Repairing Drywall Damage From Pets: Scratches, Chews, Holes
Dogs and cats damage drywall in a few predictable places: the wall beside a door they want through, outside corners they chew, and low spots where they scratch or dig. Almost all pet damage to drywall is repairable, and once the patch is textured and painted it shouldn't show.
Common pet damage to drywall
- Scratches beside doors. Claw marks that score the paint and the drywall's paper face, usually at the height your dog stands against the door.
- Chewed corners. Outside corners are covered by a metal or plastic corner bead under the joint compound. A chewing puppy can gnaw through the compound and bend or expose the bead.
- Holes. A dog that digs at a wall, or a cat that claws the same spot, can go right through the drywall.
How to repair pet scratches in drywall
Shallow scratches that only mark the paint can be sanded lightly, primed and painted. Deeper scratches that tear the drywall's paper face need one more step, because torn paper fuzzes up and bubbles when compound goes over it. Cut away the loose paper, seal the exposed brown paper with a sealing primer, then skim the area with thin coats of joint compound, sand, prime and paint.
How to repair a chewed outside corner
- Cut away loose compound and any bent or damaged section of corner bead.
- Fasten a new piece of corner bead in place, lined up with the existing corner.
- Apply two or three coats of joint compound, feathering each one wider, and sand smooth between coats.
- Match the wall texture, prime and paint.
How to repair holes from pets
Holes up to a couple of inches take a self-adhesive mesh patch and joint compound. Larger holes need the damaged drywall cut out to a clean square, backing strips added, and a new piece of drywall screwed in, taped and finished. Our guide on how to patch a hole in drywall walks through each size.
Making the repair blend in
Pet damage is usually somewhere you look every day, like a hallway or the wall by the back door, so the finish matters. Match the texture, prime the patch so it doesn't flash through the paint, and paint the wall corner to corner. See why a drywall patch shows for more on blending a repair.
Protecting the wall afterward
A clear scratch shield beside the door your pet uses, and corner guards on outside corners, protect the repair while your pet learns new habits. If the scratching or chewing comes from boredom or separation anxiety, your vet or a trainer can help with the cause.
Pet damage drywall repair in Orlando
New Ceilings repairs scratched walls, chewed corners and holes across Orlando and Central Florida, then matches the texture and paint so the damage disappears. Send a photo for a free written quote. See drywall and ceiling repair.