How to Repair the Ceiling's Dry Wall

Ceiling

• 1

  Use your t-square and pencil to mark a square surrounding the damaged area. Make two parallel borders of the square run along the centers of the joists at each end. Find the joist positions by pulling down enough of the damaged drywall to reach inside the ceiling and feel it.

• 2

  Cut out the square using your jigsaw. The two edges of the square hole should sit right in the middle of the joist width.

• 3

  Sink drywall screws along the edge of the ceiling just outside the square on the two sides along the joists, secure the edges of the ceiling to the joists. Put screws about every 6 inches.

• 4

  Measure the square. Mark the measurement on a piece of drywall. Cut out the drywall by scoring and snapping it along the lines with your razor knife.

• 5

  Raise the square drywall piece into the space. Drive drywall screws through the edges of the square that sit on the joists, putting them every 6 inches.

• 6

  Put mesh drywall tape over all four sides of the square. Spread drywall plaster over the tape with a drywall knife, covering each seam completely. Get the plaster smooth and flat. Let it dry to the touch, about four hours.

• 7

  Lightly sand the drywall plaster. Spread a second layer of plaster over it, in the same manner as the first. Let it dry, sand, and re-plaster. Give it a final sanding, then repaint the ceiling.