If you just bought a new home, it is necessary to keep the walls maintained so you do not have to deal with any big issues down the road. Taking routine care of the drywall in your house is super easy, so why not save yourself from future trouble?
This article aims to cover the most important tips regarding drywall maintenance so you can keep your walls looking fresh and in great shape.
Repairing Small Cracks and Holes
If you have noticed that your new home’s walls have some small holes or cracks in the walls, then you should patch them up immediately before they grow. For holes and cracks that are too big to easily patch up, you may need to replace the whole sheet of drywall.
It is very important to make sure that any large and deep cracks do not have an underlying reason that would be considered a bigger problem, such as an uneven foundation making your house lean to one side.
To quickly patch small flaws, you can pick up some joint compound from your local home improvement store, along with a drywall knife for applying the material and a piece of sandpaper.
Spread the drywall mud onto the damaged area, and smooth it over until it is even with the wall. Once it has dried completely, use your sandpaper to smooth out any roughness that remains.
Replacing a sheet of drywall is a little bit trickier, but it is still something you can do without hiring a professional. Remove the damaged piece of drywall by cutting at the sides and corners of it with your drywall knife until you can pull it out.
To install the new piece, you might need another person to help as drywall can be quite heavy and difficult to screw into place by yourself. It is easiest to use a drill to screw it into place.
Reducing Odors
This drywall maintenance step is often overlooked, but it is one you should do if you want a comfortable home.
To keep your walls clean and odor-free, make sure you routinely wipe them down to remove grime. This is especially important to do to the walls in your kitchen and bathroom, as these can get particularly dirty.
It is very easy to clean off your walls. Simply use dish soap, warm water, and a nonabrasive sponge.
You can also help prevent your walls from smelling by using a paint that is designed for doing this very thing.
Stain Removal
If your new home’s walls have stains on them, it is best for you to take care of them before they seep deeper into the drywall. If the stains appear to be caused by water damage, it is vital that you figure out the cause and make sure you are not dealing with any flooding or a leaking roof.
To clean up existing stains on the walls, you can use a magic eraser, which is extremely effective, or you can try to get rid of the marks with some dish soap, warm water, and a nonabrasive sponge as you would when generally cleaning your walls.