Find out how to patch, hang, repair, and fix drywall and plaster
Drywall & Plaster: Featured Article
Visitors to thisoldhouse.com asked for help with dinged, gouged, and cracked walls. Here's an easy way to get a smooth surface that lasts… more
Q: I'm remodeling a room that has walls of wood paneling. When I removed the paneling, I found that the drywall underneath was installed with the brown-paper backing facing out, rather than the finished side. Should I remove all the drywall, or is there something I can do to work with the existing drywall? My house was built in 1940.
— Jeff, Burbank, CA
To patch a hole in a wall or ceiling that's wider than your largest putty knife, use a steel ruler. Overfill the hole with spackle, then draw the ruler across the surface, scraping off the excess.
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