There are numerous reasons why someone would be looking for drywall repairs. Today I was buying a sandwich at a local restaurant and a group of teenagers bragged that they had just finished repairing the walls of a party that got out of hand and hoped their parents wouldn’t notice when they returned; I wonder who will be more surprised.

Doors are known to hold a grudge against drywall. People have been known to push, hit, or even fall through cast at various stages of life. If you have decided to rent a property, you may be receiving a difficult education on how much bizarre and miscellaneous damage can occur to the walls. Perhaps you bought your first home and are noticing some cracks or popping of nails; check your contract, a good chunk of that should be covered in your initial warranty.

Regardless of the source of the damage to your drywall, you must now decide whether it is worth spending your time repairing these areas or whether you will hire someone else to complete the task for you. Whether you are doing the repairs yourself or discussing the cost with contractors, these points may help:

1) Nothing is perfect, mainly you are creating the perception of perfection, when repairing even a small damage, you will want to widen your repair area to get a larger surface that absorbs the repair. This will help divert the eye from inconsistencies that even the best repair can leave behind.

2) If the drywall is broken, severely cracked, or noticeably uneven, you will most likely need to remove and reinforce a section behind the wall board. I have found 1 “x3” pine to be a great resource for providing a firm backing and plenty of room to attach the repaired section to an existing drywall. There are some reinforced surface patching materials, but unless you are used to working with them, they can be difficult to texture.

3) Hot muds (joint compounds that have a set dry time) and spray textures are ideal for smaller areas. When working with hot mud, check the label and give yourself plenty of time before the material hardens as they tend to be a bit more difficult to apply with tools and difficult to sand. Spray textures are great for small repairs, as they save you from having to take out your texturing kit and dry it much faster than conventional texture.