About The Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug - Drywall Repair Kit - Sheetrock Repair Patch
The Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug is better than a drywall kit. Unlike a drywall kit, there is no need to pay for extra unnecessary items. Drywall kit compound is usually a less expensive generic compound that may leave undesirable results. When you have the choice to buy fresh name-brand drywall (Sheetrock) compound from the hardware store, many times there is left over sitting on the shelf in the garage. Since 90% of drywall do-it-yourself individuals already have drywall compound, a utility knife, pencil or pen and a $2 putty knife, why buy them again? The best drywall repair kit is The Fireguard Drywall Plug. Use it to fix holes in drywall (sheetrock) ceilings and walls without the unnecessary purchase of items that you already have.
Have you ever tried a “DRYWALL REPAIR PATCH”? A drywall (sheet rock) repair patch only hides the damage. It is a temporary fix that cannot return the drywall’s integrity. A drywall (sheet rock) patched area cannot be used to re-hang pictures or towel holders. A drywall repair patch simply allows you to fill the hole with drywall compound. When compared to the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug, a drywall patch (sometimes) takes longer to install. The drywall patch will not return the structural integrity to the damaged surface and in some cases, costs a few dollars more with inferior results. The Drywall Repair plug is not sold in a kit, nor can it be considered a patch. It is a complete and permanent drywall repair product, similar to what has been used for years by professional drywall repairmen. It is now available to replace drywall repair patches and clips as the BEST (sheet rock) drywall repair product on the market.
Search YouTube and watch the video on repairing holes in drywall (sheetrock). Many of them show you how to make your own drywall (sheetrock) style repair plug. However, home made drywall repair plugs made with standard drywall (sheetrock) lack the important patented paper that the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug has. This important piece is the key to insuring a lasting bond to a painted surface, and the return of structural integrity to the damaged area. you can’t find this in any drywall repair kit, nor does it come with drywall clips or drywall patches. Although you can get average results with home made plugs, only the Fireguard Drywall plug gives you the advantage of not needing to buy a separate sheet of drywall and keeps the guesswork out. With a round design, the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug allows for an easy finish. Plugs with square edges have a tendency to catch and lift, making it harder to finish with professional looking results. one Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug can take less than 5 minutes to install, and can last as long as the wall itself. Watch how easy it is on the video demo on the Home Page. You will never use a drywall repair patch, drywall clip, or hope a drywall repair kit has everything you need again!
The Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug will forever change the future of drywall repair including fixing holes in walls and ceilings. maintenance workers in hotels, apartments, dorms, schools and businesses will increase their repair time, allowing better drywall repairs to be made faster and less expensive.
DRYWALL REPAIR MADE EASY!!
Whether you call it “Patching a hole” or “Fixing Drywall” any Do-It-Yourself weekend handyman can make a Professional Drywall Repair in minutes without a big expense. Drywall Repair has never been easier!
Needed tools include a pencil, 4-inch putty knife, utility knife, sandpaper, small bucket of drywall compound (DO NOT use “PASTE” or “SPACKLING”) and either a 3-7/8″ diameter or a 6-7/8″ diameter Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug. Most of these tools already hang over the garage work bench, so the expense is very minimal, usually just the price of the Drywall Repair plug and the compound (mud).
The Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug is the only product on the market that can claim to “Return the Structural Integrity” back to the damaged area. For example, if the damaged area was where the end of a towel holder was screwed into, when the repair was completed, it could be returned to its original location as if the area was never damaged and hold up to daily use again. Unlike other drywall repair products, the Drywall Repair plug is the only “PERMANENT” repair!
Click HERE for Compound vs. Paste or Spackling definition
Understanding Drywall Joint Compound… How To Choose It
What is drywall joint compound, or “mud”?
Drywall compound is a water-based paste that is used to cover seams, holes and make repairs in walls, ceilings anywhere drywall is used. It is available premixed in containers up to 5 gal., or as a powder that is mixed with water.
It is a combination of some or all of the following materials: limestone, dolomite, water, perlite, vinyl polymers and crystalline silica. The combination of these materials gives drywall compound good adhesive properties, limited flexibility, and a hard, smooth surface for painting. When primed and painted, it is almost indistinguishable from the drywall it has been spread on!
Prior to 1980, many joint compound formulations contained asbestos, which is a known carcinogen under some conditions and for some people. Though modern compounds contain no asbestos, care should be taken when doing repairs that might raise dust in older buildings.
Two Types of Pre-Mixed Drywall Joint Compound…
There are two versions of premixed drywall compound on the market today, standard joint compound and so-called lightweight joint compound.
Standard drywall joint compound is the original product for finishing drywall seams and nail holes. It dries very slowly, especially under cool conditions. It is very soft when applied but dries very hard. Because of its initial softness, it has a tendency to sag badly if applied heavily. Thus, it is not the product of choice for filling holes or seams unless tape is used.
Lightweight drywall joint compound (a.k.a. “Spackling Paste”), is quite a different animal. Due to its different composition, it is much firmer out-of-the-can than standard joint compound and can be used to fill cracks or holes with little sagging. This property makes it ideal for nail size hole in the wall repairs. However, when dry it is not as hard as standard drywall compound, so many drywall installation professionals prefer to use standard joint compound for everyday use.
Both of these products are available in dry formulations that you mix with water. For the average homeowner or handyman, though, I see little advantage in purchasing the powder when using the premixed product is so easy!
Quick-Setting Drywall Compound… or “Hot Mud”
Usually in a powder that you mix with water, this product is a very different animal! Many professionals love this product because it sets much more quickly than either standard or lightweight joint compound. A skilled taper can easily do a complete bedroom size room in as little a one day!
It can be purchased in formulas with various setting times… 20-30min, 30-60min and 60-120min. In some markets, a powdered accelerator can be added which can shorten setting time to as little as 10 minutes! Obviously, this is too quick for doing entire rooms, but it can sure speed up small repairs. (Be sure to read the instructions before trying the accelerator… improper mixing will negate the effect, according to most manufacturers!)
The Fireguard Drywall PlugTM Instructions
SUPPLIES needed: Joint compound, top coat compound, fine drywall sand paper, and if needed texture. DO NOT use “PASTE” or “SPACKLING”
TOOLS needed: Utility knife, trowel and pencil.
1. Remove The Fireguard Drywall PlugTM from foam packaging.
2. Use template packaging and center it over damaged area.
3. With a pencil, trace a circle around the damaged area (Pic 1)
4. Inspect cutting area behind drywall, to avoid cutting wires, studs, pipes, etc.
5. With a cutting tool (utility knife or drywall saw)cut along the “OUTSIDE” of the pencil line (Pic 2)
6. Remove cut pieces of drywall and paper, then test plug in new hole. (Cut hole larger if necessary.)
7. Lay plug on level surface, paper side down, and apply compound along edge of drywall. Be sure to have a consistent amount (1/8″ or more) to seal plug in hole (Pic 3)
8. Slowly work plug into hole, careful not to push plug in too far.
9. Using a trowel working from the center to the outside, squeeze the excess compound to the outer edges. (Pic 4)
10. Once paper is flat on the surface and starting from the middle, working out toward the plug’s edges, apply a generous amound of top coat and spread it covering the entire plug. Smooth and let compound dry for at least 8 hours (Pic 5)
11. Sand. (texture if needed) and paint. (Pic 6)
DO NOT INSTALL The Fireguard Drywall PlugTM in temperatures below 45° F or above 85° F
This product is designed for use with drywall and is not suitable for use with lath or plaster.
Click here for frequently asked questions about The Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug.
FAQ – Fireguard Drywall Plug
IS THE FIREGUARD DRYWALL PLUG AVAILABLE IN STORES?
Yes! Not every store who carries the Drywall Plug, carries the Fireguard Plug. However, those stores can order and have them in just a few days or less
CAN ANYONE INSTALL FIREGUARD DRYWALL PLUGS?
Anyone who can meet the guidelines of installing the Drywall plug can also do the Fireguard Plug. However, the installer must be sure to add compound to the inside of the cut circle as well as around the edge of the plug itself.
WHAT MAKES THE FIREGURD DRYWALL PLUG BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE ON THE MARKET?
This is the only drywall repair product that is made with 5/8” drywall and that can maintain the fire rating in a fire wall.
WHEN WOULD I USE A FIREGUARD PLUG?
Fireguard Plugs are used in residential applications where the drywall damage is in the garage and in the ceiling of the lower floor on a multi-floor home. It would almost always be used in multi-family residences like apartments or townhomes and of course in commercial buildings. Places like schools, dorms, hospitals, elevator shafts, hotels, offices, etc.
WHY WOULD A FIREGUARD PLUG BE BETTER THAN GOING STUD TO STUD?
With the fact that the Fireguard Plug maintains the fire rating, repairs can be made faster with less labor or down time. For Example: In an operating room a door knob hole can be plugged with hot mud at 8am, sanded and another coat (if needed) at 9am, sanded and textured at 10am, painted by 11am and ready to use by 3pm. Fire rating is maintained and the hospital losses very little down time.
HOW LONG DO I WAIT TO ADD THE TOP COAT ONCE THE PLUG IS IN THE WALL?
You don’t wait. As soon as you have installed the Drywall Plug and the paper is flush against the wall, IMMEDIATELY apply the top coat. The smoother you apply the compound the less sanding you have to do when it dries. Make sure you cover the “ENTIRE” paper circle. The Drywall Plug was meant for a ONE step installation and the next step to sand and paint.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “COMPOUND” VS. “PASTE OR SPACKLE”?
Paste or Spackle is designed to act as a “filler”. It’s mainly designed to fill small holes made by nails or shallow scratches and depressions. “COMPOUND” is what is used for drywall installation/repair by all major contractors who work with drywall. One big reason Spackle became popular is because most Do-It-Yourselfers wanted something that didn’t take as long as compound to dry. However, nothing beats the smooth finish and great look compound gives in large area applications. When you use compound, the Drywall Plug brings back the structural integrity in the damaged area. The repair will become as solid as it was BEFORE the damage was made. It is truly the only “PERMANENT” drywall repair product on the market.
NOTE: For those who need a “QUICK” repair, use 20 MINUTE JOINT COMPOUND. Repairs can be made and finished in less than ONE HOUR, depending on experience and conditions.
WHY USE A FIREGUARD PLUG, WHEN I CAN USE A DRYWALL PLUG?
FIRE RATING. Although it is hard to tell the difference between a Drywall Plug and a Fireguard Plug once they are installed, it is the duty and responsibility of the repairperson to do what is right in the way of a quality repair. Heaven forbid, should the time ever occur when a fire happens, cutting costs on such a little repair could cost a hundred times more and in the worst case a priceless life. Just do what’s right!
ARE YOUR PRODUCTS IMPORTED?
Everything we produce is made in the United States. From the raw materials to the labor to the packaging, all is made in the United States.
How To Use
First: unwrap the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug from its packaging. The foam packaging is the template you will need to determine the size and the location of the hole you want to cut out. Place the template over the damaged area a trace the circle around the damaged drywall.
NOTE: Make sure there are no electrical wires, cable wires, plumbing pipes etc. before you begin cutting.
Second: with a utility knife or a drywall saw, cut out the circle you just drew. Remove all the loose drywall pieces and smooth out the sides from rough cut drywall paper.
Third: BEFORE apply compound to the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug, place the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug into the hole you just cut to make sure it fits properly. Trim the sides of the drywall hole as needed.
Fourth: Remove the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug and apply a generous amount of compound completely around the edge of the drywall piece of the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug, where the paper meets the plug.
Fifth: Insert the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug into the hole again and from the center of the plug, begin squeezing out the excess compound with the putty knife to the outer edges of the paper. Once the paper rests flat on the surface, immediately apply another coat over the top of the entire Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug. Smooth the best you can, ignoring any slight wrinkles in the paper. Let dry overnight.
NOTE: The paper may wrinkle slightly, but the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug owns the patent in this specially made paper that actually adheres to a painted surface and when it dries the repair will be smooth.
Sixth: Sand the drywall repair smooth. Add texture if desired and paint.
Inserting the Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug should take less than 10 minutes for the first-time user. Once the installer has completely installed their first Fireguard Drywall Repair Plug, most future Fireguard Drywall Repair Plugs are installed in 5-6 minutes.
Safety Precautions
As mentioned earlier, asbestos was removed from all joint compounds by 1980, though care should be taken when making repairs in older buildings. Inhaling dusts of any type in quantity can pose respiratory problems. Minimizing sanding through good application techniques, wearing quality dust masks, collecting dust using vacuums and masking rooms with tarps all help to control the inhalation of dust and movement of dusts through the home during repairs. Wearing hand protection is also advised.
