Method for drywall patching

A method of replacing a portion of a drywall such as sheet-rock and gypsum and the like, comprising the steps of:

• placing a template (10) over the portion of the drywall to be replaced so that the portion is visible through the center window (75) of the template;
• driving pins (22) through holes (21) in the template and into the drywall to secure the template thereto;
• inserting a sheet-rock saw blade (25) into one end of a first diagonal slot (12) and through the drywall;
• sawing the drywall to the end of said first slot (12);
• removing the saw blade (12) from said first slot;
• inserting the saw blade into one end of a second diagonal slot (13) and through the drywall;
• sawing the drywall to the end of said second slot (12);
• removing the saw blade (12) from said second slot;
• inserting the saw blade into one end of a third diagonal slot (14) and through the drywall;
• sawing the drywall to the end of said third slot;
• removing the saw blade (12) from said third slot;
• inserting the saw blade into one end of a fourth diagonal slot (15) and through the drywall;
• sawing the drywall to the end of said fourth slot;
• removing the saw blade from the fourth diagonal slot;
• removing the template (10) and the cut portion (48) from the drywall;
• rounding over the outer drywall edges defining the cut window (41,55) to smooth any ragged surface;
• cutting four V-shaped notches (60) into the drywall edges (56,57,58,59) defining the cut window (55) using an outward sawing motion to substantially prevent tearing of the backing paper or breading of the drywall about the inner surface of the drywall;
• removing dust and debris from the wall edges (43,44,45,46 or 55,57,58,59) of the window (42 or 55) and dampen all the wall edges with water;
• preparing a replacement plug (27) by moistening its outer sloped wall edges (33,34,35,36) with water and applying a liberal layer (77) of patching compound (30) thereon;
• pressing the replacement plug into the window (42 or 55) to force some of the patching compound out from between the juxtaposing sloped wall edges of defining the window and the replacement plug, so that the outer surface (31) of the replacement plug is recessed inwardly below the outer surface 976) of the drywall;
• applying additional patching compound into the recessed area effected between the outer surfaces of the drywall and the replacement plug;
• using a squeegee (51) to spread evenly the added patching compound over the replacement plug and the drywall outer surfaces about the window.
• allowing the patching compound to dry to a hard finish;
• and
• sanding the exposed hard patching compound until the surface is substantially smooth and planar with the flat outer drywall surface (76).