How to Repair a Hole in Drywall

With a pencil, draw a rectangle around the hole in the wall.

Using a sharp utility knife, trim the damaged hole into the rectangular shape you have drawn; but be careful to watch out for any live wiring or piping that may exist behind the wall.

Measure the size of the new rectangular hole in the wall. Cut two pieces of plasterboard, one the same size as the hole and the other 20mm larger than the hole on all sides. Cut two small holes in the centre of the larger piece, insert string through the holes and tie in a loop.

Apply PVA adhesive around the edges of one side of the larger piece, as shown.

Place the glued piece into the hole in the wall with the string knot facing you. Pull and hold the string firmly to allow the adhesive around the edges to bond with the inside of the wall. Tie the string ends onto a dowel and tighten. This will mean that you won’t have to stand and hold the the string until the adhesive sets completely.

Apply adhesive to the smaller piece of plasterboard.

Remove the dowel and string from the larger piece and insert the smaller piece into hole. Allow it to dry completely.

Once the adhesive has set completely, apply filler to the remaining gaps.

When dry, sand the area flat with a sanding block to get a smooth and even finish before painting.