Most homes collect small wall damage: nail holes from old art, a dent from a doorknob, a hole where a TV mount used to be. Many of these are easy DIY fixes. Others look simple but hide a bigger problem. Here's how to handle the easy ones and how to tell when it's time to call someone.
What you'll need
- Lightweight spackle for tiny holes, and joint compound for larger patches
- A 2-inch and a 6-inch putty or taping knife
- Fine sanding sponge (around 120 to 220 grit)
- Self-adhesive mesh patches for holes up to a few inches
- Primer and matching paint
- A drop cloth and a damp rag
Small nail and screw holes
- Push any loose paper edges in with the knife handle.
- Press lightweight spackle into the hole and scrape it flat in one pass.
- Once dry, sand lightly so it's flush.
- Spot-prime, then paint. Skipping primer often leaves a dull spot called flashing.
Dents and doorknob holes
- Cut away loose or torn paper with a utility knife.
- For holes up to about 4 inches, put a self-adhesive mesh patch over it.
- Apply a thin coat of joint compound over the mesh, feathering several inches past the edges.
- Let it dry fully, then apply a second, wider coat. Most good patches take two or three thin coats.
- Sand smooth, prime and paint. Install a door stop so it doesn't happen again.
Larger holes
For holes bigger than a few inches, the usual method is to cut the damage into a clean square, add backing strips of wood inside the wall, screw in a new piece of drywall cut to fit, tape the seams and finish with several coats. It's doable, but getting the patch invisible, especially on a wall that catches light from a window, takes practice.
Tips that make the difference
- Thin coats beat thick ones. Thick compound shrinks, cracks and takes forever to dry.
- Feather wide. A patch that blends over 10 inches disappears; one that stops at 3 inches shows.
- Check with a flashlight. Hold a light flat against the wall to spot ridges before painting.
- Match the sheen, not just the color. Eggshell touch-up on a flat wall will show.
When to call a pro
Water stains or soft spots
A brown ring on a ceiling or a soft, bulging wall usually means a leak. Fix the leak first. If the drywall stayed wet, check for mold before patching over it. See our article on mold behind drywall.
Cracks that keep coming back
Cracks that reappear, especially above doors and windows, need taping with the right compound, not just filling. Large, widening or diagonal cracks paired with sticking doors can point to structural movement and are worth having a structural professional look at.
Plaster walls
Plaster in older DC, Bethesda and Silver Spring homes doesn't patch like drywall. Loose plaster may need re-securing, and drywall compound alone can crack out. This is where a pro saves time.
Ceilings and big patches
Overhead work is messy and hard to make invisible. Large patches in high-visibility areas are also worth handing off.
Before a sale or move-out
If you're short on time before a listing, inspection or landlord walkthrough, a pro can patch, prime and paint many spots in one visit.
Matching texture
Many walls aren't perfectly smooth. Older homes often have a slight sand finish in the plaster, and some newer homes and condos have orange peel or knockdown texture on walls and ceilings. A perfectly smooth patch on a textured wall stands out as much as a hole. Spray-can texture products can help on small spots; practice on scrap cardboard first to match the pattern. On smooth walls, a final skim coat feathered wide and sanded with a light touch is what makes a patch vanish.
Nail pops and hairline cracks
Small round bumps in a row usually mean nail pops, common in newer townhomes as framing dries and settles. Drive a drywall screw an inch or two above and below the pop to pull the drywall tight, then reset or remove the nail, fill, sand and paint. Hairline cracks at drywall seams usually need the seam re-taped, not just filled, or they reappear with the next season's humidity change.
Need a hand?
We patch holes, cracks and plaster across the area and match the paint so the repair disappears. See drywall and plaster repair, or local pages for Bethesda, Silver Spring and Washington, DC. Text a photo to (202) 438-6197 for a quote.