Hole in plasterboard wall. Emergency!!

shifty

I'm a student and live with another student in a rented flat. A recent accident caused a fairly sizeable hole (about a foot and a half square) in the plasterboard wall. Both of us are fairly useless at DIY and so fixing it ourselves is pretty much out of the question (unless anyone can convince me that fixing it would be the simplest procedure in the world!).
So basically I need some tips for getting a carpenter in; approximately how much can I expect to be charged?, How long will it take? (because we have an impending flat inspection), and if by chance anyone could recommend someone to do it in the edinburgh area I would be eternally grateful as well as other miscellanious pieces of advice which would be useful.

Thanks in advance.

Tom_Jones

It would take a Carpenter about 2 hours and I would say £50 plus any materials.

Nile

Hello shifty

Welcome to the MSE site.:wave:

cheekymole

Can't you hide the hole with a bookcase or something the you have more time to sort it out?

owey

shifty wrote:

I'm a student and live with another student in a rented flat. A recent accident caused a fairly sizeable hole (about a foot and a half square) in the plasterboard wall. Both of us are fairly useless at DIY and so fixing it ourselves is pretty much out of the question (unless anyone can convince me that fixing it would be the simplest procedure in the world!).
So basically I need some tips for getting a carpenter in; approximately how much can I expect to be charged?, How long will it take? (because we have an impending flat inspection), and if by chance anyone could recommend someone to do it in the edinburgh area I would be eternally grateful as well as other miscellanious pieces of advice which would be useful.

Thanks in advance.

A carpenter won't be any good, you will need a plasterer to fit a new piece of plasterboard and then he will have to skim over it with some plaster. Materials will cost between £10-£20, its the labour that will push it up.

wanttosave

hi shifty , if you can ask at a local building site if they can help you . you will need a off cut of p/b 2" bigger than the hole . a length of wire . a small amount of carlite bonding . and a small amount of dry wall compound . a peice of batten bigger than the hole is wide .

Put two small holes in the middle of the p/b and thread wire in the two holes . now wiggle the p/b in to the hole . Mix the dry wall compound to a thickish paste . and place round the edge of the p/b . then pull not to hard on the wire till the new p/b is fixed to the back of the old wall . now take the batten and wind the wire to hold in place till dry . about 2 hours aprox . when dry remove batten and wire . now mix the bonding to a thickish paste again and push in to the void you have made not to hard try not to get on old part of the wall and dont over fill . rule off with the batten . then its up to you when dry . to put plaster or filler over bonding when dry . yes sounds hard but you can do it . and take your time . hope this helps but you can always rub it down with sand paper

Mr_Proctalgia

If the hole is as big as you say I would make it BIGGER extend it until the sides of it reach the studs and square up the top and bottom of the hole too, then using a Stanley knife carefully cut down the plaster board sides so you have about half the studs showing, get yourself down to a diy shop and get a piece of 4 by 3 PB measure up and carefully cut to just undersize (use a straight edge and stanley knife for this again) then nail it to the half studs you can see, tape over the joints and skin/ feather in with board finish plaster.

Cagey

Spot on Mr P.
Should be quite straigtforward & can`t make it any worse .If it is unsucessfull & you still need a joiner then he will still have to do the same amount of work therefore it will not cost any more.

shifty

Thanks all, and cheers for the bookcase suggestion cheeky, i only wish the hole wasn't above a radiator and would block the door otherwise that'd definately be the way I'd go!

Jay-Jay_4

.....and in case you're doubting your carpentary skills....I managed it a few years ago and I'm a GIRL!!!! (well I think I'm officially a lady but ummm... I still class myself as a girl cos I played hoscotch today )

sarahlouise210

couldn`t you hang a flag or something on the wall..just for the flat inspection? A little strange I know..but it is not unheard of for students to have unusual furnishings! It would hang down nicely just below the top of the radiator! We have a similar problem ...hole in bedroom door (long story!) it now has a sign over the hole..."mum and dads room ..please knock!