gonadman

So I had to cut two holes in my bathroom ceiling to repair a sprinkler head. One hole is about 6x6 inches and the other is about 3x3 inches

I was gonna fix them by cutting out a piece of drywall the same size, gluing a board on the back to keep it in the hole, then just filling the crack with mud and sanding. I realize the mud may shrink some and it may need several coats.

I looked in a book that said to cut the board the same size but leave an extra inch of paper around the piece, then work the paper into the surrounding ceiling with the mud.

This is the first time I'm doing drywall repair and I want it to look nice. The ceiling is well lit and it seems to me that leaving the paper will make an edge that will be difficult to blend in(at least for an amateur like me)

So what is the better way to do it?

__________________
For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel, looking, looking, ...breathlessly.
-Carlos Castaneda

Cycler

I fixed wall by squaring up the hole, cutting a piece the same size, threaded a slat or piece of wood through the offending hole, secured the board/wood with two sheet rock screws, on each side of the hole then, screwed the patch piece to the board/wood. Then used mud or Dap patch hole filler to seal the joint around the patch and cover the screws. Good luck. My 2 cents, goes back to breaking and repairing.

__________________
"I'm not even supposed to be here today."

"I assure you we're open."

MSD

Put wood behind the hole and secure it with drywall screws on each side, cut a piece of replacement drywall to fit the hole, screw that into the hole with one screw (two for big holes.) Then, use joint compound to fill the cracks. Leave some extra, and sand it off. Paint it, and you'll never know there was a hole.

Don't vacuum up what you sanded off with a regular vacuum, use a shop vac.

Nips

Alternatively you can use joint compound and tape. Just be sure to apply and sand the joing compound three times over the taped joint. Feather the last layer (third) of compound out with a 10 inch drywall knife. This will ensure a smooth finish and you won't be able to see the edges.

Any good home repair book will show you how to do it.

LewisCouch

All good advice, but one thing I would advise, is to remove about 2-3 inches of the plaster surrounding the area to be repaired. This is easily accomplished by using a hand planer, just set the cutting depth to about 1/32" or so. Use a topcoat type mud and apply with at least a 10" knife. Don't fuss with it too much for the first coat, wait until the next day. Good luck.

__________________
"The gift of liberty is like that of a horse, handsome, strong, and high-spirited. In some it arouses a wish to ride; in many others, on the contrary, it increases the desire to walk."

-- Massimo d'Azeglio

gonadman

Sounds like good advice. I'll prolly go with the fill in the crack method rather than the tape. There's a bright light only a coupla feet away and if I don't feather it perfectly, the shadow will haunt me forever!

__________________
For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel, looking, looking, ...breathlessly.
-Carlos Castaneda