Ask the expert

Oops! Opening a door too hard and too fast, I lost my grip on my bedroom doorknob and I accidentally punched a hole in the drywall behind the door with the doorknob. I’ve dented drywall before but never completely punctured it. Do I have to call in a professional to get the job done or is there some way I can make this repair myself? If so, how do I go about doing this?

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My budget is tight these days and I can’t really afford another bill.

Those who have worked to patch drywall in he past may have come to believe the only way to achieve a perfect patch is to hire a professional. Weekend handymen often discover that the texture of the spackling or drywall compound never matches the original surface; the sanding creates a big mess, and makes the patch appear even larger than it is as the texture is removed.

Don’t despair. Don’t rush to call in the professionals.

There is an easier do-it yourself solution.

“For the hole created by the doorknob, we have a quick fix,” offers Tim Hennelly, owner of Casa Buena House Inspections of Little Rock.

“Cover the hole with a circular vinyl patch/ bumper. The bumper will be slightly raised from the drywall surface, but it will look like it was designed to be there,” Hennelly says, adding that the bumper will be larger than the hole, creating a sturdy support base, and it can be held in place with construction adhesive.

“After the bumper patch is in place, you can paint it to match the wall color,” Hennelly says.

“As for a preventive measure for the rest of your house, make sure all doors have a working doorstop or a bumper to prevent doorknobs from striking the drywall.”

Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or email:

[email protected]

HomeStyle, Pages 37 on 09/21/2013

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