the painted surface

How To Patch a Hole

There are two common types of holes that require patching. One is small and quite easily repaired, usually caused by a nail or hook where a picture or mirror once hung. The other is more severe like when a doorknob is pushed through the drywall or a light fixture is moved and a large hole is left behind.

Materials

These materials will be needed depending on the size of the repair.

• Patching compound - Spackling is enough for small holes. Drywall mud will repair any size patch. Drywall mud can be bought dry or pre-mixed. The pre-mixed mud may shrink or crack more than the dry. The dry mud may dry faster depending on the conditions and the "setting times". Look for these times on the bag.
• Assortment of sizes of putty or drywall knives. These range from 1 inch up to 12 inches wide.
• Sandpaper - A medium and fine grit size should be enough. Sanding sponges will have medium grit on one side and fine on the other.
• Drywall tape - There are two types. one is paper and the other is a fiberglass mesh.
• Drywall screws
• Drywall saw
• Scrap drywall or sheetrock for large patches.
• Scrap wood for securing large drywall patches in the wall. Narrow three-quarter inch thick pieces cut to length are needed.
• Drywall primer

Repair a Nail Hole

The nail hole is easy to repair. A successful repair will not be noticed once it has been painted. Follow these steps:

• Some hangers use an anchor to secure a screw. Remove the screw and the anchor from the wall. This leaves a slightly larger hole but still small enough to repair with this method.
• The hole is probably rough around the edges caused by tearing the paper layer of the drywall. This rough edge should be pushed in slightly below the surface. Use the handle end of a putty knife or screwdriver to press in on the wall to form a dimple around the hole. The paper fibers will now be below the surface and will not fray when the patch is sanded.
• Apply spackling or drywall mud to fill and skim over the hole and dimple. Use a putty knife wider than the dimple for the smoothest result. Do not overfill the area, it will just have to be sanded away.
• Allow this to completely dry and if a second application is needed sand lightly and skim over the area again. Some patching compounds shrink as they dry so a second coat is needed to level the surface.
• Allow the patch to completely dry. A fan can speed up the drying time.
• Sand the area with a medium to fine grit sandpaper or sanding sponge.
• Spot prime the patch with drywall primer. If drywall primer is not available prime with a slightly thinned coat of the finish paint.
• The patch can now be painted and should be completly hidden.