Your drywall paper can get damaged owing to a number of reasons.
It can be due to the shifting and settling of furniture, games of children, etc. Moreover, water can also cause damage to the wall.
Therefore, you should know about the appropriate method that will help you repair the wall properly before painting it.
Bringing an easy and comprehensive method, today, I will tell you how to repair torn drywall paper before painting.
Requisitions
Before getting into the procedure, I think that you should have these tools ordered with you for a proper procedure. So, here they are;
- A Scraper
- A Sandpaper
- Primer sealer
- Spray bottle
- Rag
- Setting-type joint compound
- Plastic cloth for floor
- Protective gloves (latex)
So, once you have these tools and equipment with you, get straight to the procedure.
Step By Step Guide
Below is the step-by-step guide to help you get the hands-on experience of the whole procedure.
Cover the Floor
It would help if you always remembered that to do any job of this kind; you have to give utmost importance to housekeeping. Otherwise, you will end up making a mess.
For this purpose, you should use plastic cloth. Cover the floor near the wall to be repaired with it, and you are good to move forward.
Cut Away the Damaged Area
Getting onto the main process, first, you have to clean the wound. Yes, you got that right. Using a scraper, you should clear away all the damaged areas and make them clean and ready to repair.
For this purpose, tilt the blade of the scraper out a little to cut at a slight angle. Remember, you have to cut through the damaged paper.
Peel off the rough fringes of the damaged surface and have a smooth surface in return. It is better to cut through all the damaged layers to have a better repair.
Seal the Wall
The next process is to seal the wound. By this, I mean that you should cover the exposed gypsum with a primer-sealer.
A primer-sealer is a thick compound, just like a cement mixture. It is usually used for filling purposes and processes of this kind.
If you have the sealer in a packed and ready-made form, then before applying, you should shake the can well.
Once you are done with the process, use a brush and apply two coats of this primer-sealer. Remember that before moving forward, you should let the primer dry for around one hour.
Once your second coat is dry, it is time to smooth it using a scraper. This makes the process very authentic to move forward because it eradicates all the interference and flats out things.
Joint Compound
The next step is to apply a coat of joint compound. It should be a setting-type. Most often, it is called mud as well. To make your repair more robust, you should apply its coat to the damaged area.
A thick coat does the job quite well. Using the scraper at an angle, smooth the coat and provide uniformity to it. Remember that you have to leave a thin coat of mud. Therefore, you will have to skim it down.
For this, I recommend you position the scraper at an angle of 30 degrees, and with a medium-level force, bring the scrapper down. The force can exceed the medium level, but it shouldn’t be very high.
Also, do not worry about any ridges. Because once it gets dried off, everything will get fine. But you have to wait for around 30 minutes to let the mud settle.
When it is dried up, the next thing you have to do is removing those ridges. You can easily shave them off. Hence, it is not a big deal.
Now, you might be wondering about the shaving procedure. So, you have to use sandpaper. Applying sandpaper will make everything smooth.
Second Coat
This step is related to the previous one. In fact, it is applying of second coat of joint compound. But you have to make sure of some aspects before doing that.
Using a damp rag, you should clean off the dust because the dust can make the layer weaker. Once it is all cleaned, it is time to apply the second coat.
Once you apply the second coat of settling-type joint compound, you have to skim off the layer. You can apply the scraper strokes in various directions to skim the layer off.
Now, let it dry and shave off all the ridges. Here you have to make observations.
If you think that there is still a need to apply another coat of joint compound, then do it on the previous pattern. But keep the directions opposite for a robust outcome.
Smooth it Out
Now, the last step is to smooth the surface out. For this purpose, you have to use sandpaper. It is up to you to have the desired finish as you like it.
Apply the sandpaper properly to reach your desired level of smoothness. Once you have it, now you should remove the dust using a wet rag, and it is done.
You can remove the moisture using a dry rag on the surface.
Summary of the Procedure
Long story short, here is what you should follow to repair your torn drywall!
- First off, you have to remove all the irregular and torn material using a scraper and smooth the surface up to a good extent.
- The next step is to seal it. For this, you can use the primer-sealer. Two coats are enough. Apply it and smooth it to an extent.
- Then apply the joint compound at intervals. Two or three of its coats are enough. But you can vary it depending on the need.
- Next, you have to remove the ridges using sandpaper.
- After removing the ridges, smooth all the surfaces using appropriate sandpaper to have a good texture.
- Once you have a smooth surface, remove all the dust.
Final Step
The final step is to reach a point where it seems that it never happened before. Sounds interesting, right? Yes, I want you to cure it like it seems perfect.
For this, you have to apply paint to it. Maybe, you would need a prerequisite primer for it. But the main thing is to apply the same paint as your wall.
You can use a brush or paint rollers, whatever suits you, for this purpose. But make it look great.
Using the same quality and same paint on your wall, apply it up to uniformity, and the whole process is done.
Tips & Recommendations
I would like you to follow these tips for better results. So, here they are;
Always wear good-quality gloves to keep your hands protected from chemicals and stuff.
A scraper is a sharp tool, so use it with great care and precaution to not hurt yourself.
Follow the steps accurately to come up with a better outcome.
Do not let the material get uneven as compared to the wall.
Use good material for better results. Otherwise, it will remove the grace of your wall and make it look not good. You do not want it to happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions to address your queries
How to fix and skim coat damaged drywall?
Skim coating usually consists of a joint compound which is also called mud. You apply its coat and then, using a scraper, skim it properly, and repeat the procedure.
I sealed the drywall but got bubbles anyway. Now what?
Not drying properly and using a bad mixture of the compound can cause bubbles.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that you avoid them. If you sealed it anyways, then you would have to do the process again properly, or you may ask an expert.
How to repair damaged drywall after wallpaper removal?
- First of all, you cut the damaged paper using a scraper.
- After that, you apply coatings of primer.
- Then you go for mud/joint compound layers on it.
- After that, you smooth it down with sandpaper.
What do you need to fix a drywall paper tear?
You would primarily need a scraper, sandpaper, primer-sealer, and a joint compound. Other than that, you can have the equipment mentioned above.
How to repair Water-Damaged drywall?
You might have to remove the damaged portion using a scraper and then repeat the whole process that I mentioned above. You can refer an expert or explore more.
How to fix drywall patch marks showing through paint?
Applying a thin coating of drywall compounds can help in this situation.
Wrapping Up
If you want to have great results, you have to be clear in your mind about everything.
You should follow the entire process with great care. If you don’t understand, explore further by keep surfing. It is better to explore more than regretting your haste.
Therefore, get the job done properly. I wish you good luck in the process. Have a wonderful day!