How to Repair a Large Hole in the Ceiling

Repairing a hole in a plaster or drywall ceiling is generally done with a drywall patch. You'll have to cut out around the damaged area to get a square that has ceiling joists behind the edges of it (to give the patch something to mount to). The edges of the patch are taped, covered in plaster and sanded, just as with the seams of a drywall project.

T-square
Pencil
Jigsaw
Tape measure
Utility knife
Drywall
Screw gun
1 1/2-inch drywall screws
Mesh tape
Joint compound plaster
6-inch drywall knife
Sanding pad

Instructions

- 1
  Mark a square around the damaged area, using your pencil and T-square. Position two of the sides of the square so they run along the center of the joist at each end. You will be able to ascertain the positions of the joists by feeling or looking through the damaged area of the ceiling. Use your jigsaw to cut out the marked square.
- 2
  Measure the dimensions of the square hole with a tape measure and transfer them to a piece of drywall. Cut it out with a utility knife, scoring along the lines and snapping the piece.
- 3
  Place the square patch into the cut-out hole, with the two edges of it sitting on the joists. Put drywall screws all along the edges where there are joists behind it, sinking them about every 6 or 8 inches with a screw gun.
- 4
  Press mesh tape over the four sides of the square patch. Use a drywall knife to spread joint compound plaster over the tape, covering each seam and getting it smooth and flat. Let it dry for four to five hours.
- 5
  Sand the drywall plaster lightly with the sanding pad, just enough to smooth the plaster. Put a second layer of compound over it. Let it dry.
- 6
  Sand the second layer, spread plaster over it, let it dry, and sand it again. The ceiling is ready for repainting.

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