Hey everyone! I recently tried my hand at drywall patching for the first time, and let's just say it hasn't gone as smoothly as I hoped. I patched a hole, applied fiberglass mesh tape, and used premixed mud, but now my wall looks a bit messy. I can still see some of the mesh tape peeking through, and I mistakenly added more mud multiple times, which has made it worse. The tape on one side is also starting to fray. I'm feeling pretty stressed about finishing this job correctly. I think I know where I messed up (like using too much mud and not feathering it out properly), but I'm not sure what my next steps should be. Should I scrape the mud off or use sandpaper? And should I remove and replace the mesh tape completely or just patch the damaged part? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
I’d recommend going with sandpaper to start. Begin with 120 grit to get rid of the uneven spots, then finish up with 220 grit for a smooth surface. After sanding, you can apply a texture to blend it better with the existing wall. If any mesh tape is still visible after that, the texture should help cover it up. Just be careful not to damage the drywall paper beneath!
Sounds good! What do you think I should do about the frayed mesh tape? Should I just cut away the damaged parts?