Painting 101: Part 3 Wall Patch & Repair

Painting 101:  A Series from Patch to Paint

Wall Patch & Repair: Step-by-Step
(Version en Español sigue)

Let's get to work!

Prep Step:  Drywall and Plaster repair for small holes:

Tools required:

• 1 ½” putty knife (for smaller holes)
• 4” Spatula (For medium size holes)

An assortment of Spatula that will work well for your  wall repair.

Patch or repair Drywall Holes & Damage

Supplies:

• Joint compound plaster (for holes big and small)
• Or light weight wall spackle (use only in small holes)
• Drywall Mesh Tape (for holes bigger than 1")
• Fine Grit Sandpaper (320 or higher) or Drywall Sandpaper
• Wet Rags or Sponge (a small bucket with water comes in handy)

Tips & Tricks:

• Using joint compound plaster or lightweight wall Spackle, fill any small nail or screw holes.
• For repair of smaller holes (1/2” and smaller), using a finger to dab the Spackle into the hole is often easier
• For medium size holes (1” – 1 ½”), use a small putty knife to help spread the plaster or Spackle evenly – you may find using a small piece of drywall mesh tape will help support the plaster.
• For larger drywall repair use mesh drywall tape or metal drywall patch (behind door knobs) to help support the plaster in place and avoid future damage in the same location

Step-by-Step for patching small holes

1. Using a small spatula or even your finger - Fill in holes and allow plaster or Spackle to dry completely.
2. Once, plaster or Spackle has dried you may notice the plaster dried into the hole still leaving a depressed area or indentation.  This happens as the moisture leaves the plaster.
3. Sand down the edges and fill again. 
4. Sand down (feathering along the edges) to a nice even surface and you are ready for the next step.
5. Allow patch to dry completely before sealing with primer.

Very Important:

Do not skip priming the repaired areas - skipping this step will result in what Professional painters refer to as "Flashing" - a visible dull spot in you paint job where the repair is done - even multiple layers of paint may still result in unsightly spots if you don't prime.  Do yourself a huge favor and don't skip steps = it will cost you more in the end.  

 New Product Alert:

Check out the latest advances in small drywall repair with the new “Patch Plus Primer” lightweight spackling & Primer in One put out by 3M. 

The Patch Plus Primer has a new nanotechnology that works.  I’ll tell you more about HOW it works another time but, for our purpose what is important is it doesn’t shrink or crack – avoiding another layer of material and more drying time.  AND - Because this product has primer in it – it hides repairs without the added step of spot priming the repaired areas.  It dries 3 times faster than regular plaster and is ready to paint in 30 minutes.  This one really does what it says it’s gonna do – make small patch jobs “goof proof.”

For Larger Holes:
You may consider using a wall patch like the one pictured.  Works great where door knobs have damaged you wall as it has a combination of galvanized steel and mesh reinforcing.  The steps are similar to the ones outlined above.

You will find these wall patches in different sizes.  Select a size that will fully cover the area being repaired.  

Step-by-step for larger drywall holes

1. Lightly sand around the hole and wipe clean to remove dust. 
2. Remove backing from wall patch and apply a light layer of patching compound to metal side of wall patch then press firmly over area being repaired.
3. Cover entire patch area with compound plaster and feather back along the edges.
4. Let dry, then sand. For an even surface, repeat process as needed.
5. Once surface repair is complete, apply paint primer and then your wall paint.

Please note:  If your wall has a texture, you may need to apply a texturizing product such as "Orange Peel" - it comes in a spray can and can be found in the paint department of your local home improvement store - be sure to follow instructions of the texture product selected.

In my next installment,  I will share tape selection and which wall sheen will work best for each area of your home.