Best way to fix a baseball-sized hole in drywall...?

Bravo! Getting your kid involved in the repair, even though he/she probably can't handle the whole thing, is terrific. My own alleged perpetrator learned a lot about materials and craftsmanship doing similar work. Best of all, maybe, is that you two will collaborate to solve a problem. Very cool. Anyway, here's how make the repair, step-by-step:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20...

There are 2 methods that I know of. The first is to wad up a plastic grocery bag and stuff it into the hole, cover with a little drywall mud, put some drywall tape over it, and cover with a little more mud. May require a couple of coats, with a light sanding in between. The other is to go to the local hardware store and get a patch kit, which will have a screen with adhesive on the edges that can be placed over the hole, then follow up with mud as before. I think for an 11 year old, i'd go with the patch kit. they aren't too expensive, and it requires less "skill" to repair. Good luck. HTH.

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RE:

Best way to fix a baseball-sized hole in drywall...?

...keeping in mind that most of the work will be done by the alleged perpetrator, who is 11 years old

Visit the hardware store- there are many new (i.e. 2 yr old) products for this.

My favorite method: get drywall of same thickness for a patch. Support patch to cover the hole (drywall screws through both surfaces).

You may need to handle this! Cut (using a knife or hole saw) a Regular shape (rectangle) through Both pieces - this will make them the same size. Take note of screw support or the patch may fall into wall. Remove screws and separate patch from damaged surface. (the damage is now trash.)

Attach a scrap of wood either across the hole or along 2 edges. Mount this using d'wall screws. Place patch over this and attach to wood scrap the same way.

Now get that drywall compound and tape (or that newer fiberglass material) and cover the seam... this may take another Day or Two to get right... take your time.

Spread the compound and allow to dry... (A patch covering a baseball sized hole can be covered completely with the compound and 'feathered' out into the surrounding wall )

Sand smooth (or I use a damp scrubbing sponge to sand the surface) and you should be ready to paint..... just be sure to get it Very smooth - that may take another layer or 2 of compound. Get it wrong and it will show forever!

Best way is to cut the drywall around the hole into a square shape, and cut a new piece in the same shape and size and install it.

However, I guess if you want an 11 year old to do it, you could get as much of the original drywall as possible back into the hole and spackle it.

In the drywall section of home improvement stores, you can get a drywall patch. This comes in various sizes, up to about 6 inches square. It's a plastic mesh with sticky stuff on one side. You just apply this patch over the hole and spackle over it with drywall mud. Then sand, prime, and paint.

At your local hardware or home depot there is a hole patch product from size 4 1/2 up to 12 inch peel the back off stick over the hole and patch with joint compound. This hole patch has a metal square plate with holes in it covered with mesh that sticks to the wall. I have used many of these over the years.

The ACE hardware product # is1015379

Wall Repair

Patch

Aluminum Reinforced, Self adhiesive, rustproof

I one time used a thin piece of wood and screwed it on the inside and placed a piece of drywall over it and placed mud over it.

put a base ball in it lol

or stuff it with wet newspaper then fill with plaster then smooth

See if this helps.http://www.drywallschool.com/patch.htm