Patching and Plastering - drywall repair next to an outlet - advice needed...

I need to repair some drywall next to an outlet (see pics) and am trying to find the best solution. Possible ways I am thinking about doing it are:

- One of those mesh patches with the aluminum. Not sure about those though because of the unsupported side next to the outlet. Or any other kind of pre-made patch possibly?

- Cut the edges of the hole to square it off. Take a piece of either wood with drywall on top, or just drywall and screw it to the stud. fyi... for some reason there are 2 layers of drywall here; also only one of the outlets I'm repairing has the stud available (that one is also the bigger hole).

What is the best solution for these outlets?

Thanks for your help!

http://www.diychatroom.com/attachments/f2/12876d1250697368t-drywall-repair-next-outlet-advice-needed-outlet1.jpg

http://www.diychatroom.com/attachments/f2/12877d1250697377-drywall-repair-next-outlet-advice-needed-outlet2.jpg

Repair for this is very simple, First on the one with the larger gap and the stud showing, trim a piece or two of sheet rock to fit as tight as possible (take your time and make it fit good) screw the pieces onto the stud so that they are flush with the existing wall. Taking some drywall joint compound and a flat trowel spread an even coat over the entire piece, next take some drywall tape and lay it across the entire surface extending onto the existing wall about two inches in all directions. Next take your trowel and with some light pressure drag it across the tape in all directions to remove excess joint compound from under the tape. (smooth it out very good leaving no excess compound anywhere) once this is dry 24 hours apply an even coat of joint compound over the entire area smoothing it out clean and neat. apply extra coats if necessary and give a final sand. You are now ready for texture or paint. You cab do the same process for the other one only without the drywall pieces just use the tape to cover the gap.

Repair for this is very simple, First on the one with the larger gap and the stud showing, trim a piece or two of sheet rock to fit as tight as possible (take your time and make it fit good) screw the pieces onto the stud so that they are flush with the existing wall. Taking some drywall joint compound and a flat trowel spread an even coat over the entire piece, next take some drywall tape and lay it across the entire surface extending onto the existing wall about two inches in all directions. Next take your trowel and with some light pressure drag it across the tape in all directions to remove excess joint compound from under the tape. (smooth it out very good leaving no excess compound anywhere) once this is dry 24 hours apply an even coat of joint compound over the entire area smoothing it out clean and neat. apply extra coats if necessary and give a final sand. You are now ready for texture or paint. You cab do the same process for the other one only without the drywall pieces just use the tape to cover the gap.

thanks a lot for your help!

for the larger one:
- i obviously need to cut the hole to a square first correct?

for the smaller:
- so, first fill the hole/area with compound, then put on the tape, then more compound and continue with same process as the other one? is that right?

thanks!

i obviously need to cut the hole to a square first correct? Actually no. An irregular patch won't be as obvious as a square or rectangle. The eye looks for regularity.

Just so you know. What you think is two layers is a layer of gypsum lath and on top of that a layer of gypsum plaster and a smooth, probably whitecoat, finish.

The fixes described above will work.

A setting type of joint compound like EasySand by USG will make for a faster repair and will be a little more compatible with the plaster.