The Toilet Overflowed & Damaged the Drywall

Removing the Damaged Drywall

• It is important to remove the entire damaged area. When in doubt, it is better to remove too much drywall than too little. Marking a cut-line around the entire damaged area with a straightedge will avoid odd gaps between the patch piece and the wall that can be difficult to fill. The cut-line should form a box or rectangle, depending on the shape of the damaged drywall. Cut along the cut-line with a drywall saw and pull the damaged section away to expose the cavity behind the wall.

Installing Support Braces

• Support braces provide something the drywall patch can attach to. These are vertical wooden braces secured to the interior of the cutout. Because the braces will be concealed, there is no need to spend extra money for attractive wood. Plywood strips are commonly used for drywall repairs, and you may be able to find some scraps from a lumber mill for free. The braces should ideally be 1 by 3 inches. Cut the length of the braces to accommodate the cutout. Each end of the strip should be approximately two inches longer than the vertical cutout opening. Position the braces along the sides of the cutout, then drive a single drywall screw into each end of the brace. In other words, there should be one screw at each corner of the cutout.

Installing the Patch Piece

• The drywall patch piece must be slightly smaller than the cutout opening. Measure the cutout and subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement. Trace that final measurement onto a new piece of drywall using a straightedge. The slightly smaller patch piece will give the drywall compound later used room to seal the patch within the wall securely. Cut the patch piece with a drywall saw, then position the patch piece against the braces and drive drywall screws through the patch and into the support braces.

Concealing the Patch

• Covering the seams in the patch requires a combination of fiberglass drywall tape and drywall joint compound. The tape resembles a screen more than traditional tape, but one side of the tape is coated with an adhesive. Position one piece of tape over the entire length of each seam that exists between the patch and the surrounding wall, with the tape centered over the seam. With the tape in place, the next task is to hide the tape with the joint compound. Joint compound is the consistency of a thick paste. Spread the paste over the tape with a putty knife. Note that it may take more than one application of the compound to completely cover the tape. If additional coats are required, allow the first coat to dry overnight before applying the second coat. Smooth the hardened compound with a sanding sponge until the patch is smooth.