To repair a hole in drywall using hardware cloth:

  1. Run your fingers around the inside of the hole, and remove any broken pieces of drywall.
  2. Cut a piece of hardware cloth several inches larger than the hole.
  3. Thread a 6” long piece of wire through the center of the hardware cloth patch.
  4. Gently bend the hardware cloth in half, and feed it into the hole.
  5. Use the wire to pull the hardware cloth up against the backside of the hole.
  6. Thread a pencil through the wire, and twist the wire to hold the hardware cloth in place.
  7. Apply drywall joint compound to the hole on both sides of the pencil with a 6” drywall knife.
  8. Allow the drywall joint compound to dry.
  9. Remove the pencil, and cut off the wire.
  10. Apply several more coats of drywall joint compound, allowing each one to dry.
  11. Use a sanding block and sandpaper to sand the joint compound patch flush with the wall.
  12. Wipe off any sanding dust with a damp cloth.
  13. Prime and paint the patch to match the surrounding wall.

Watch the video above to find out more.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Danny Lipford: Now if you live in a home long enough, sooner or later you’re going to have some holes in the wall to patch.

Joe Truini: Now there are several techniques used for patching holes in walls, and there are even some readymade kits that are available that you can just stick right over the hole. But here’s a technique that I’ve used several times the works reallywell.

What you start with is a piece of hardware cloth cut slightly larger than the hole, this one is about two inches larger all around. Then you take a thin piece of wire and thread it through the center of the patch and it forms a little handle.

Start by running your fingers around the inside of the hole to clear out any broken pieces of drywall so that there’s a nice, flat surface behind the wall. Then fold the hardware cloth, and feed it into the hole.

Keep a firm grip on the wire, so you don’t loose it, and then tug on the wire so that the drywall cloth is flattened up against the back of the wall. In order to hold the hardware cloth there, all you need is to thread a pencil through the wire, and twist it around.

Danny Lipford: Oh, I know what’s next, Joe. Here’s your joint compound.

Joe Truini: Joint compound. Thank you. Then just take a six-inch knife and some joint compound, and fill the hole all around the pencil. Now you want to use enough pressure to actually force the joint compound through the holes in the hardware cloth, so that it forms a nice, strong, tight fit.

Danny Lipford: After you apply the first coat, allow it to dry at least overnight. And then come back, take your pencil out, clip your wire, and then put either the second or the third coat on in order to really smooth the wall out. Then touch-up painting, and you’re good as new.


Further Information

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Joe Truini

Joe Truini

Radio Show Co-Host

Joe Truini is a contractor, author, and the host of “Simple Solutions” on Today’s Homeowner TV and the weekly Today’s Homeowner radio show. He has worked on both large commercial projects and residential remodeling, and has written for national publications such as This Old House and Popular Mechanics. He has also written eight books, including three best-selling shed-building books. Joe lives in Connecticut with his family and enjoys hiking, traveling, and baseball in his spare time.

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