January 28, 2015

Whether your kids were playing a little too rough or your measurements were a few inches off when hanging your new mirror, putting a hole in your wall is a common occurrence.  Calling a contractor can be costly so it is important to educate yourself on how to fix a hole so that you can keep your walls looking new for years to come.

Materials Needed

  • Paint ScraperSpackling Paste
  • Flexible Putty Knife
  • Hammer
  • 180 Grit Sandpaper
  • Patching Kit
  • 4” mini roller with a ½” nap and Roller Pan
  • Paint Brush
  • Drop Cloth

Nail and Screw Holes (Up to 2 inches)

Nail and screw holes are an easy fix with a little spackle and paint but there are a few steps to follow to ensure a smooth patch.  Whenever you remove a nail or screw from the wall, it will create a convex surface that will show through the paint if you simply patch over it.  Take a hammer and gently tap the hole to depress it back into the wall.    Be careful not to tap it to hard or you will create a bigger patch then you started with.  Once you have depressed the hole, apply a spackling paste with a 2” flexible putty knife available from any home improvement store.  Apply a thin layer over the depression, smooth out the edges and let it dry.  A second coat may be required but make sure you extend it out from the original patch approximately 2-3 inches to create a smooth look.  Once the patch has dried, sand it smooth with 180 grit sandpaper and wipe off any remaining dust with a rag.

Holes with a Diameter of 2” to 6”

Medium sized holes can be patched in a similar manor but will require a patching kit to ensure a smooth finish.  Home improvement stores carry self-adhesive patches with an aluminum backing that will prevent the spackle from sinking into the hole. If you try and patch a medium sized hole without one, the spackle will not dry properly and eventually ripple through the paint.  Once you have applied the self-adhesive patch, use a spackling paste and a 3” putty knife to cover it.  This will be a three coat process so be sure to apply thin layers, smooth out the edges, and extend out the patch by approximately 3 inches with every coat.  Once the patch has dried, sand smooth with 180 grit sandpaper and wipe off any remaining dust with a rag.

Painting

Now that you have patched your hole, it is time to paint.  You will need to purchase a 4” mini roller with a 1/2” nap and a roller pan available at any home improvement store in your area.  Some stores will sell these as a kit that will have everything included.  Lay down your drop cloth to protect the floor and be sure to use the paint that was previously used on the wall.  This is a two coat process and the key here is to feather out your edges so that it blends into the previous coating.  Once the first coat has dried, apply your second coat to ensure coverage over the patch and an even finish.

Patching smaller holes is a perfect DIY project to tackle yourself.  Calling a contractor will be costly because every coat of spackle and paint needs time to dry and will require him/her to come back multiple times.  If you are ready to tackle this project for yourself, follow these simple steps and you will have your walls looking like new in no time.