Whether you’re moving pictures or art, or a door knob popped a hole in your drywall, you can fix it, and usually pretty quickly! Here’s a quick guide from our team of painting professionals.
Nail Holes: Minor things like nail holes only need a bit of spackle. Apply it with a putty knife. When the spackle dries, use a sanding sponge to smooth out the area.
Cracks: Sometimes stress cracks arise near windows and door frames. Use a sanding sponge to smooth out the area, then apply a light layer of joint compound. Let the compound dry and sand the area again. Apply another layer if needed. Consider spraying with elastic crack cover to prevent cracks from re-forming.
Door Knob and Other Holes: It may be tempting to find a quick-fix for small holes, but the process to fix them is pretty simple.
- First, make the whole slightly larger. This will make it easier for you to patch the whole. Rather than trying to cut drywall to fit the uneven edges around a hole, cutting a square or rectangle slightly larger than the original hole makes the repair much easier.
- Next, use screws to install a piece of wood, usually a 1×3 will work, inside the hole. Then glue your drywall patch to the wood.
- Apply screen, or fiber glass mesh along the seams of the repair and cover with a layer of joint compound. When it is dry, sand it level the area with the rest of the wall. Apply a thin layer of joint compound over the area again and sand when dry.
Once you’ve cleared out the sand, you’re ready to paint the area!
Tips for Using Touch Up Paint
- Use a small roller for even coverage, and use the “w” pattern.
- Leave feathered edges to help blend the new paint with the old.
- If the area you repaired has been painted in the last year or so, using properly stored, leftover paint should do the trick. Apply one coat, let it dry and assess the color before adding a second coat. Paint an area slightly larger than the repair to help blend in.
- If the paint is more than a year old, you may have to repaint the entire wall or room to get a perfect color match.
Rather save time and leave the touch-ups to the professionals? We can help! Reach out to our office to schedule a free estimate.