Drywall Repair Tutorial for Small Holes

Steps to repair small holes in walls and ceilings:

• Clear debris from damaged area
• Apply fiberglass joint tape or a stick–on wall patch
• Mix repair compound and cover the patch
• Sand and paint

Remove all loose debris and cut any loose drywall paper from the perimeter of the hole. For plaster holes, clean out loose material using a putty knife and scrape around the edges. If there's any contamination around the hole, seal the wall surface with a shellac–based primer–sealer and let it dry for about an hour before proceeding with the repair. Bubbling may develop in the finished repair if contamination prevents bonding between the wall and joint compound.

Apply a self–sticking patch, at least ½ inch larger than the hole. Use fiberglass mesh tape to cover small holes in walls. Use an aluminum reinforced patch on ceilings to eliminate the possibility of sagging. These patches are also good for wall holes from door handles that will likely be damaged again.

Use setting–type joint compound to cover the patch with a thick coat of mud. See Skim Coating Techniques for help mixing the wall compound.

"Skim" the excess mud from the patch and return it to the mud pan. Hold the joint knife at a 30° angle and press down hard to remove all but a very thin coat of mud. Be careful not to lift the patch. If this happens, straighten the mesh out flat again. Spread a little mud over it and skim again. Don't try to hide the patch with the first coat of mud. It will require at least 2 more to smooth out the damage.

Allow the first coat of mud to set for about 30 minutes. Use 120 grit medium sandpaper to lightly sand the patch and dried mud. Sand gently with a couple of strokes to remove any fibers in the patch surface.

Apply another coat of mud and let it dry. Repeat, letting each coat set for 30 minutes until the texture of the patch is no longer detectable. With each coat use skimming strokes that are perpendicular to the ones used before. This will help to fill any ripples in the patch for a smooth finish. Remember to skim off the edges of the repair as you go so the mud doesn't build up there and require a lot of sanding when you're done.

When the final mud coat is dry, sand the mud lightly to feather the edges into the surrounding wall or ceiling surface. Brush any dust from the area before priming and painting. If you are using flat latex finish paint it will be self priming, if you're using semi–gloss or other shiny paint, prime with flat latex or a latex primer first.