8 Common Drywall Repair Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Drywall repair looks easy enough to DIY right? Many Phoenix homeowners quickly discover though, that it takes skills and experience to do the work flawlessly. Indeed, many homeowners find it takes twice as much time as they budgeted, simply because they have to spend so much time fixing the mistakes they made while doing drywall repair.

If you're getting ready to tackle some do-it-yourself chores around the house in the coming weeks, take note of these common drywall mistakes…

1. Trying To Hang Drywall Alone

   If you're drywall repair job is just a small patch job, then obviously you can do it by yourself. However, if you're hanging full sheets of drywall, which are 8'-12' typically then it's better to have an extra set of hands helping you. Drywall is relatively heavy, so holding it straight while securing it yourself will just lead to crooked drywall, or even hanging drywall too close together. Not to mention, the job will go more quickly and you'll make fewer mistakes if you have a partner helping you.

2. Over Sanding

   If you've ever tried to smooth the joints on a wall while hanging drywall or doing a drywall repair job, then you know this part is tricky. Perhaps the #1 mistake is to over-sand the joint, which can damage the drywall. If this happens, you'll need to apply a fresh coat of joint compound and start again… carefully.

3. Nailed it!

   Many people who don't have experience hanging drywall use nails instead of screws. This is particularly dangerous on the ceiling, as the heavy drywall can work its way loose. At best you'll end up with sagging drywall. At worst, you'll have a section of drywall come crashing to the floor. Neither of these scenarios are ideal for your home.

   Another reason that you'll want to make sure that you're using screws when repairing or securing your drywall is the possibility of nail pops. Nail pops happen when a nail that rests beneath the drywall pops out of the surface of the wall. If you already have problems with wall pops, you'll need to remove the damaged part of the wall, insert screws, and then patch the area. If the damaged part is small, you can use joint compound to repair the nail hole.

4. Hanging Drywall To Tight

   If you're cutting drywall trying to fit into an area on your wall or ceiling, you may actually run into issues with crumbling edges or other damage. Instead, cut the sheets to fit loosely in the area when you're doing Phoenix drywall repair or replacement — you can leave about 1/8 of an inch between sheets, which the tape and mud will cover.

5. Installing Drywall Joints Around Areas That Move

   If you measure drywall to create a joint alongside a door or window, then the movement from these objects will cause your drywall to crack over time along that joint. That's because even a well-done joint that's properly taped is still fairly weak, so the movement of the door or window will show up as cracks. A better solution is to notch the drywall and fit it around the door or window.

6. Using Too Much Material

   While you need to use tape and mud for your drywall repair, utilizing just the right amount is key. Too little mud won't properly cover the repair area and too much will result in a repair that looks thick and messy. Both will draw your attention each and every time you enter the room reminding you that it's there.

7. Not Protecting Your Belongings

   Let's be honest, drywall work is not an easy clean project to tackle. Dust and debris from cutting the damaged drywall out and trimming the new drywall to fit just right can migrate through the air landing on the floor and your furniture. The sanding process can lead to dust finding its way into nooks and crannies throughout your home. For this reason, it's necessary to cover your work area with plastic to contain the debris. We also recommend utilizing cardboard on the ground to help protect your flooring.

8. Not Knowing When To Call A Professional

   Your inexperience with a drywall repair job can lead to wasted time and money, plus a whole lot of frustration. Save yourself from these difficulties by hiring the professional Phoenix drywall team at Todd Whittaker Drywall, Inc. (TWD). Whether you have a small patch job or need a major renovation, their team can do it quickly, seamlessly, and at a fair price. Find out more by going to https://www.twdaz.com/services/drywall-phoenix/.

It's Time! Call A Professional Drywall Contractor.

Being in the drywall and the construction industry for years, we have heard all of the stories about how homes were damaged, whether from water, weathering elements, disgruntled renters, vehicle accidents and more. We frequently get calls from homeowners who have hired a handyman or what the industry refers to as a "Chuck in the truck" who did a poor job on a repair leaving it looking worse than the original unsightly damage, or didn't even finish the job at all.

Proper drywall finishing technique is the portion of Phoenix drywall repair which takes the most skill, and it's the part that will help ensure you have a beautiful end result that you'll love. A good drywall repair should be practically invisible when complete, meaning no one can tell there was ever damage to your wall. A great job will not only be invisible, it will also enhance the room.

That's what we strive for here at TWD – to hang and finish your drywall in such a way that you can't tell there was ever a problem with your walls or ceilings. We do this by taking great care with our workmanship, which includes these steps:

• Finding out exactly what you want. We have an on-staff designer available to help render your designs. We'll make sure we know exactly what you want before we start any remodeling project or even just a drywall repair project.
• Taking care to protect your belongings. Drywall work can be dusty, which is why our first priority is to make sure we protect your belongings. We'll treat your home as our own.
• Carefully cutting and hanging the drywall to create a seamless look. We always use two-person teams to make sure heavy drywall gets cut and hung correctly and seamlessly.
• Taping to create a smooth surface. This is where we take care to create a smooth surface that's ready for finishing and painting.
• Applying an attractive finish. Whether you just want a smooth surface or you're looking to add some design flair with a textured finish, leave it to our skilled tradesmen to create exactly the look you want.

Point is, TWD offers full-service drywall repair, replacement, and remodeling. From minor drywall touch ups to full home renovations and luxury remodels, no job is too big or small for our team. Still not convinced that TWD is the right contractor for your home improvement project? Hundreds of homeowners across Greater Phoenix can't be wrong when they share their FIVE STAR experience they had working with TWD. Click here to see for yourself, then request your free in-home estimate today.