Adding Support for the Patch

What we're gonna do is install an actual piece of drywall to fill our void. With big holes, you can't just fill it in with mud. Don't waste your time with a 'patch kit' on a 6 inch wide hole. It'll just crack later and you'll have to do it all over again.

In order to put our piece of drywall in place, we need something to install it too. Right now we just have open air, we need something stout behind the patch. For this fix, I used what was available at the site. A scrap piece of oak 1x4. For that reason, I decided to glue the piece in place and not fool with screwing it. Also, sometimes the edges of drywall can be cracked and you can't see it because of the paper and paint. This method will insure that those cracks won't affect you.

Measure The Support

You will have to use discretion on the size needed. If your hole is very large, you may need two pieces. If it's bigger than that, hopefully you can just use existing studs. You want the support to be larger than the hole (in length) by several inches, 6 being the minimum. That way you'll have at least 3 inches on each end that is in direct contact with existing drywall.

Glue The Support

Using construction adhesive, apply a generous amount to one end of the support. I put a screw in the center of this board just to give me something to hold onto but it really wasn't needed, the string did good enough. Insert the glued end into the hole and put the rest of the board in. Now apply adhesive to the bare end and pull the board up tight against the drywall, sliding it up and down (or side to side as the case may be). So that I didn't have to put any screws in, I used a short dowel to twist the string tight enough that the dowel held the support piece in place. If you don't want to wait for the adhesive to dry, you'll have to put screws in each end. In that case, don't use oak, use something soft like pine or fir.

After the adhesive is dry, get your patch piece ready.