Repairing Guides

how to repair drywall nail holes

by Dr. Michel Mills DDS Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Get a tube of spackling paste from a hardware store, home improvement store, or an online dealer.
  • Smoothen your working area with a putty knife by removing any loose paint or stray pieces of surface paper or gypsum around the nail hole.
  • Now take the sharp edge of the putty knife and use it to apply a tiny amount of spackle to the nail hole. ...
  • Using the straight edge of your putty knife, scrape off any excess spackle paste from the wall. ...
  • Leave your spackle paste to dry for at least an hour.
  • Once the paste has dried, sand the surface lightly using fine-grit sandpaper or a sand block until the surface looks even. ...
  • Now, use a small soft paintbrush or a paper towel to apply a light layer of paint over the spackled holes. ...

Part of a video titled How to Spackle Nail Holes before Painting | Pottery Barn
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A little spackling into each nail hole making sure the hole is completely filled taper any excessMoreA little spackling into each nail hole making sure the hole is completely filled taper any excess onto the area around the hole. If. You have a larger hole to patch you may need some reinforcement.

Full Answer

What tools are needed to fix a hole in drywall?

  • Clean the hole by removing any loose drywall debris.
  • Use a carpenter’s knife to put a beveled edge around the circumference of the hole if it’s larger than a dime.
  • Use a damp rag to wipe off any dust.
  • Use a putty knife to fill the hole with spackle or joint compound, and then smear the filler to make it flush with the wall.
  • Allow the filler to air-dry.

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What do I use to fill nail holes in drywall?

  • Crush an aspirin tablet in a bowl. ...
  • Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste, about 25 inches (0.64cm), into the ground aspirin and mix them into a paste. ...
  • Now take the resultant thick paste and apply it to your nail holes using a putty knife, craft stick, or any other handy tool available at your disposal.

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How to easily fix screw holes in a drywall?

Instructions

  • Inspect and Trim the Face Paper. If any of the face paper on drywall puckers outward, this needs to be trimmed before you cover the holes with joint compound.
  • Load the Drywall Knife. ...
  • Apply the First Pass. ...
  • Apply a Second Coat. ...
  • Lightly Sand (If Necessary) Once the second coat is fully dry, run your hand over the patched area. ...

How to fix nail holes in drywall with toothpaste?

Top DIY ways how to fill nail holes in the wall:

  1. Toothpaste + Aspirin. White toothpaste is an absolute lifesaver — it’s cheap and chances are that you already have some in the bathroom cabinet.
  2. Baking Soda + Glue. It’s time to channel your inner chemistry skills for this one! ...
  3. Elmer’s Glue. If you have a smaller hole in the wall to fill, apply a bit of Elmer’s glue to the hole with a Q-tip.
  4. Ivory Soap. ...

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What do you use to patch nail holes in drywall?

Spackling paste is the best material to use to fill nail holes in either plaster walls or drywall in a long-lasting way. It is also called joint compound or patching compound. Remove any excess paste with a clean putty knife.

What is the best way to fill nail holes?

0:151:57Tips from a Painter: Filling Nail Holes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure you get a not shrink spackle pads and instead of using a spatula you're gonna be usingMoreMake sure you get a not shrink spackle pads and instead of using a spatula you're gonna be using your finger.

Can I use caulk to fill nail holes in drywall?

Can You Use Caulk to Fill Nail Holes? While caulking is great for filling gaps or cracks in exterior surfaces, it is not often recommended for filling nail holes in drywall or interior surfaces made of wood. The reason being that over time, the product is flexible and will shrink, leaving a divot in the wall.

How do you fill big nail holes in drywall?

8:1515:05Repairing Drywall Anchor holes, Large Holes, Drywall ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWays is to just use your knife. And very lightly go back across if you push very hard it'll justMoreWays is to just use your knife. And very lightly go back across if you push very hard it'll just keep drooping.

Can I use painters caulk to fill nail holes?

You can use caulk to fill nail holes in painted trim, but caulk tends to be messier and shrinks more than wood filler, and it can't be sanded smooth like filler can. If you use caulk, make sure it is labeled as “paintable,” and don't leave a smear on the wood surface, which might show up after painting.

How do you fill holes in drywall before painting?

0:151:25How to Spackle Nail Holes before Painting - Sherwin-WilliamsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse a fiber tape or a reinforced metal patch in the space. Using a larger 3-inch putty knife followMoreUse a fiber tape or a reinforced metal patch in the space. Using a larger 3-inch putty knife follow the same steps of spreading the shrink free spackling into the hole.

How do you seal nail holes in the wall?

0:020:43Quick Fix: How-To Repair Nail Holes in your Walls - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCaulk. This is white painters caulk that you probably have in your home already. And we're justMoreCaulk. This is white painters caulk that you probably have in your home already. And we're just gonna. Take our finger and spread it over and fill the hole.

How do you cover up finishing nail holes?

5:138:47My Favorite Nail Filler and How to use It - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that's it those two nail holes right there are filled that one's filled and then I'll go up hereMoreAnd that's it those two nail holes right there are filled that one's filled and then I'll go up here. On. These two you push it in. And then you just sand. With your finger sand off the excess.

What is the difference between spackling compound and caulk?

What's the difference between spackle vs caulk? To sum up the difference between spackle vs caulk, caulk is to be used to fill in corners and gaps between two materials, whereas spackle should be used to fill nail holes and other damage on flat surfaces (walls and/or trim).

Can you fill nail holes with toothpaste?

Believe it or not, toothpaste works wonders. When the paste dries, it forms a finish similar to spackle. Just squeeze the white paste (not the blue gel) into the hole, and smooth it over with a putty knife.

What kind of putty is used for drywall?

Erase-A-Hole The Original Drywall Repair Putty: A Quick & Easy Solution to Fill The Holes in Your Walls-Also Works on Wood & Plaster, 4.5oz (1) Amazon's Choice highlights highly rated, well-priced products available to ship immediately.

Can I use toothpaste to fill nail holes?

Use Toothpaste to Fill Holes. Toothpaste is a great alternative to spackling if you have a hole in your wall smaller than 1/4 inch. Try to find a toothpaste close to the color of the wall, then squeeze the paste into the hole and wipe off the excess with a putty knife or playing card.

How do you fill nail holes without painting?

In short, you can fix nail holes with spackle or putty. These compounds will disappear right into pinholes. What's more, they're easy to use. All you need to do is apply them, then let them dry for about 15 minutes.

How do you hide nail holes in wood?

0:030:32How to Fill Nail Holes in Finished Wood - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen you're feeling nail holes an unfinished wood like this use a color matched wood putty like oneMoreWhen you're feeling nail holes an unfinished wood like this use a color matched wood putty like one of these. Apply. It with a putty knife let it dry. And then sand it smooth.

How to get mud out of a hole in drywall?

Immediately make a second stroke across the hole with the drywall knife, this one perpendicular (at 90 degrees) to your first stroke. The purpose of this stroke is to flatten out the joint compound so it is perfectly flush with the wall surface. Use the edge of your knife to scrape off the excess mud. Don't make repeated passes of the knife, as this can pull the joint compound from the hole.

What happens when you remove screws from drywall?

Other holes occur when wall anchors or screws are used to anchor cabinets, shelves, or pictures to walls; when these screws are removed, you are left with holes that penetrate through the drywall panels.

How to draw a knife through drywall?

Holding the knife at an angle to the drywall with the mudded side facing the wall, press the front edge of the knife against the wall and draw it across the hole. The flexible knife blade should bend slightly as you draw the knife. Check to make sure the hole is filled flat with joint compound.

Why does drywall pucker outward?

This usually occurs when screws or wall anchors are extracted from the wall, but it also sometimes occurs when drywall screws are driven too far during installation, breaking the paper and causing it to pucker outward.

How to get rid of a pucker in drywall?

If this doesn't work, use a utility knife to cut through the paper around the pucker, then peel away the paper and enough gypsum so that the hole is fully concave to the wall surface. Brushing your hand over the area will tell you if there are any outward puckers remaining.

What is spackle made of?

Like joint compound, spackle is made from a gypsum base. Because it is lighter in weight and airier, spackle dries faster than joint compound. It is not recommended for larger holes, however. Holes larger than about 1 inch in diameter require some kind of backing material before covering with joint compound.

How long does it take to dry joint compound?

Let the joint compound dry completely; with small holes, this usually takes less than one hour. And with very small holes, this single coat of joint compound is often enough to fill the hole smoothly.

How to clean nail holes in a drywall wall?

Use a utility knife or putty knife to clean the area around the nail hole by carving away any stray pieces of paint, gypsum, or surface paper.

What is the best way to fill nail holes in drywall?

Spackling paste is one of the most popular and highly effective methods of filling nail holes in drywall.

How to get spackle off of wall?

Using the straight edge of your putty knife, scrape off any excess spackle paste from the wall. Here you can drag the putty knife horizontally and vertically, removing the excess paste until the surface looks even. After removing the excess paste, wipe the putty knife with a clean paper towel before dragging it over the holes. If you don’t have a putty knife, you can use a ruler or a kitchen knife.

What is the best way to fill a small nail hole?

The use of spackling paste, baking soda and glue, toothpaste and aspirin, crayons, and soap are all ideal for small nail holes. This is because most of these materials are light. For example, the spackling paste is lighter, and airier compared to other fillers and thus tends to shrink faster, making it less ideal for large holes.

How to make a paste for drywall?

Alternatively, you can be a little more creative and make your paste using flour, salt, and water. Take 1 tablespoon of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and a few drops of water. Mix all the ingredients into a paste and use it to fill nail holes in your drywall, following the same procedure as spackling paste or toothpaste + aspirin paste.

How to smooth out a nail hole?

Smoothen your working area with a putty knife by removing any loose paint or stray pieces of surface paper or gypsum around the nail hole.

How long does spackle paste dry?

Leave your spackle paste to dry for at least an hour.

How to fill a spackled hole?

The best method involves two swipes: one either sideways or downward to fill the hole with compound, followed by a second swipe back in the opposite direction to wipe away the excess.

Can you sand spackling paste?

Note: Some spackling paste is advertised as “paintable when wet,” but it’s best to err on the side of caution. If you don’t give it a chance to dry, you can’t sand it, and without sanding, you can’t be sure the wall is completely free of leftover bumps or depressions that would draw attention to your spackling job.

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