How can I repair drywall that has been damaged by adhesive strips?
Asked by Filippa Andersen 
2 months ago
Last Updated: October 25, 2024
Hey there! Can you lend me a hand with this little home repair issue? I had some adhesive strips on the wall that ended up taking off a layer of the drywall. I tried to cover it up with spackle, but it didn’t quite do the trick. Should I use drywall tape to fix this instead? Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Spackle should do the trick. Just make sure you know how to use it properly. I’m not trying to be harsh, but if you’re not familiar with spackling, you might not get the desired outcome. It’s just a simple skim coat process that will take care of the issue.
First, remove any loose parts, then prime the damaged drywall with BIN or KILZ. Apply joint compound, sand it, and prime again before painting the affected areas.
You need someone who is skilled with a blade…
Make sure to sand down the spackle and add more to the holes. Check out some online tutorials on using a spackling knife. Remember to prime before painting.
Grab some all purpose joint compound and a 6 inch knife. Apply three thin coats, making sure to scrape or sand any high spots between each one. Finish off by sanding the final coat. Remember to make the patch at least twice the size of the damaged area as using spackle for a large area is not recommended.
Trim away the bubbled paper and apply a new coat.
You’ll need wall spackle and a 600 grit sandpaper for this.
Try scraping it down flat with a 6″ plastic spackle knife instead of a smaller putty knife. Apply spackle, sand, repeat the process, then sand again. Opt for a wider spackle knife this time around.
As pointed out👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻💯. Remember to spread it thinly to cover the crater! Let it dry completely, as it will shrink. Apply a bit more after scraping off any uneven areas. The reason for a thin spread is for faster drying and easier sanding, which should be done at the end of the process. You’ll get great results! Just hold off on priming or painting until you’re completely satisfied, as any flaws you see now will not be hidden no matter how well you paint! This is a fantastic way to practice ‘Mudding’ – a fundamental skill to master!!
You’re headed in the right direction. Remove the bubbled paper and start afresh. Allow it to dry, sand it, apply a fresh coat, let it dry, then sand again. Consider using a dry mix instead of spackle or regular drywall joint compound. Dry mixes behave similar to plaster, adhering better without saturating the wall. Use a drywall or putty knife that is wider than the damaged areas.
Smooth it out with a palm sander, apply a skim coat using blue top compound, then lightly sand by hand. Follow up with another coat of compound, lightly sand again, prime, and paint.
Hey Joey, just a heads up – using a palm sander might result in a new hole in the wall! It’s actually a pretty straightforward hand sanding task. Spackle sands down really easily… almost too easily. In some cases, a wet sponge with a gentle touch could be the better choice.
💯
Have you ever had to fix a new hole multiple times to correct past errors after removing any loose debris and applying spackle?
Using a palm sander can be excessive and unnecessary because it removes too much material
Indeed, when sanding, the goal is to remove all the debris, but when applying compound, it’s best to do it manually 😒
Hey, mentioned she said spackle, not compound
https://youtu.be/Z05eyAnY7Ek?si=P97OVOW_eclJz0rK
Believe in yourself, you’ve got this!
Make sure to improve your spackling technique, then be prepared to sand it down extensively before spackling again.
Grab a sponge to tidy up that spill. Dilute the joint compound slightly, then apply thin layers until the patch is level. Try to replicate the texture once the patches have completely dried. Using tape will result in a noticeable bulge. For deeper damage, tape is likely necessary.
If you add more filler, let it dry, and sand it down, you should be able to make it work.
Smooth out the surface by sanding it down, then apply primer and paint. Alternatively, you can remove the damaged drywall section and put in a new 2×2 panel of 1/2 inch drywall.
To tackle spackle properly, it’s important to have the right tools, a bit of know-how, and the correct technique. Avoid using a palm sander.
It seems like the wall has a light texture. If you want to fix it, try the happy homeowner special. Sand it smooth, apply sheetrock mud, and create a matching texture with a mix of sheetrock mud and water on a roller. This will make the wall look formal and then you can paint it. It’s the easiest solution instead of hiding or tolerating the imperfections.
Hey, mentioned that’s not a textured wall by the way, it’s just a close-up of painted drywall.
Let me break it down like this: If the wall didn’t have texture, her patch would match because there wouldn’t be any texture on the wall. It would just be smooth sheetrock under the paint. She could paint over her patch and it would blend in. However, since her wall has texture, no amount of sanding will make it match.
The wall doesn’t have a texture. What you’re seeing as texture is actually from the paint roller. , you can’t patch torn drywall without priming it first. You’ll need to sand off what you did, remove any additional peeling paper, use an oil-based primer, and then apply a skim coat. You can add some texture back by rolling on some paint 😏
That’s not a textured wall, it’s just how drywall looks when painted. It’s not completely smooth. When a professional like me finishes drywall, it’s smoother than the original sheeting. In bad lighting, you can see all the joints that were finished, which is why Level 5 finishing involves skimming the entire wall. So next time, maybe don’t speak when you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about.
I work as a painter for a living, . She’s not looking to hire you, just needs a simple fix for her home. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, including me. Feel free to fix it for her, take some pictures, then we can talk. Let’s keep this DIY site about sharing information, not arguing. Maybe construction work is slow for you, but I have the luxury of choosing my projects. 🤣🙏😇❤️
Hey , just a heads up, I live in Australia so I’m not in the market for work in the USA. No need for name-calling, let’s keep it civil.
Now I get it after listening to ‘s explanation! It must be tough feeling miserable because misery loves company. I won’t be that company for you. Goodbye and God bless!
Both you and should dial it back a bit. This back-and-forth and competition over who’s the better professional is really immature. Seriously….you two are a prime example of why people flag comments in this group.
I was simply suggesting a solution and things got out of hand. My bad for standing up for my opinion on how to handle things!! Everyone has their own approach, no hard feelings!!
Hey, nice attempt….but you didn’t have to resort to profanity and insults to make your point. Just step up your game or consider a different group.
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Remove the crustaceans by sanding. Be sure to prime with shellac or oil-based primer. I suggest using spray can primer and then applying a skim coat with 5-minute mud.
To tackle those clumps, you’ll need a Belt sander first. For future reference, remove adhesive strips with a hair dryer to prevent damage to the drywall. Since the paper has been torn, apply primer before spackling with 2-3 smooth coats. Finish off by sanding and painting.
You really don’t want to use a belt sander for any reason.
– it seems like the belt sander was being a bit sarcastic, with those 2 emojis.
Using a knife, carefully cut a circle around the damaged area of the drywall. Gently peel off the top layer and proceed to spackle without the need for tape.
First, start by sanding to smooth out the rough edges of the tear as much as possible. After that, skim and paint to match.
What do you mean it didn’t work? Maybe you stopped too soon. Try sanding and adding more spackle. Repeat until it’s completed.