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Patching a small drywall hole

Sample how-to

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This covers holes up to about 4 inches — a doorknob ding, an old anchor, or a small puncture. Larger holes need a cut-in patch with backing, which is a different job.

What you'll need

  • All-purpose joint compound (premixed is fine)
  • A peel-and-stick mesh patch, or paper tape for very small holes
  • A 4-inch or 6-inch drywall knife
  • 150- and 220-grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge
  • Primer and the wall paint
  • A damp rag, drop cloth, and a dust mask

For holes under about 1/2 inch, skip the mesh patch and fill with compound or a lightweight spackle.

Steps

  1. Clean the hole. Break off loose paper and gypsum. If the torn face paper is standing up, slice it flush with a knife. Wipe away dust. On a kitchen wall, also wipe away grease so the compound can bond.
  2. Cover the opening. For a hole from about 1/2 inch to 4 inches, stick a mesh patch over it, centered, and press the edges down firmly. The patch should land on sound paper, not on crumbly gypsum.
  3. Trowel a thin first coat of compound over the patch, pressing it through the mesh. Feather the edges an inch or two past the patch. Do not try to hide the whole repair in one thick coat — thick compound shrinks, sags, and takes a long time to dry.
  4. Let it dry, then scrape or sand off ridges. Add a second thin coat, feathered a little wider than the first. A third coat is often worth it if the mesh or the rim of the hole still telegraphs.
  5. Sand lightly with 150-grit to flatten, then 220-grit to take off the fuzz. Run your hand over the repair as well as your eyes. Wipe the dust off before you prime.
  6. Prime the patch, then paint. Unprimed joint compound will flash through a finish coat as a dull spot, even if the color looks close while the paint is wet.

Check your work

Look at the wall in a raking light — a work light held close to the surface from one side. That shows high and low spots a ceiling light will miss. The repair is done when you cannot find the edge of the patch by eye or by touch, and the sheen matches the rest of the wall.

Notes

  • If the hole is near an electrical box, stop and confirm you are not opening a cavity you should leave alone. Do not fill an electrical box with compound.
  • In damp rooms, use a setting-type compound if the premixed material has been staying soft, and make sure the finished paint is suitable for the room.
  • A bulge usually means the first coat was too heavy. Sand it down and build the surface back in thin layers.