Matching Wall Texture
Okay, so you made a wall patch—excellent. But what do you do if the wall is textured? How do you reestablish that finish? Many walls have an orange-peel texture that may seem impossible to re-create. The good news is that two products on the market are available for this very purpose.
Spray texture. This product comes in a spray can with different-size nozzles to establish medium to heavy textures. Basically, you spray it over the patch, let it set up, and then knock it down with a putty knife. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Adhesive texture patch. This product is perfect for small patches under 3 inches. I especially like this method for areas that aren’t in a “bump” zone. The product claims that you don’t even need to spackle the hole. You just choose from one of the light- to heavy-textured patches and stick it over the hole—done. Personally, I’m more comfortable giving the hole a smear of spackle fi rst. I recently used this patch over a drywall repair to conceal a hole from a switched-out light fi xture over my vanity—it’s next to impossible to fi nd the patch.
How To Patching medium holes (4–6 inches)
Th is patch has many names—hot patch, hat patch, and blow
patch are some of them.
PREP WORK
• Put down newspaper or an old towel to protect the floor beneath the hole.
• With a level to mark straight lines,
cut out a clean square around the hole with a drywall saw.
Lightly scuff up the painted area around the square with the sandpaper (about an inch around).
• Take the measurements of the square opening, add 1½ inches to each side, and then trace and cut a scrap piece of drywall to those dimensions.
1. Place your square drywall patch face down and, with a T-square, trace out the dimension of the square hole.
2. Score the lines with a utility knife, and then bend and crack the drywall rock. Now peel the rock off the paper. Do this to each side. You’ll be left with what looks like a square hat that has a 11⁄2-inch brim.
3. Test to see that the patch fi ts snugly in the hole—adjust if necessary.
4. With a putty knife, smear a generous layer of joint compound all around each side of the hole.
5. Press the patch into the hole and smooth the “brim” down with the putty knife.
6. As the mud squeezes out from behind the brim, spread it over the entire surface of the patch.
7. With the trowel, pass more mud over the entire surface of the patch. Let it dry.
8. Sand any raised edges and pass another coat, being sure to feather out the edges. This step may need to be repeated.
9. When it’s completely dry, sand smooth, prime, and paint.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
4-inch putty knife and plaster trowel
Speed Square
Utility knife
Drywall saw
Newspaper or old towel
Level and pencil
Tape measure
Scrap square of drywall
Joint compound
Fine sandpaper
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