Repairing drywall requires both taping and applying compound.
Holes in sheetrock ceilings (also known as drywall or plasterboard) are fairly simple to fix, but it's important to know that ceiling drywall is 5/8-inch thick and weighs 75 pounds per 4-foot by 8-foot sheet. Therefore, if the hole is large and the surrounding drywall has to be replaced, the new piece of drywall may be quite heavy. Make sure that your ladder is positioned well before starting work, and if your back muscles start to ache, take a short rest and do some stretching.
Instructions
Thumb-sized Holes
1. Look at the size of the hole. If only your thumb will fit in the hole, apply some mesh tape over the hole--sticky side to the drywall--and press it to the drywall, making sure that it is stuck well to the ceiling.
2. Pour some joint compound in a drywall tray. With a 6-inch drywall knife, apply some compound over the tape and surrounding area. Feather out the compound--that is, decrease the thickness of the layer of compound as you move away from the taped area. This will make it less obvious that the compound is thicker on the tape than on the surrounding area.
3. Wait for the compound to completely dry overnight, then sand the area with medium sandpaper to get rid of the bumps and ridges. If there are any ridges left or any tape showing through, apply more compound, wait for it to dry and sand a second time.
4. Prime the area with a brush and wait for it to dry. Paint the area with a couple of coats using colors that match the surrounding walls and ceiling.
Larger Holes
5. Locate the center of the ceiling joists on each side of the hole using a stud finder. (Joists are planks of wood that are installed standing on their edges that run across the ceiling, usually 16 inches apart--the ceiling drywall is screwed to them.) Run a pencil line down each ceiling joist center, resulting in two parallel lines.
6. Connect the lines six inches on each side of the hole, resulting in either a penciled square or oblong shape. Run a tradesman's knife several times over the lines, applying pressure until the drywall is cut through on all sides. Remove the drywall.
7. Measure an area the same size as the drywall you've removed on a new piece of drywall. Use a drywall saw to cut it out. Insert the new piece into the hole in the ceiling, using 1 5/8-inch drywall screws to screw it to the ceiling joists. Insert the screws eight inches apart.
8. Apply mesh tape to the joints on all four sides of the new piece. Apply joint compound over the tape and feather the compound around the taped areas. Wait for the compound to dry overnight.
9. Sand and smooth the area until it is free of all bumps and ridges. Apply a second coat of compound if any mesh shows through. Wait for it to dry and sand it before applying primer and paint.
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