How to Patch Drywall Paper

Cover the floor of the work area with drop cloths. Overlap the cloths by at least 6 inches along each edge to prevent drywall dust from contaminating or damaging the flooring.

Cut away the damaged area with the tip of the blade of your razor knife. Take your time and carefully remove a sliver of the damage at a time until that area of your drywall is a small crater. Do not dig completely through the drywall board. Just cut away the damaged paper and dig out the loose plaster inside.

Pull the tab holding the lid on the bucket of drywall compound. Lift each tab around the lid and remove it from the bucket. Scoop the compound out of its bucket with your 6-inch drywall knife. Place each dollop of compound into your drywall pan. Fill the drywall pan 3/4 full of compound.

Scoop a little compound out of your drywall pan at a time and apply it to the damaged area of the wall with your 12-inch drywall knife. Fill the crater by building small layers inside until it is full. Skim the filled crater and the surrounding wall with one more dollop of compound. Let the compound dry completely.

Push the edge of the blade of your 12-inch drywall knife to scrape away the high spots of the drywall compound. Apply a new skim coat as smoothly as possible to the wall. Let this coat dry completely and sand the patch with a sanding screen. Clean the wall and the surrounding area with your wet vac.

Apply a coat of primer to the patch and let it dry. Apply a coat of primer to the entire wall with your paint brush and roller. Apply two coats of paint to the wall letting each one dry completely before continuing.