Are your walls and ceilings damaged? Perhaps, it’s high time you gave your home an updated look with quality drywall repair. In most homes, the interiors are mostly covered with gypsum wallboard, otherwise known as drywall. Drywall produces long lasting result and is also affordable. Regardless of its durability, drywalls are vulnerable to damage, wear and tear. Without proper maintenance, your drywall will be shattered with holes, dents and cracks. The durability of your drywall may become compromised if you’ve got toddlers or pets running around.
Luckily, a handy homeowner can repair a damaged drywall quickly and easily. So long as you’ve got the right tools, equipment and mastered some basic drywall repair skills, fixing a drywall isn’t difficult. However, before you consider repairing your drywall, there are certain thing you need to do to stay safe. These include
Lift Carefully
Depending on the size of the damage, you should consider using the right sheets of drywall. For extensive damage, buy full 4-by-8 sheets of drywall and cut down to the required sizes. It is however important to note that a full sheet od standard half inch drywall weighs about 54 pounds.
Lifting drywall sheets can be tricky. Its weight can leave you back strained. In most cases, it is best to get a healing hands. Make sure to lift with your knees, not your back. Also, when leaning drywall sheets against an object or surface, you want to make sure that they are properly secured. If a sheet falls over, it could cause serious injury on anyone close by.
Empty Bucket Warning
Premixed joint compounds are sold in different buckets sizes. Once these buckets are emptied, they can become useful tool in the home. However, kids are at greater risk of being injured especially when you have a five-gallon buckets.
The buckets are just the right height that if a small child leans over the edge, the can tumble in headfirst and find themselves scrambling for help. So, if you use buckets during drywall repair, you should tread carefully. Restrict kids and pets from entering the repair area. Do not leave your bucket unattended, regardless of how little the water it holds.
Even when emptied, do not leave the buckets carelessly. Some people are in the habits of leaving the buckets outdoors where they can fill with rainwaters. This increases the risks of drowning hazards. If these buckets serve a different purpose like for carrying and storing tools and other dry goods, then you can further increase safety by drilling drainage holes at the bottom of the bucket. This way, you are rest assured that the bucket will remain dry regardless of the gallons of water poured into it.
Get Rid of Dust
Drywall repair will only be a success if the surface is free of dust and dirt. So before repairing a damaged drywall, be sure to sand and dust the affect area to produce a smooth, unblemished surface. In the process of sanding and dusting, wear a mask or respirator to protect your lungs