Repairing Guides

how to repair small nail holes in drywall

by Emie Hand 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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Use 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.

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 do you repair a big hole in drywall?

Tools Required

  • Drywall sander
  • Drywall saw
  • Dust mask
  • Paintbrush
  • Screw gun
  • Taping knife
  • Utility knife

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How do you fill small nail holes in drywall?

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.

What is the best product to fill 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.

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 fill small nail holes?

Filling small nail holes is a pretty straightforward process:Apply spackle. Using the sharp corner of your putty knife, scoop out a tiny amount of spackle and gently push it into the hole. ... Let spackle dry. Allow the spackle to dry. ... Sand the spackled area. ... Paint.

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.

Can I use 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.

What do painters use to fill nail holes?

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.

Can you 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 cover small holes in walls?

Tiny nail and screw holes are the easiest to fix. Use a putty knife to fill them with spackling or wall joint compound. Allow the area to dry, then sand lightly. Anything larger must be covered with a bridging material for strength before patching compound can be applied.

How do you cover a thumbtack hole in the wall?

All you need is a finger, some lightweight spackling, and a damp rag!Using your finger, apply and press an appropriate amount of spackle into the thumb tack hole.Using the same finger, smooth out the surface of the spackle so that it blends in with the texture of the wall.More items...•

How do you fill nail 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.

Is spackle better than joint compound?

Joint compound is the better choice for taping and finishing drywall seams whereas spackle is the better choice for filling in small to large sized holes in your walls. Now, that doesn't mean you can't fill holes with a quality joint compound, but joint compound typically dries much slower than spackle.

What's the difference between spackling and drywall mud?

Spackle is made for small repair jobs on drywall. It's thicker than joint compound and harder to spread. Because it has a binding agent mixed in with the gypsum powder, it is more elastic and less likely to crack or shrink when dried. Spackle is a little more expensive than joint compound.

How do you spackle nail holes without sanding?

0:291:20How to fill nail holes smooth without sanding - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo and they won't go away by themselves so we did them in either with a hammer or with the butt ofMoreSo and they won't go away by themselves so we did them in either with a hammer or with the butt of our father mine tool which is easy metal. So we can get both those holes in and then.

Using Larger Anchors And Oversize Screws

Perhaps the easiest way if you have the necessary hardware to get around the problem of a hole thats too big for a screw is to just use the existing hole, but use wider anchors and matching screws. Depending on the specific situation, a toggle bolt might be the best choice.

Sand The Spackled Area

After the spackle is dry, sand it down with your fine-grit sandpaper. The goal is to get the spackle to be completely flush with the wall. Be careful not to press too hard when youre sanding so that you dont accidentally over-sand and cause a dent in the surface area of the spackle.

How To Fix A Hole In The Wall

Easily repair a hole in the wall of any size with these step by step instructions.

Dry Sand And Prime The Drywall

Allow the joint compound to dry for two to four hours. Apply a second coat of joint compound. If the patch is not blending in well with the surrounding wall, use a broad feathering knife to draw a wide, thin coat farther out on the wall.

How To Fix A Small Hole

A small hole is anything considered about ½ inch to five inches in diameter . For this size job, its best to take advantage of the many wall repair kits available at home improvement stores. Choose a wall kit that fits your size hole. The kit will generally include the following items:

Quick Nail Hole Fixes In A Pinch

Everybody has a tube of toothpaste lying around. You can use toothpaste to fill small nail holes in your wall. Its the fastest way to get the job done.

Filling Large Nail Holes

The process for how to fill nail holes that are a bit larger in size is pretty much the same as filling small nail holes, with the added caveat that youre probably going to want to add some reinforcement by means of adhesive-backed fiberglass mesh tape. Heres how to do it:

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 long does it take for spackle to dry on drywall?

If the drywall surface area still seems uneven, you can add another coat the same way -- again, use the putty knife and spread the spackle over the area and let it dry for a few hours. You can repeat this as many times as necessary until you get a flush layer to the rest of the wall.

What to use to spread spackle?

Flexible putty knife to spread the spackle or scrape off any loose edges of paint

What to do if playback doesn't begin?

If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

Can you repair drywall with nail pops?

Luckily, repairing typical damage to your drywall, like smaller holes and nail pops, is easy.

Can you break a sweat if you have a hole in drywall?

Damage to your drywall can be an eyesore or a nuisance, but it doesn't have to be. Now, the next time a hole or a ding in your drywall happens, you don't have to break a sweat. Follow the steps above to achieve a clean, even surface on your wall. And, if you're interested in more easy home fixes, ...

Can you use sandpaper to smooth out drywall?

Once you've finished applying the spackle and it's dried, you can use the sandpaper to smooth out any bumps in the drywall before you paint over it. Now that the area is smoothed out, you can go over it with the paint. Using a paint brush or a paint roller, cover the surface area evenly with one coat of paint.

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 long does it take for a hole patch to dry?

Let the Drywall Hole Patch Cure. Allow this first layer of joint compound to dry. Drying time may take up to two or three hours. You can speed up the joint compound drying time by ventilating the room and by keeping the room warm.

How to make a hole in a wall with paper tape?

Cut off two sections of paper joint tape, so that each length of tape will extend at least 2 inches beyond each side of the hole. Smooth down a thin layer of joint compound. Apply the joint tape over the hole in a cross-shaped pattern, one piece over the other. Press the tape down so that it fully adheres to the wall surface.

How far does joint tape extend?

Cut off two sections of paper joint tape, so that each length of tape will extend at least 2 inches beyond each side of the hole.

How to cover patch area with paint?

Wipe away all sanding dust with a clean rag, Paint over the patch area with matching paint. It generally takes two coats of paint to adequately cover the patch area, as the joint compound readily absorbs paint.

How many coats of paint do you need to cover a patch?

It generally takes two coats of paint to adequately cover the patch area, as the joint compound readily absorbs paint. If you are patching many holes, you may want to first prime the patched area before painting. For just a small hole or two, it should not be necessary to prime first. The Spruce / Margot Cavin.

Is paper joint tape self adhesive?

Paper joint tape is not self-adhesive, but it does easily adhere with a light application of joint compound with a drywall knife. Paper tape is preferred over fiberglass mesh joint tape. Even though the mesh tape is stronger, it is thicker and more difficult to finish down smoothly. The techniques described here are for small holes —no more ...

Is drywall easy to install?

Drywall is an inexpensive, easy-to-install surface. It is easy to hang, drill into, finish, and paint. One of the drawbacks of drywall construction for walls and ceilings in residential homes is that it can be damaged fairly easily, with cracks, dents, and holes appearing with only moderate impact. Fortunately, holes in drywall are easy ...

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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