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James Owens
 
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Default patching drywall goofs


Say someone were to cut a hole for an electrical outlet in some drywall,
but miss by an inch and have to expand the hole. How would one fill the
unsightly gap -- just slather some Polyfilla in there, or is there a
preferred technique?

--
"For it is only of the new one grows tired. Of the old one never tires."
-- Kierkegaard, _Repetition_

James Owens, Ottawa, Canada
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willshak
 
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James Owens wrote:

Say someone were to cut a hole for an electrical outlet in some drywall,
but miss by an inch and have to expand the hole. How would one fill the
unsightly gap -- just slather some Polyfilla in there, or is there a
preferred technique?

--
"For it is only of the new one grows tired. Of the old one never tires."
-- Kierkegaard, _Repetition_

James Owens, Ottawa, Canada


Assuming this is a square hole for an outlet or switch, glue a piece of
1" x (whatever the height of the hole) sheetrock to the bad side with
Carpenter's glue. Cut away any rough paper fibers at the cut seams on
both the panel and the repair piece, apply glue to the 3 edges to be
joined. Stick it in, making sure the faces are even. Let dry, and put a
skim coat of joint compound over the repair. Sand to smooth.
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Joe Bobst
 
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Say someone were to cut a hole for an electrical outlet in some drywall, but
miss by an inch

We've all done that, isn't it aggravating? It's the ruler's fault.

but miss by an inch and have to expand the hole. How would one fill the
unsightly gap --

Usual way is to cut a couple of pieces, one bigger than the gap and the other
to fill the mistake nicely. The larger one tied with a piece of string is used
as a backer and stuffed behind the gap and cemented in place with mud. After
setting, cut off the string and fit the small one into the cavity and cement in
with more mud. Setting type drywall compounds work better for these things
because you don't have to wait so long for strength to develop by drying. Sand
and surface as usual. HTH

Joe




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Haas
 
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Or you could install a double outlet. : )

"James Owens" wrote in message
...

Say someone were to cut a hole for an electrical outlet in some drywall,
but miss by an inch and have to expand the hole. How would one fill the
unsightly gap -- just slather some Polyfilla in there, or is there a
preferred technique?

--
"For it is only of the new one grows tired. Of the old one never tires."
-- Kierkegaard, _Repetition_

James Owens, Ottawa, Canada



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Joe Fabeitz
 
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Depends. If the hole is too big horizontally, consider installing a double
box. If the goof is vertical, do what the other guys said.

"James Owens" wrote in message
...

Say someone were to cut a hole for an electrical outlet in some drywall,
but miss by an inch and have to expand the hole. How would one fill the
unsightly gap -- just slather some Polyfilla in there, or is there a
preferred technique?

--
"For it is only of the new one grows tired. Of the old one never tires."
-- Kierkegaard, _Repetition_

James Owens, Ottawa, Canada





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James Owens
 
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Thanks for the good advice. I'll go with the string method because I'm not
sure my aggravated re-cut is smooth enough for carpenter's glue.


--
"For it is only of the new one grows tired. Of the old one never tires."
-- Kierkegaard, _Repetition_

James Owens, Ottawa, Canada
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