Inevitably, you’ll get a damaged wall or ceiling in your home at some point, but while it can look pretty gnarly, it’s relatively simple to fix. In the past, you’d have to be mixing different types of wet plaster to fill the space, requiring extensive knowledge and practice to get things right. Today, though, you’ve got plasterboard at your disposal.  It’s actually pretty easy to affix plasterboard yourself; you’ll still want to reach out to a professional plasterer to skim things over once you’re done if need be, but completing the bulk of the work is entirely within the scope of a DIY skill set, and you can save yourself some labour costs in the process. 

The first step, and arguably the most important step, is cutting your piece of plasterboard. The exact size and dimensions, as well as how many sheets you’ll need, will depend on the job at hand, but the rules are the same. The easiest way is to use a T-square: this tool enables you to accurately measure and then score or mark a line across your piece of drywall, ready for cutting. The horizontal position of the T-square hooks onto the horizontal dimension of the piece, and because both have been manufactured to be square, you’ll get a perfectly positioned, straight line wherever you need to cut along the vertical dimension. To make the cut, you can use a simple utility knife. Simply run the knife along the edge of the T-square a few times, and you should then be able to break off the piece you need with a clean snap (remember, though – safety first!).

For securing your piece of the plasterboard, you’ll need a drill, screwdirve, and some plasterboard screws. If you’ve made your cuts properly, the piece should slot right in and be flush to the wall. Place your first screw in one of the top corners, and the second in one of the bottom corners, but this time, at the opposite side (top right to bottom left, for example). After this, repeat the screwing process until you’re condident the piece it totally secure.