Hello all. I recently ripped out a small closet that was cutting off my kitchen from a great view of my fireplace and the windows in the living room beyond. I am very happy with the way it opened up the space, but now I have the task of patching up a 3′ x 4′ hole in my ceiling and a 3′ x 8′ gap in the drywall sidewall. The existing material on either side of the holes is 1/2″ sheetrock. My question is how do I finish the seams when I nail my new 1/2″ sheetrock patches into the aforementioned holes so the repair job is undetectable?
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make the patch rock 3 inches longer on each side. score the brown paper so that it leaves you with exact size of the patch hole. Gently snap the rock and then CAREFULLY remove the gypsum leaving the white paper face intact. Do not remove the white paper face. Make sure it fits the opening> Line the studs with some Drywall adhesive and then apply mud (general purpose or taping compound) around the edges of both the patch and the existing wall. Lay a bed of mud so that the flap of the excess paper will embed into the mud. Attach your patch and top it off with a few screws. Embed that white paper flap into your mud and treat it like a tape coat. Let dry and do two light coats of mud letting each dry then skim or texture it to match then viola paint that sucker.
Before you do what's suggested above, it also helps to take a utility knife and chamfer the opening in the existing drywall all around. In other words, cut a small angled bevel around the opening enough to remove the raised fuzzy fringe of paper left from the saw.
Also might mention to DOUBLE check that the cieling is not 5/8ths..and truly is 1/2".
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I remeasured and it is 1/2". Is that unusual for a ceiling?
not unusual..but it's like this..trusses on 24 centers are usually 5/8 so the sheetrock don't sag. And some fire codes require it.
So if yer framed on 16 centers 1/2 is dandy.
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Yup. Trusses on 16" centers and 1/2" drywall all around. One question though, won't the 3" of extra paper set in mud cause a 3" raised ridge on the already finished drywall surrounding the holes? Thanks for the info all!
very slight..ya squeegee out most of it..and ya still have to feather the joint out 8 inches or so...
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.