Top 9 Most Common Causes of Grapevine Sheetrock Repairs

Grapevine Sheetrock repairs are one of the most common service requests that local handymen handle. Drywall, which is sometimes referred to by the brand name Sheetrock, is used in many homes. It comes with a lot of benefits, but it also comes with drawbacks. One of the biggest is its vulnerability to different types of damage.

If you notice holes, cracks or dents on your walls or ceiling, you may find yourself wondering how that damage happened in the first place. It’s important to find the answers to those questions about Grapevine Sheetrock repairs. Not only does knowing how the problem was caused help you know how to fix it, but it will also enable you to prevent a similar issue from happening in the future.

To that end, our Grapevine handyman team at Mr. Handyman of Arlington, Mansfield and Grapevine has outlined a few common reasons why you may need Grapevine Sheetrock repairs. We want to make sure you know when to call your local pros, what you can do to prevent the need for Grapevine Sheetrock repairs, and how to fix the problem in a pinch.

1. Popping Nails

This is a common cause of Grapevine Sheetrock repairs, but it’s not always easy to spot. Popped nails create bumps or crescent-shaped cracks in walls and ceilings. They usually develop because a nail is not fastened securely in the center of a joist or stud, and it works itself loose. It can be tempting to reach for a hammer to fix the popping nail—after all, that action seems to make sense. If there is a nail sticking out, I can just hammer it back in—right?

Not exactly. Remember that Sheetrock is relatively easy to damage, so hammering your wall will likely result in a worse problem that is more difficult to repair. Besides, loose nails are likely to pop out again. Instead, you'll have to carefully remove the nail where it's located in the stud. Once removed, hammer it through a different point in the stud, so you know it's securely fastened. Ensure that you take your time and act carefully. With the right tools and techniques, you won’t have to worry about more expensive Grapevine Sheetrock repairs.

2. Furniture Scuffs

Did you just move into a new place? Or perhaps you reorganized the furniture in your living room? After the proverbial dust settled, did you notice a few tell-tale scuff marks on your wall? Scuffs are a common problem, and fixing them is one of the easiest Grapevine Sheetrock repairs to complete.

Scuff marks look like brown or black lines running across your floor, ceiling, or walls. It's very common for furniture to scuff against the surfaces of your home while being moved around because furniture is typically fairly heavy. Scuffs are normally not a big deal and can usually be easily fixed by anyone—.even someone who’s completely unfamiliar with Grapevine Sheetrock repairs.

When it comes to getting rid of scuff marks, this type of Grapevine Sheetrock repair is straight forward. Unlike other Sheetrock repairs that usually involve patching and joint compound, all you have to do is wipe at the scuff mark with warm water, soap, and a cleaning sponge.

3. Doorknobs

Doorknobs are common culprits when it comes to Grapevine Sheetrock repairs. A door that swings open too hard and slams into your wall—leaving a perfect knob-like dent—could be caused by the wind, or by someone opening the door a little too forcefully.

The best way to avoid these Grapevine Sheetrock repairs is to buy an adhesive backing plate or door stop for your wall. Simply line it up with the doorknob, so if the door opens too quickly it will be adequately protected from future holes.

As for repairing a small hole, an easy solution is to use joint compound and patch over the hole. You can reference these steps:

1. Use Sheetrock tape or self-adhesive mesh to cover the hole.

2. Cover with a coat of compound, using a putty knife.

3. Smooth over with drywall compound.

4. Let it dry.

5. After 24 hours, sand and apply a second coat.

6. After 24 hours, sand, clean, and paint.

4. Larger Holes

Whether your kids were playing catch inside, or a bookshelf accidentally got knocked into your wall, sometimes big holes can wreak havoc on drywall—leading to Sheetrock repairs. Generally, it's best to avoid these kinds of holes by being careful, but as we all know, accidents do happen.

If you need to complete Sheetrock repairs for a bigger hole, you should cut out the affected area completely. Then, you can insert a new piece of drywall and secure it with drywall screws. It's important you check that there aren't any pipes or wires behind that section of your wall before you cut it out—so you don't accidentally harm your plumbing or electrical system. Then, use these steps to make your repair:

1. Cut a piece of Sheetrock into a square shape that is slightly larger than the hole.

2. Hold your cut-out over the hole and trace it with a pencil.

3. Use a drywall saw to cut along the lines on the wall.

4. Acquire plywood or a small piece of wood. Place your wood on either side of the hole and secure with drywall screws.

5. Place your drywall patch against the wall and screw it into the strips of wood, going through the existing drywall.

6. Place Sheetrock tape or self-adhesive mesh along the patch's border.

7. Carefully cover the patch with compound. Let it dry for 24 hours and apply a second coat.

8. Let the second coat dry for 24 hours before sanding, cleaning, and painting.

5. Water Damage

There are a number of ways water can create the need for Grapevine Sheetrock repairs. Perhaps a pipe burst in your wall and has been flooding your space. Or, maybe your first floor flooded due to heavy rains. In any case, water damage is very serious and needs to be dealt with immediately. If severe weather has caused flooding, you'll have to wait until the flooding stops before you can address any damage.

However, if a leaking pipe or broken water line is the source of damage, you have a more immediate Grapevine Sheetrock repair task ahead of you. Firstly, the water source needs to be dealt with. Either manually turn off your water access line or call Grapevine’s water utilities department—or your local water supplier—to shut it off remotely. Once that has been dealt with, you can look at cleaning up your home.

Once the affected room or area has been cleaned, and any residual water has dried as much as possible, you unfortunately only have one choice left: to remove and replace any damaged Sheetrock. While small holes and dents can be handled with DIY repairs, when it comes to major repairs, it is best to hire an expert.

At Mr. Handyman of Arlington, Mansfield and Grapevine, our expert technicians have years of experience repairing, replacing, and painting damaged drywall. We're more than happy to help you with prompt, professional Grapevine Sheetrock repairs.

Why is it Important to Replace Wet Sheetrock?

Drywall is very porous, so when it's saturated with water, it needs to be disposed of. Not only can it begin to deteriorate—causing all kinds of problems for your home—but it may also become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Even when dry, Sheetrock's porous nature means mold spores can hide within it and spread. While it may seem like a pain, fresh drywall is your best option after a flood.

6. Cracks

A tiny crack that's not too noticeable may not seem like a big deal. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Even a tiny crack needs to be dealt with immediately, as it usually indicates a larger problem.

One small crack is bound to worsen overtime, causing additional damage that will be more costly and frustrating to repair. Additionally, cracks can be a sign of moisture damage to your walls or ceiling–and could be a sign that you need your pipes or roof looked at. There could be a leak in your plumbing system or roof that's causing water damage. As we established earlier, where there is moisture, there is always a chance for mold growth—resulting in more extensive Sheetrock repairs.

Furthermore, cracking can indicate that your Sheetrock was not installed properly to begin with. This can be frustrating as a homeowner, but your best option is to get a trusted professional to properly install replacement drywall.

Cracking can also be a sign of your house settling. This is a natural process and is usually not too much to worry about. However, you should still get a professional to look at the damage to rule out other causes and to make any necessary Sheetrock repairs, so it does not worsen. Small cracks can be easily repaired by smoothing over the affected area with joint compound.

7. Loose Joint Tape

Joint tape, or adhesive, is used to strengthen the joint compound on Sheetrock repairs and patches. It's also used while hanging fresh drywall, as it helps reinforce areas where two sheets overlap. If you have a lot of moisture and humidity in your home, and it's poorly ventilated, it's possible the tape may become loose. You'll notice this immediately, as the surrounding drywall will split and crack, and the tape will be visible beneath. It usually shows up on corners and along joints.

Aside from looking unattractive, the other issue with peeling tape is that it opens the door to additional damage. For instance, moisture, grease, dirt, and pests can infiltrate your walls—possibly resulting in worse issues and more expensive repairs. Use the following Grapevine Sheetrock repair steps to fix peeling tape:

1. Remove all damaged tape using a sharp blade. Ensure you remove the damaged area, and adjacent tape extending by a foot on each side.

2. Sand until smooth.

3. Clean away dust and debris using a shop vac.

4. Apply a new piece of tape, slightly shorter than the piece you removed.

5. Apply joint compound and allow to dry.

6. Sand the dry compound and apply a second coat.

7. Sand, clean, and paint your Sheetrock repair.

8. Dented Corner Bead

A corner bead is an L-shaped metal strip that covers the otherwise exposed corners of drywall. You can't see it after joint compound has been applied. Sometimes, the corner can be damaged. Usually, general wear and tear is to blame for this type of Grapevine Sheetrock repair.

For instance, furniture may knock against the corner, you might hit it while vacuuming, or playing children may bump against the wall. While the best way to prevent damage is to be careful, it's not unavoidable that corner beads could become dented over time. If you notice the corner bead looks damaged, you can complete those Grapevine Sheetrock repairs using the following steps:

1. Use a hacksaw to cut the bead horizontally, above and below the affected area.

2. Use a utility knife to cut vertically along the drywall, connecting the initial horizontal cuts to form a rectangle.

3. Remove the damaged piece.

4. Cut a new piece of corner bead, which can be made out of metal, paper or vinyl.

5. Attach the corner bead to the wall with nails or using the manufacturer's recommended fastener or adhesive.

6. Apply joint compound to both sides, covering the patch and smoothing over rough edges and seams.

7. Let it dry, then sand, clean, and paint.

9. Damage from Tile Removal

Ceramic tiles look beautiful in any room. However, they can leave damage behind when removed incorrectly during renovations for projects like a shower remodel or kitchen backsplash—which is a common cause of Grapevine Sheetrock repairs. To prevent this from happening, carefully break the tiles first with a hammer and chisel and then use a wide-blade putty knife to remove the tile.

Should your drywall be damaged in the process, it's best to patch the affected area. While this may delay your renovations slightly due to allowing for drying time, it will be worth it, as plastering new tiles over the affected area can lead to serious problems down the line.

Hire the Grapevine Sheetrock Repair Pros at Mr. Handyman of Arlington, Mansfield and Grapevine!

Do you need Grapevine Sheetrock repairs? Is there a crack in your ceiling or a hole in your wall? Whatever the case may be, if you're not up to DIY techniques, our team is more than happy to help. Each of our hardworking technicians has years of experience with Grapevine Sheetrock repairs — we've helped homeowners throughout Grapevine, Arlington, and nearby areas like Southlake with all their Sheetrock repair needs.