joint compound) then "sand" the spackle with a very damp tee shirt or other cotton rag. Rinse it out in warm/hot water every once in a while to stop the spackle from loading up in the cloth.

    The Structolite has a very long set time until it is applied to anything absorbent, so you'll have plenty of time to work with it.


    • Mon Edwards Mon Edwards on Jul 03, 2018

      Deen. I appreciate the details you have provided.

      I'm learning so much here. This forum.

      Thank you!

  • Sarah Barganier Sarah Barganier on Jun 30, 2018

    If you don't want to replace the dry wall, you could frame the switch by using a piece of paneling or other decorative wall board with molding around it. [Make it look like a picture frame] You could use something that would be easy to clean also since the area around a switch always seems to get dirty faster.

  • Jan Clark Jan Clark on Jun 30, 2018

    William's answer is on the money. It's the least time consuming, cheapest and easiest of all the answers. Like me, he must have experienced stuff like this before. The easiest way to cut drywall is scoring it with a boxcutter, press for a deeper cut and then snap it and cut the paper on the back side. You'll also want a plastic scraper to smooth the drywall compound. A small roller or brush should be fine for the paint and primer. ASK at the store. Even other customers will help you! I would.

  • Joanne lueke Joanne lueke on Jun 30, 2018

    William is right on! Make sure the power is off to the light switch! Follow William's most excellent instructions and you will be fine.

  • Ellis Ellis on Jul 01, 2018

    Just follow William's instructions, and you'll do fine. I can't tell what thickness the plaster is, but drywall comes in 3/8, 1/2 and 5/8 inch thicknesses.