Fix small section of drywall that rotted? <photo>

Rental Property Investor · St Louis, MO · Member since 2010 · 317 posts · 72 votes

What should I do to fix this? My first inclination is to buy a big tub of red devil spackle and artfully slap it in there with a few spackle knives of different widths, but I know that's not the right way. Note water leak causing the damage has been stopped. Thanks for the help!

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Colleen F.Pro Member

Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes

@Paul Winka Assuming this is sheetrock I would cut out the damaged sheet rock, check any wood behind it for mold. Clean and treat damaged wood. Then you screw in a new piece of sheet rock and tape and spackle the seams. The experts can provide more detailed instruction.

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Colleen F.Pro Member
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
4y
@Paul Winka Assuming this is sheetrock I would cut out the damaged sheet rock, check any wood behind it for mold. Clean and treat damaged wood. Then you screw in a new piece of sheet rock and tape and spackle the seams. The experts can provide more detailed instruction.
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David Lee Hall, III
Rental Property Investor · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2019 · 530 posts · 511 votes
4y

Slide a piece of undersized water resistant drywall behind the molding and make sure it fits (you don't want to have to recut the trim). Once you have a piece that fits, cut the caulking and carefully remove the end trim.
Scrape off all loose material, vacuum and make sure nothing is flaking. If any wood is squishy, apply wood hardener. Seal the impacted area. I usually use Kilz oil primer for this. Now you will prevent any mold left behind hopefully from contaminating the new work.
Screw in your pre-fit drywall. Get a piece of corner bead (go thin since you are overlapping the upper area, so the paper with embedded metal would be good option). Pre-fill you gaps with a stiff 45-minute hot mud with a little PVA glue added to help bond and set your corner beads. Pre-fill any screw holes or gaps over 1/16th of an inch. Hot mud does not sand well so don't glop is on like a madman.
In an hour scrap off any chunks with a 6" knife. Give skim coat with all-purpose joint compound. Feather the edges into the old drywall at least 4" to make it less noticable. Let this dry overnight. It will likely crack and shrink if you did not pre-fill. If you did , prefill, you should just be able to sand smooth with a sanding block. You may need to give a very light 2nd coat. Vacuum, prime, re-install trim, caulk seams, paint.
Alternatively you could just take the drywall you test fit, throw a little construction adhesive on the back, slide it in behind the trim, and use some "mud framing" to reform the corners, give it a quick sand, paint, and caulk. If using 20-minute hot mud, have a fan, and an aggressive sanding block, you could be totally done in 2 hours. Won't look as nice, but will get the job done.
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Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
4y
@Colleen F. pretty much covered it. Just remove the affected drywall and about 6 inches beyond. Screw in a new piece and skimcoat. Easy stuff.
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