How to Put a Stud in Place With the Drywall Already On

An improperly framed wall will have several types of defects. Studs spread too far apart to save money on materials will quickly become obvious to the home owner. Press against your drywall in short, sharp thrusts. If your drywall shakes then your studs are too far apart. Unfortunately, the proper way to remedy this situation is to tear out the drywall and re-frame the wall. If the problem is only in one area then you may be able to surgically remove a section of the drywall and install a new stud to reinforce your wall.

Studfinder
Pencil
Razor knife
Tape measure
Board,2-by-4-inches-by-8 feet
Circular saw
16d framing nails
Hammer
Drywall board
Keyhole saw
1 1/2 inch drywall screws
Drill with Phillips bit
Mesh drywall tape
Drywall compound
6-inch drywall knife
Sanding screens
Clean rags
Primer
3-inch paint brush
Paint roller and roller pan
Latex wall paint
Work gloves
Safety glasses
Hearing protection
Dust mask

Instructions

- 1
  Rub the studfinder along the wall with the locator button held down. Mark the wall with your pencil every time the indicator light on the stud finder goes on or off.
- 2
  Choose the weak spot in the wall by pressing on it gently with your hand. Slice through the wall with your razor knife in the weak location. Continue cutting small pieces of the wallboard out until you have removed a section between two existing studs. Trim the drywall at each stud so that half of each of the existing boards is exposed.
- 3
  Stretch out your tape measure between the existing studs along the bottom plate of the wall frame. Mark the center of the measurement with your pencil. Locate and mark the center of the top plate of the wall frame. Measure from the center of the bottom plate to the center of the top plate. Stretch out your tape measure along a new stud. Mark the new board with your height measurement between the center marks.
- 4
  Cut along the mark on your new stud with your circular saw. Stand the stud on its end between the center marks on the top and bottom plates of your wall frame. Drive two of your 16d framing nails at a down angle on each side of the bottom end of the new stud to fasten it to the bottom plate. Toe nail two nails up through each side of the top end of the new stud to fasten it to the top plate.
- 5
  Measure the top, bottom and sides of the hole in your drywall. Mark your measurements on a new piece of drywall. Cut along the lines on the new drywall board with your keyhole saw. Lay the drywall board on its face.
- 6
  Hold the patch up into the wall. Attach the new patch to the new stud and the older existing studs by driving a 1 1/2 inch drywall screw through the patch and into the studs every 8 inches along each board. Countersink each of the screw heads with the Phillips bit on your drill.
- 7
  Stick a piece of mesh tape over the seam on each side of the drywall patch. Cover both pieces of tape with drywall compound. Smooth the compound with your 6-inch drywall knife. Let the compound dry for 24 hours.
- 8
  Rub the dry compound with sanding screens to smooth the finished wall. Wipe away the drywall dust with a clean rag.
- 9
  Apply a coat of primer to the wall where the patch is located with a brush and roller. Let the primer covered wall dry and paint the entire room so that all four walls match.

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