Drywall replaced walls made of plaster in the 1940s. It was the invention of the United States Gypsum Company in 1916, but did not catch on until the 1940s. Drywall represented a savings in that it required far less labor to install. However, drywall may need to be repaired, as it's softer than plaster and can acquire dents that need to be repaired. Fortunately, this is a process that a homeowner can do without hiring a contractor.
Instructions
1. Use a straightedge to remove any loose pieces from the dent if they are present. Failure to do so could be the repair will not last.
2. Sand the dented area with sand paper to dislodge any smaller particles that may remain. The grit for the sand paper should be 120 to 150 grit. This also roughens the surface which enables the patch to adhere more effectively. Clean the depression with a brush before continuing.
3. Put your joint knife in the joint compound to collect about half a blade's worth of compound on the knife.
4. Drag the knife over the dented area in the drywall. Joint compound will start to fill the dent. Hold the handle of the knife so it's positioned at a 90-degree angle. Pass the knife over the dent again so you remove any excess drywall compound.
5. Allow the joint compound to dry. If you notice that the joint compound shrinks at all, then repeat the process again.
6. Sand the joint compound after it dries, or smooth it with a wet sponge. Prime the dried joint compound and then paint it. You can use the same grit of sandpaper as in Step 2.
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