How to Patch a Drywall Hole With a Brad-Nailer

Yes, another instructable on how to fix a hole in drywall.

I guess it comes down to what tools you have on hand.

I prefer using brad nails shot by a pneumatic nailer to attach small drywall pieces to the stud or scrap wood. Drywall screws have a tendency to damage small pieces of drywall or even damage cut edges of a bigger sheet of drywall--which is very frustrating.

I also found that an oscillating tool is the best for cutting holes in drywall, and the Tajima drywall file is the best at shaving down drywall pieces.

So, if you got a hole in the wall, try my method out.

Find a Scrap Piece of Drywall That Will Fit Over the Hole, and Trace Around It.

Find a rectangular piece of scrap dry wall that will adequately cover the hole. It just needs to be a little bigger.

Then, take a pencil and sketch around the new patch piece of drywall.

Use an Oscillating Tool (multi-tool) and Cut Out the Traced Hole.

I like to use an oscillating tool with an old wood blade to cut out a clean hole for my piece of scrap drywall.

I wish the oscillating tool makers would make a "drywall blade" for this tool. This tool is unmatched in making rectangular holes in drywall.

Find a Scrap Piece of Wood That Is Slightly Longer Than the Hole.

Fortunately, the left side of my hole, there is a stud.

On the other side, I will slip a piece of scrap wood (1x2) behind the right edge of the hole.

Secure the Board by Nailing Through the Drywall and Into the Wood Behind It.

I'm using a pneumatic nail gun with a 1 gallon pancake compressor.

I use 1" brad nails, and lower the pressure on the compressor to 70 PSI.

In this case, I placed 4 nails along the edge of the hole, 4 nails right below the hole, and 4 nails above the hole through the drywall and into the scrap wood behind it.

Use a Drywall File to Shape the Drywall Patch Piece Perfectly.

I use a Tajima drywall file to smooth out any rough edges on the drywall patch piece in order to get a perfect fit.

The Tajima drywall file has a coarse file and a fine file. It is so handy when you need to shave down an edge 1/16" to get a drywall piece to fit right. I can't imagine working with drywall without it.

Nail Your Drywall Patch Piece Down

I put 5 nails along the left side and 5 nails along the right side of the drywall patch piece through the drywall and into the wood behind it.

Mud and Tape the Seams.

Take a putty knife to tape and mud the seams.

Put a Wide Skim Coat Over the Patched Hole.

Take a wide taping knife and pt a wide skim coat over the hole. Let it dry.

Sand and Paint.

I use a palm sander with 160 grit paper to sand a smooth finish.

Prime and paint.