For small holes up to approximately ½” you can simply use spackling compound and a putty knife. Apply the spackle, wait until it dries then sand smooth. Spackling compound will shrink a bit so sometimes you will need to apply a second coat after the first coat dries, you will then need to sand it again before touching up the paint.
For medium holes 1/2” to 3” you will need to get a drywall patch (there are various other methods to repair a hole this size but a drywall patch kit is the simplest). Most of these kits come with a patch that is self adhesive. Simply cut the patch so that it is larger than the size of the hole by about 1” and stick it over the hole (some kits actually enable you to stick the patch through the hole then pull it tight behind the back of the hole enabling you to fill in just the hole). Then you will need drywall compound (which can be found in smaller containers than a gallon) or spackling compound. Using a wide blade putty knife (3” or wider), apply the compound over the patch and a couple of inches surrounding the hole, then after it dries, sand it smooth. You will need to repeat this step a couple of times until you can no longer see where the patch is, sanding after each coat dries. Finally, touch up the paint. Continue reading ‘How to repair a hole in the drywall’ »