How to Replace Fiberglass and Drywall Near a Water Heater

The drywall knives

By Gary Boutin  
Helpers: Carl N. and David V.               

Supplies and Tools: 
Cordless drills 12 volt and 18 volt 
Drywall knives
Drywall screws - coarse
Electrical plates
Fiberglass rolls R19 
Hammer claw with rubber grip
Hammer staple with extra staples
Mud pan
Joint compound
Paper tape
Paint cans 
Sanding screens
Tool belts  

Mrs. Stone wanted her garage walls repaired. She had the city place a new water heater in her garage, and each step needed to be inspected. The water heater had to replace and fiberglass needed to be installed in the walls. There were three area that needed to be inspected. He needed to inspected the installation of the fiberglass, the installation of  the new sheetrock around the water heater and finely the painting of the garage walls. The painting was going to be done by another contractor.

This post shows the nine steps to replace fiberglass ans drywall  by the water heater. Now the home owner was able to get insurance for the garage.

Step 1: Fig.1 shows the new fiberglass rolls R-19 purchased at a warehouse store. Including supplies coarse drywall screws, paper tape, 1/2 inch drywall, joint compound and sanding screens.

Fig.1 Garage fiberglass rolls

Step 2: Fig.2 through fig.8 shows the walls were inspected and repaired of any small wall damage. This includes removing all the nails and staples from the wood studs. This was done to have a smooth surface when the new sheetrock was placed on the wall studs.

Fig.2 Removing nails

Fig.3 Heater wall repair

Step 3: Fig.4 through fig.8 shows Carl placing several metal plates were needed to cover the electrical wires and or water pipes. Some area were sprayed with paint.  

Claw hammer used to remove large nails

Fig.5 Checking existing fiberglass

Fig.6 Carl checking ABS drains pipping

Fig.7 Removing 16D stud nails

Fig.8 Finishing simple repair

Step 4: Fig.9 and fig.10 shows that the installation of the fiberglass into the walls that have no existing fiberglass and staple the edges to the wood studs. Some of the existing fiberglass was too damaged and needed new fiberglass added to the wall.

Fig.9 Fiberglass by water heater

Fig.10 By water heater

Step 5: Fig.11 through fig.12 shows the metal plates are hammered into the studs that protect the electrical wiring inside the wall. The electrical plate prevents a nail or screw from getting herself into any live electrical wiring, or water, drain pipes.

Fig.11 Fiberglass in wall

Fig.12 Adding electrical metal plates

Step 6: Fig.13 shows that some parts of the wall have large ABS pipes in them and its important to know were they are but not put in a screw into the pipe.

Fig.13 Electrical plates

Step 7: Fig.14 through fig.15 shows Carl and David installing wallboard over the new fiberglass. Some of the wallboard are large pieces and some are small pieces. It's like a jigsaw puzzle that both Carl and David had to solve.  

Fig.14 Repair water heater wall

Fig.15 David and Carl work on wall

Step 8: Fig.16 through fig.17 shows Carl doing some special measurements for drywall behind the water heater. Some pieces like fig.18 needed to be measured and cut to fit around the water piping.

Fig.16 Carl at water heater

Fig.17 Carl measuring area around water heater

Fig.18 Custom water heater piece

Step 9: Fig.19 through fig.21 show the wall pieces have their first coat of drywall joint compound. And now the job finished.

Fig.19 Joint compound dried

Fig.20 New wall piece added to wall

Fig.21

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Note: The DIY Advisor assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any jobs. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed contractor if in doubt about any steps on these posts. All names were changed to protect client's privacy. DIY Advisor. Reproduction of site content including photos without permission prohibited. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011-

How to Use Wall Frog What are they and How to use them!

Fig.1 Frog Outline

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:
Carpentry pencil
Cordless Screwdriver with Phillip -head tip
Drywall piece
Drywall saw
Drywall screws
Drywall T-Square 
Drywall fiberglass tape or paper tape
Dust mask
Mud knife
Mud Pan 
Joint compound
Sander by-hand
Sanding screens
Texture spray
Utility knife
Wet-sand sponge or Sanding screens
Wall-board wall frogs (also called Drywall repair clips®, Insta-back®)

If you ever had to repair a small wall damage than wall frog are for you. If you have to replace large piece of drywall and there was no wood or metal stud near by than the solution is wall frog.

This post shows the eighteen steps to simple install wall frogs and make repair the easiest ever.

Step 1:  Fig.1 shows the frog that can be painted with crayons. Click above right on the frog outline to see more outline that can be shared with the entire family.
Step 2:  Fig.2 shows drywall knives that are used to float the joint compound on a damaged wall.

Fig.2 Drywall knives

Step 3: Fig.3 shows that a purchase at The Home Depot will accomplish the material supply listed above. All of Wall-board Tools can be purchased at The Home Depot. 
Step 4: Fig.4 shows the Wal-Board Tools - Drywall Repair Clips® also called wall frogs. These clips will work on both 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch wallboard.

Fig.4 Drywall  
repair clips®

Step 5: Next, purchase all the supplies for the job needed, see list above. The Home Depot Drywall area will have the following supplies that will be needed. Ask any Associate in Building / Construction area and they will gladly help you choose the supplies for this job.

Tools: One of the most important tools is the Drywall T-Square. The drywall T-square is heat-treated aluminum construction and aircraft alloy steel rivets for strength and durability. This is the best tool because not only does it help you cut the exact piece of drywall it is strong enough hold for cutting 4-foot wide pieces. The information was obtained from The Home Depot Internet site.

Step 6: Fig.5 and fig.6 are examples of damaged holes in walls. 

Fig.5 Wall scraped

Fig.6 Hole

Step 7: Use a carpenter pencil, use the pencil to draw the square around the damaged hole in the wall. Any pencil will do, but carpenter pencil are flat and can lay a fat line to help cut the wall. Tip: Do not use a #3 pencil the tip is to hard and the line left can barely seen.
Step 8: Fig.7 shows a yellow framing square for the pencil mark to follow. 

Fig.7 Framing square

Step 9: Fig.8 shows the drywall Saw that will be used to cut a square pattern in your wall. As you cut the wall, feel with the other hand in the wall and try not to cut any electrical wires. Work the blade away from the wire if you have some, try to cut a straight line. If it is not possible because of the electrical wire increase the size of the square.

Fig.8 Drywall saw

Step 10: Now remove 4-clips from the packaging. The clip has arms place the clip over the cut wallboard. 

Step 11: Fig.9 shows the wall frog has been attached to the wall. The sheetrock screw is attached to the drywall and the clip.

Fig.9 Wall Frog

Step 12: Fig.10 shows a square piece of drywall to place over the hole. This picture also shows one bracket and drywall screw has been inserted into the wall below right before placing the new drywall piece in place. Presently all the wall frogs are in place waiting for the new drywall piece to be applied. Later wall tape, joint compound and texture will be applied to the wall. Fig.11 shows that after the drywall piece is placed into the wall, the only step left is to wiggle the leg back and forth until it falls off.

Fig.10 Replacement drywall

Fig.11 Left corner

Step 13: Fig.12 shows the drywall paper tape that will be used on this job. Fig.13 shows what drywall fiberglass tape looks like. Fiberglass tape has built in adhesive to secure itself to the wall. The tape is used to re-enforce the new drywall patch.  

Fig.12 Drywall paper tape

Fig.13 Fiberglass tape

Step 14: Fig.14 shows the joint compound that will be placed over the drywall tape. Fig.15 shows  a 5-gal container of joint compound that will be placed on the wall seam before the drywall paper tape is applied. 

Fig.14 Joint compound

Fig.15 - 5-gallon joint compound

Step 15: Fig.16 shows the three types of drywall knifes (look like scrapers) that will be used to apply the joint compound over the drywall tape on the wall. Fig.17 shows that this is the correct knife to get a smooth patch over the tape. No need to overwork it because the patch will need several more coats of joint compound between application to be flushed with the wall.

Fig.16 Drywall knives

Fig.17 Middle wall knife

Step 16: Fig.18 shows the application of the paper drywall tape.

Fig.18 Drywall tape

Step 17: Fig.19 and fig.20 shows that after several layer has been placed on the wall the area needs to be sanded. Instead of sanding the joint compound with black sanding paper, or sanding screens, use a sanding sponge. Sanding sponge is designed for sanding wallboard joint compound. This sponge is dustless sanding, just rinse and reuse. Yellow side cleans and smooths, and white side is used for more aggressive sanding.

Fig.19 Sanding sponge

Fig.20

Note: The information about sanding sponge was obtained from The Home Depot Internet site.

Step 18: Once the wall is smooth then it's time to apply texture. Texture comes in two possible patterns; Knock Down or Orange peel. Look at your wall and if you have any flat areas then the wall is Knock-down. Fig.21 shows Orange peel texture. If the wall resemble an orange peel than its Orange peel texture.  

Note: Check out my site on how to apply orange peel texture.

Fig.21 Orange
Peel Texture

Now that you have seen how wall frogs are used in wall damage repair, consider using them for all your wall damages. Almost all the large warehouse stores carry them and these clips can also be purchase in bulk on the Internet.

Note: Fig.9 and Fig.11 shows pictures taken of drywall repair clips® located at Ganahl Lumber. Ganahl Lumber had a demonstration of the use of these drywall repair clips®. 

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• Cookie Alert: European Union laws requires that you know that this blog uses cookies. If you are concerned about this please click here to see how Google uses this information.

Note: The DIY Advisor assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any jobs. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed contractor if in doubt about any steps on these posts. All names were changed to protect client's privacy. DIY Advisor. Reproduction of site content including photos without permission prohibited. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011-