# Patching a 12-inch drywall hole — mesh tape vs a backing board?

**URL:** <https://home.renovation.reviews/t/patching-a-12-inch-drywall-hole-mesh-tape-vs-a-backing-board/48219>\
**Category:** DIY & Tutorials\
**Created:** [June 28, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/patching-a-12-inch-drywall-hole-mesh-tape-vs-a-backing-board/48219 "2026-06-28T16:58:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mike\_homeowner](https://home.renovation.reviews/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@mike\_homeowner](https://home.renovation.reviews/u/mike_homeowner)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/patching-a-12-inch-drywall-hole-mesh-tape-vs-a-backing-board/48219/1 "2026-06-28T16:58:27Z")

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Cat-related incident left a roughly 12 inch hole in the hallway. For something that big do I need to cut in a backing board and screw a patch to it, or can I get away with a self-adhesive mesh patch and a few coats of compound?

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**Author:** ![sarah\_diy](https://home.renovation.reviews/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@sarah\_diy](https://home.renovation.reviews/u/sarah_diy)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/patching-a-12-inch-drywall-hole-mesh-tape-vs-a-backing-board/48219/2 "2026-06-28T17:00:38Z")

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Feather the final coat way wider than you think (12-16 in) so the hump vanishes under hallway lighting.

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**Author:** ![linda\_reno](https://home.renovation.reviews/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/e274bd/32.png) [@linda\_reno](https://home.renovation.reviews/u/linda_reno)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/patching-a-12-inch-drywall-hole-mesh-tape-vs-a-backing-board/48219/3 "2026-06-28T17:00:39Z")

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Seconding the backing board. Mesh is great up to 3-4 inches; beyond that you want something rigid behind it.

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**Author:** ![tom\_builds](https://home.renovation.reviews/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d78d45/32.png) [@tom\_builds](https://home.renovation.reviews/u/tom_builds)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/patching-a-12-inch-drywall-hole-mesh-tape-vs-a-backing-board/48219/4 "2026-06-28T17:00:40Z")

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At 12 inches skip mesh-only — it’ll flex and crack. Cut a clean square, screw furring strips behind, screw in a drywall plug, tape the seams, three thin coats.