How to Patch Drywall Around Door Frame
If you’re looking for a professional tip on how to patch drywall around the door frame, this post is for you. We’ll teach you the best way to do it, so your walls look like new again!
Many people don’t realize that they need to patch drywall when fixing their doors. This article will show you what needs to be done and even give tips on making the whole process go as smoothly as possible.
Summary: If you need to patch drywall around a door frame, use a trowel to make an outline of the hole, and then use a utility knife to cut out the drywall. Use a sandpaper block to sand the hole smooth, then use a piece of new drywall to cover the hole.
Five Common Causes of Cracks at Door Frames
- The most common reasons for drywall cracks are the door itself, uneven movement from the hinges, slamming it too hard and cracking the drywall corners of doors, or hitting a wall and giving it a large gap.
- Moving furniture that is too heavy and gets cracks in the drywall surface
- Heavy objects on top of bedroom closets, as well as utility sinks in bathrooms, can crack walls if they aren’t pushed against them firmly
- If you have a dog or any other type of animal that constantly digs at the door to get out, this could lead to serious drywall damage.
- Constant temperature changes in the house during winter can cause walls to crack as well.
What You’ll Need to Patch Drywall Around Door Frame?
Here are some things you’ll need to patch in drywall corners and get your door working properly again.
- Color Matching Paint
- Drywall Compound
- Paper Tape
- Drywall Utility Knife
- Matching Screws or Drywall Anchors
- Dust Mask
Step-by-Step Installation Guide: How to Patch Drywall Around Door Frame
Step 1:
Drywall patch kits are a great way to repair holes in your walls. To install a full sheet of drywall patch kits, simply screw the drywall sheet into the studs and add another screw every 8 inches across the entire edge of drywall showing.
Step 2:
Screw the piece of drywall into place. To be sure that you don’t crack the paint on the next wall, use at least two screws in every section of a hole in the drywall. Once the drywall is in place, use paper drywall tape to finish off the edges. You can find this at any home improvement store.
Step 3:
Patch all holes with paper tape and joint compound. Let it dry before proceeding to the next step. Or, if you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can also sand it down smooth once it’s complete.
Step 4:
Take a piece of paper and cover both sheets’ cut areas. Once that is done, lay down the common drywall compound along the side where the door will be placed. If there are any holes or cracks, fill them with the drywall compound and then put a layer of paper tape over them to cover up your patch.
Step 5:
Wait for the patch to dry overnight, then sand it down, so no bumps are left from the compound. This will make your texture look smooth when you paint it after this step.
Step 6:
Use a circular sander to smooth out any rough spots on the patch. You can get one from almost any hardware store; they aren’t too expensive! Remember, take your time with this step because it is a significant one.
Step 7:
Sand down the entire area so there are no lumps or bumps and then apply a layer of wallboard compound. If you are doing a large batch, you may not want to use sandpaper for this part. Instead, use the eraser side of a pencil that has been sharpened into an eraser. When they’re finished, this will leave a more polished look to your walls.
Step 8:
Use your drywall tape again and cover the entire edge of where the door will be placed. Many people like to use two layers, one on either side, so it’s as strong as possible. Again, make sure you have an exact fit. It just adds an extra layer of protection to your walls.
Step 9:
Let your patch dry overnight, then sand it down again to get a smooth finish. Use the same technique for covering up any irregularities in the texture as well. You want this to be as strong as the first layer of compound, if not stronger!
Step 10:
Cover up the edges of your door frame with another layer of the compound so that you have a smooth flat surface to paint. If you add trim, use wood filler instead and then sand it down when it dries. This has a more finished look than the coat of drywall compound because if there’s anything wrong with your patch job, this will cover it up!
Step 11:
Paint over the entire patch with a layer of paint in the same color as the original wall’s finish. When you’re done, wait 24 hours before touching anything or using any electrical devices, and then enjoy your new door opening even more than before!
Seven Common Mistakes When Patching Drywall & How To Avoid Them
1. Improper Patch Preparation
It would help if you always used a fresh coat of joint compound when repairing drywall corners, including patching holes and types of drywall cracks. Mix the joint bed of drywall compound thoroughly before application. While mixing it, add a little extra sand to the mix to provide a better texture for smoothing. Some people prefer to make multiple types of drywall mud rather than one thick layer. Doing this may make it easier to handle the repair, but your finished product won’t have as much depth and texture, which is important in most situations
2. Improper Taping Before Applying Joint Compound
When you apply a joint compound over the tape, there will be a visible line between the compound and the tape. This is called a “muddy line.” This can be avoided if you feather the joint compound over the drywall tape. To do this, roll your joint-type compound over the tape in slow circular motions.
3. Not Applying Enough Joint Compound
Some people will apply too little mud to a job. This reduces the ability to smooth out any mistakes that may have been made. This is especially true when repairing large holes, like a golf ball-sized hole, which requires a lot of mud.
4. Applying Too Much Joint Compound
Having too much mud applied to a repair job is also possible. When this happens, it becomes difficult to smooth the repair out.
5. Filling Rip Out Holes With Joint Compound
If you’re repairing a drywall patch, why use joint compound when it’s clearly not intended for this application? Instead, you should always use a specifically designed product for the application, such as J-Plug or Cavity Plug.
6. Not Fixing Surface Defects
It would help if you always tried to fix surface defects before you applied the joint compound. For example, if there is a knothole in your drywall piece, then caulk it and prime it with an oil-based primer. Never use water-based primers over wood with knots because they will always bleed through.
7. Not Applying A Second Coat Of Compound
After you’ve applied the patch (J-Plug or Cavity Plug), then it’s ok to apply one coat of joint compound over the top, using the same techniques explained earlier in this article. This will help provide a smooth surface for applying paint or drywall texture. However, some people will not apply the second coat because they believe it’s too much work or time-consuming. You should allow a minimum of 24 hours to cure before applying the second coat of joint compound in most situations.
How to Repair a Drywall Crack?
- Make sure the crack in drywall does not go through the wall studs. If it does, you will need to patch both sides of the wall to be structurally sound.
- Locate your access door to the attic or crawlspace; cut out around this area using a jigsaw blade to get into the area behind the drywall.
- Cut a piece of fiberglass mesh large enough to cover the hole you just made and polyester or fiberglass insulation to fill in around the hole’s edges so that no air gets into your home through what is left of your wall.
- Apply drywall compound drying or joint tape to the back of the mesh and push it into the hole. Next, apply compound or tape on all four edges of the mesh before moving on to the next step.
- Next, lay several layers of fiberglass or polyester insulation over the repaired area (or use a piece that’s already large enough), then cover with another layer of drywall joints.
- Use drywall screws instead of drywall nails to finish the job, and use mesh tape to close off any holes in your wall from where you removed them during your DIY project.
- Finally, paint the patched area with some high-quality latex paint so that no one can tell there was a hole there!
How to Repaint Crumbled Wall Paint?
The first thing you’ll want to do is clean off the crumbles. The easiest way will be to vacuum clean and maybe a damp cloth if any stickiness is left over. After this, you could use sandpaper or an electric sander to smooth out your drywall finishes. Using power tools for this is not advisable because it could damage your wall. Instead, use the smoothest sandpaper you can find (usually, 150 grit is recommended).
All you need is paint and primer/sealer for a basic finish. It depends on whether you want a smooth surface for painting, but I’d personally go with a primer even if you do. For a high-end finish, go with three-coat coverage on your primer and use latex wall paint. If any repairs are to be done (like holes or cracks in drywall), patch them up before applying the new layer of paint.
Final Thoughts
Follow these steps mentioned in this post on how to patch drywall around the door frame. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! We’re always happy to help out with your home repair needs and advise on how we can take care of all the little things in life that need attention.
Angela Ervin
Angela is the executive editor of DIY quickly. She began her career as an interior designer before applying her strategic and creative passion to lifestyle and home. She has close to 15 years of experience in creative writing and online content strategy for housekeeping, home decorations as well as other niche efforts. She loves her job and has the privilege of working with an extraordinary team. She lives with her husband, two sons, and daughter in Petersburg. When she's not busy working she spent time with her family.
