How to Repair Drywall

How do you DIY repair drywall in your house? We will show you how. Check out our video tutorials with step-by-step instructions, our slideshows, and our discussion boards. And don't miss our best, top, and new drywall repair projects. Join the Hometalk DIY repair community and let us help you succeed in your home repair job.

Advice for Repairing Drywall
Repair dents in the drywall
Use a taping knife to apply spackle to the dent, then leave to dry for a day. Use sandpaper for smoothing, then repeat until the dent is gone.
Spray over cracks in the walls
Look for cracks, often found around doors and windows. Fill with a patching compound, then use crack-repair spray to cover the imperfections.
Patch up small holes
Use a hammer to carefully depress nail holes further. Fill with a thin layer of spackling paste – apply carefully and add more coats if needed.
Patch up medium holes
Acquire self-adhesive patches to help the spackle dry. As with smaller holes, apply paste in thin layers and add more coats if required.
Patch up large holes
Use a powder-based joint compound. These are better suited for wider and deeper holes, and you need to be careful when smoothing the compound.
Top Projects for Repairing Drywall

Check out our top DIY drywall repair projects here. We hope you like it!

Drywall Repair Videos

Watch our step-by-step instructional videos on how to repair broken drywall.

The Easiest Drywall Patch

I learned this patch method from a handyman friend of mine and I’ve used it more times than I can count. It saves time and money because you don’t need to buy a patch kit, nor install wood brackets or braces inside your wall to secure the patch.

How to Repair Damaged Drywall AfterYour Baseboards Were Removed...

I was called to a home where these folks were getting new tile flooring and they did the do it yourself (diy) baseboard removal themselves before the flooring was going to be put in. Unfortunately they forgot to or didn't know to take a razor knife and score the top of the baseboard caulk where the baseboard meets the wall. If you don't do that you're going to tear the paper on the drywall.

Make Your Own Shiplap

The most popular accent wall right now is shiplap. Made famous mostly by Joanna Gaines, star of HGTV's Fixer Upper. Learn how to make your own shiplap

How to Patch Large Drywall Holes

Big holes in drywall (6”+ across) are a little tricky to tackle. They’re too big for a patch, so you’ll actually need to buy a panel of drywall and patch it with that. We’ll show you how!

New Drywall Repair Projects

Here are the new DIY drywall repair projects at Hometalk. Check them out!

Browse Drywall Repair Projects
How to Repair Ceiling Drywall Cracks and Holes
How to Find a Stud in the Wall With and Without a Stud Finder
How to Fix a Crack in a Wall or Ceiling Quickly & Easily
How To Fix Torn Drywall Paper
DIY Perfect Baseboards
Make Your Own Shiplap
Common Molding Mistakes and How to Fix Them
How to repair settling cracks in the drywall.
How to Repair Damaged Drywall AfterYour Baseboards Were Removed...
The Easiest Drywall Patch
DIY Whitewash Plank Wall
How to Patch Large Drywall Holes
DIY fix to hide damaged walls or paneling
The Easiest Way to Fill a Hole in Your Wall