Repair chips in your drywall yourself.
It happens to everyone moving furniture or carrying other items past a corner. You bump into the corner of a doorway, and the drywall chips off. Now you have a hole in the finish and possibly a dent in the metal bead underneath the chip, ruining the appearance of your lovely home. Don't panic. Just go to a home improvement center, get some drywall mud and a few supplies and you can repair the outside corner chip yourself with only basic skills.
Instructions
1. Prepare the work area by spreading a plastic drop cloth on the floor below the outside corner. Tape it in place with painter's tape.
2. Score a rectangular area around the damaged area on the outside corner of the drywall. The rectangle should be symmetrical on both sides of the corner. Cut away the damaged area along the score lines to remove the dried joint compound and reveal the corner bead strip underneath.
3. Saw through the exposed corner bead strip with a hacksaw if the bead is bent or otherwise damaged. Carefully pry the cut bead away from the wall stud, using a small pry bar and the claws of a hammer. Cut a replacement strip of bead with the hacksaw and attach it to the wall stud at the corner with drywall nails. If the original bead is intact, skip this step --- simply clean the existing bead with a damp sponge to remove the dried joint compound, and let it dry.
4. Spread approximately 1/8 inch of joint compound, or mud, over the cut-out area, using a 3-inch drywall knife. Feather the layer of mud from the corner toward the sides about 2 inches. Get it as smooth as you can. Let the mud dry completely --- at least 24 hours. Lightly sand the area with fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe away any dust.
5. Repeat Step 4 with a 6-inch drywall knife. When it is thoroughly dry and sanded, repeat again with a 10-inch knife. The outer corner of the bead should have a small line of exposed metal at the apex.
6. Prime and paint the patched area to match the rest of the wall. The primer and paint will cover the metal corner.
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