Author Topic: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall  (Read 9851 times)

jeromedawg

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Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« on: February 01, 2016, 12:59:21 AM »
Hey guys,

Just wanted to get some advice on patching up an area of drywall where the current thermostat is installed. I just ordered a new thermostat to upgrade so was planning to take the opportunity to clean up the wall. The previous owners did a horrible and crappy job installing the current piece of junk. They didn't install wall anchors and drilled straight into the drywall (and it looks like they did this several times):

https://goo.gl/photos/RMyXpKfztQ8zm5qK8

I also noticed there's a nail [bent] embedded in there too. Should I pull that out? Any tips on patching and cleaning up the hole where the wire is coming out of? I'm pretty certain it doesn't need to be that large.

 
« Last Edit: February 01, 2016, 08:52:33 AM by jplee3 »

zolotiyeruki

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2016, 07:16:06 AM »
I'm not sure why, but the picture isn't showing up for me.

lthenderson

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2016, 07:54:09 AM »
I can't seen the picture but here is what I would do for two possibilities:

A. If you have a large hole in the wall that won't be covered by the new thermostat, I cut some small pieces of one by material that I can stick into the hole and are long enough to overlap on either side of the hole. You screw them to the backside of your drywall above and below the hole on both sides letting the wood overlap into the hole area. This gives you a place to screw your patch too. Cut a drywall patch out of drywall and screw it to your boards you installed as backers. Tape and mud the joint all around and sand smooth. Retexture to match if you have texture. Depending on what type of  texture you have, there are dozens of techniques to get it to match. Finally paint and install your new thermostat. The backer boards that you used to install your drywall patch also provide a good place to screw into for your thermostat.

B. If you just have a lot of stripped out screw holes in your drywall from previous installations, simply buy a small container of joint compound at your local hardware store, fill in the holes and sand smooth. Paint, texture and install your thermostat.

jeromedawg

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2016, 08:54:25 AM »
Thanks guys, I've updated the link so it *should* work now. Let me know if it doesn't.

The hole could probably just be filled over with compound I agree. Just wanted to get a second opinion... especially with the nail being there - not sure why it's even there to begin with (maybe they used it to hold the wiring in place? But why nail it into the wall/stud completely?! It just looks ugly.

zolotiyeruki

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2016, 09:52:41 AM »
I'd pull the nail and just patch it with compound, personally.  The texture looks pretty rough, though.

jeromedawg

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2016, 10:19:52 AM »
I'd pull the nail and just patch it with compound, personally.  The texture looks pretty rough, though.

Yeah, it's definitely textured. I suppose I could use orange peel if I were desperate. But I think the new thermostat may be able to cover over the patched part as well.

bobechs

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2016, 11:01:10 AM »
If that nail really bothers you, don't even start to think about what other loose & ugly stuff may be concealed inside your walls and ceiling.

Just don't start.

jeromedawg

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2016, 11:04:11 AM »
If that nail really bothers you, don't even start to think about what other loose & ugly stuff may be concealed inside your walls and ceiling.

Just don't start.

Are you saying I should just leave it and patch over it? Well, assuming it's not obstructing or is in the way of anything...

lthenderson

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2016, 12:03:48 PM »
If that nail really bothers you, don't even start to think about what other loose & ugly stuff may be concealed inside your walls and ceiling.

Just don't start.

Are you saying I should just leave it and patch over it? Well, assuming it's not obstructing or is in the way of anything...

Now that I can see the picture, just leave the nail (assuming it isn't protruding out of the wall) and apply some joint compound over it. You might damage more drywall trying to remove the nail not to mention that it could be there holding something that is buried behind the drywall. If it does protrude from the drywall, I would just tap it further into the drywall with a hammer and patch over it. If you don't go wild on the compound, the new thermostat will cover the patch job so you won't have to worry about texturing.

jeromedawg

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2016, 03:39:06 PM »
If that nail really bothers you, don't even start to think about what other loose & ugly stuff may be concealed inside your walls and ceiling.

Just don't start.

Are you saying I should just leave it and patch over it? Well, assuming it's not obstructing or is in the way of anything...

Now that I can see the picture, just leave the nail (assuming it isn't protruding out of the wall) and apply some joint compound over it. You might damage more drywall trying to remove the nail not to mention that it could be there holding something that is buried behind the drywall. If it does protrude from the drywall, I would just tap it further into the drywall with a hammer and patch over it. If you don't go wild on the compound, the new thermostat will cover the patch job so you won't have to worry about texturing.

There's a small portion of drywall under the nail that feels 'soft' or flexes more - should I rip that out? The rest of the surrounding areas are pretty firm otherwise. I don't know how big the new thermostat is so will have to check the dimensions and see if I can get away without covering up the patching with paint, etc.

lthenderson

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2016, 07:30:30 AM »
There's a small portion of drywall under the nail that feels 'soft' or flexes more - should I rip that out? The rest of the surrounding areas are pretty firm otherwise. I don't know how big the new thermostat is so will have to check the dimensions and see if I can get away without covering up the patching with paint, etc.

I wouldn't remove any drywall. The more area that you have for the patch to seat against the better. I would still paint over the patch for no other reason than to seal it up, especially if you have some matching paint laying around. But if you don't, I don't think it would hurt to put the thermostat directly onto the patch if the footprint covers it.

jeromedawg

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Re: Prepping for new thermostat installation - patching the drywall
« Reply #11 on: February 08, 2016, 12:14:16 PM »
There's a small portion of drywall under the nail that feels 'soft' or flexes more - should I rip that out? The rest of the surrounding areas are pretty firm otherwise. I don't know how big the new thermostat is so will have to check the dimensions and see if I can get away without covering up the patching with paint, etc.

I wouldn't remove any drywall. The more area that you have for the patch to seat against the better. I would still paint over the patch for no other reason than to seal it up, especially if you have some matching paint laying around. But if you don't, I don't think it would hurt to put the thermostat directly onto the patch if the footprint covers it.

I got the dimensions of the new thermostat (it's not shipping till March!!) and it's actually smaller than I expected. So sounds like patching + painting would be good to do anyway. How should I go about patching and painting around the hole where the wiring needs to come out of the wall though?