Drywall replacement is not a hard task when you know how to do it. You need to follow proper guidelines, use proper equipment, and have patience.
In most cases, drywall replacements are needed because of a damaged drywall panel. Other common causes are installing access doors, new insulation, etc.
Whether you are doing it for renovation or just repairing a damaged panel, you need to follow these simple steps to have a perfectly replaced drywall that is unnoticeable.
Keep reading-
1. Gather Essentials
For making a perfect drywall replacement, you’ll need these things-
- Drywall Panel
- Drywall Screw Gun
- Drywall Screw
- Joint Compound
- Drywall Tape
- Primer, and
- Paint
You can use nails instead of screws, but screw works better than nails on drywall.
2. Inspect and Remove the Old Panel
As you have the essentials in your hand, take measurement of the drywall panel you have brought to replace the old one. You should cut the old drywall at the same dimensions so that the new one fits in place without leaving more than a centimeter gap.
Replacing an old panel with a new one is easy because you only need to remove the old one and screw the new one in the same place. However, installing a new panel cutting two or more panels will require an additional wood frame. Otherwise, the new frame won’t remain in place for long.
To cut the old panel properly, you need to take the measurement, draw outlines, and cut the old panel according to the drawing.
3. Clean & Prepare the Surface
After removing the old drywall panel, clean the surface properly. Get rid of drywall dust stuck on the surface.
Now, install additional wood frames that are needed for the installation. We recommend placing wood at the whole edge of the new panel. If you want, you can minimize your task by installing wood only in the corners and in the middle of the panel.
When skipping the whole edge, make sure that you have old frames in place so that you can firmly place the panel on the surface.
4. Install the New Drywall Panel
Draw the line where you’ll need to screw. Hanging the panel without drawing lines can make your task a lot harder.
After drawing the line, get the help of another person to hang the drywall panel and start screwing it.
Install drywall screws in the corners first so that you can relieve your helping hand. And follow the guidelines that you have drawn a few moments earlier to screw the whole panel.
5. Tape and Mud
You need to tape the drywall to give it a perfect finish. At first, apply a coat of mud on the joints of the old drywall panels with the new panel. Then place the tape on top of the mud and apply 2 to 3 more coats of drywall mud on the tape for perfection.
Keep a close eye on the tape when applying as there can remain bubbles under the tape. After taping, allow the surface to properly dry out.
If you are replacing a tiny part of the drywall panel and you have drywall spackle in your home, you can use that instead of the drywall mud. That will work too for small replacement work.
6. Sand and Paint
Now that you have made the drywall seamless, sand the joint with a fine-grit sandpaper. Sand till the new surface blends with the old surface at the same level. After proper sanding, you need to apply drywall primer on the whole newly installed panel. Allow around 6 to 12 hours to dry out and sand the primed surface mildly.
After that, you are one step away from having great looking drywall. Apply the exact color that you have used on the drywall surface to get a uniform color.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace Drywall?
Replacing old drywall with a new one costs around $2 to $4 square foot. This estimation is including the labor and product costs. If you do it yourself, you’ll end up spending only the amount needed for buying the drywall panel.
Apart from the panel, you may need to buy drywall screws, primer, paint, screw gun, sander, etc. Generally, you should have those in your basement to do a panel replacement. If not, you will need to buy those to do things perfectly.