Ya know, the thing about this method is that it elevates the patch. If you want to do it right, you should cut the existing paper as it has thickness. Cal patches turn a small job into a huge one if you want it to be perfect and seamless. You have to mud like a pro and make it a large surface area. Better to cut to size, carefully notch or 'bevel' the outside and inside of the hole with a razor, place your beveled piece into the hole with expanding foam behind it or just as is, then spackle. If you do it right and with finesse, no need for large swaths of mudding or sanding. Plus, for an even easier job, use shims with hot glue, set them up first, then hot glue the bevelled piece into the existing hole, let it cure, then spackle the lines. Easy peasy, and if you match it, you might get away with no paint. Maybe. Assuming your paint is white and either matt or satin. But if its low on the wall and a traffic area, the eyes will gravitate to the uneven aspect of the wall. Cal patches require large areas of mudding and paint. Meh. You did a good job though. Nothing bad to say about your work. I just prefer a smaller job. Also, a plumb bob reamed into the screw holes after backing the screws out for a sec, gives you a counter sink that keeps the paper in tact and allows for a good seat for spackle or mud. I do that before painting walls, going over every hole, nick, tear, etc. with a plumb bob. I push in all the cuts and holes and compress the sheet rock in that spot so it takes spackle much better.
Ya know, the thing about this method is that it elevates the patch. If you want to do it right, you should cut the existing paper as it has thickness. Cal patches turn a small job into a huge one if you want it to be perfect and seamless. You have to mud like a pro and make it a large surface area. Better to cut to size, carefully notch or 'bevel' the outside and inside of the hole with a razor, place your beveled piece into the hole with expanding foam behind it or just as is, then spackle. If you do it right and with finesse, no need for large swaths of mudding or sanding. Plus, for an even easier job, use shims with hot glue, set them up first, then hot glue the bevelled piece into the existing hole, let it cure, then spackle the lines. Easy peasy, and if you match it, you might get away with no paint. Maybe. Assuming your paint is white and either matt or satin. But if its low on the wall and a traffic area, the eyes will gravitate to the uneven aspect of the wall. Cal patches require large areas of mudding and paint. Meh. You did a good job though. Nothing bad to say about your work. I just prefer a smaller job. Also, a plumb bob reamed into the screw holes after backing the screws out for a sec, gives you a counter sink that keeps the paper in tact and allows for a good seat for spackle or mud. I do that before painting walls, going over every hole, nick, tear, etc. with a plumb bob. I push in all the cuts and holes and compress the sheet rock in that spot so it takes spackle much better.
Thanks for the input and various options for patching.