How To Fix A Wall Hole

Spatula applying spackle to wall..

If you've recently rearranged the family portraits on the living room wall or reorganized the shelving in your home office, chances are you have a wall or two that is less than picture-perfect. 

Yes, you could always hang something over the holes to hide them from sight.  But you can patch small holes in drywall or plaster them almost as easily yourself.

Here's how to fix a wall hole - no carpenter experience required.

Fix a Wall Hole With Spackling Compound

To fix a wall hole, start by vacuuming away any loose plaster, paint chips, or dust from the hole.

Using a putty knife, fill the hole with a premixed spackling compound and smooth it level with the surface of the wall. Let the compound dry thoroughly - a few hours or overnight.

Then smooth it with a damp sponge and paint over the spackled area to match the color of your wall.

If the hole is deep, the spackling compound will shrink slightly when dry, and a second application may be needed to make the hole smooth and even with the rest of the wall surface.

Painting Shortcut

If you have leftover latex paint that matches the wall, add a small amount of paint to the premixed spackling compound and use a putty knife to fill the hole with the paint-and-spackling mixture.

If done carefully, the patch may blend in well enough to require no further sanding or painting.

This works only for small holes, such as those caused by picture hooks. A larger, deeper perforation may require two applications of the spackling compound; sand after each application has dried and touch up with paint. Get tips for cleaning walls. 






You might like these:

  • The air is crisp; the nights are cool. What better way to complete the cozy picture than a roaring fire in the hearth? If you haven't given fireplace maintenance a thought since last winter, it's time to come clean.

    Fireplace Maintenance Tips

    The air is crisp; the nights are cool. What better way to complete the cozy picture than a roaring fire in the hearth? If you haven't given fireplace maintenance a thought since last winter, it's time to come clean.

  • A house may last for generations, but its parts and systems won't last a lifetime without regular attention. Tackling preventative maintenance tasks throughout the year will keep your home running smoothly.

    Preventative Maintenance Checklist

    A house may last for generations, but its parts and systems won't last a lifetime without regular attention. Tackling preventative maintenance tasks throughout the year will keep your home running smoothly.

  • Yes, you do have to maintain your garbage disposal. If you want it to keep it grinding away daily, that is. These simple tips can help.

    Maintaining Your Garbage Disposal

    Yes, you do have to maintain your garbage disposal. If you want it to keep it grinding away daily, that is. These simple tips can help.

  • You can prevent plumbing problems - a clogged drain, leaky faucets, and other common plumbing nightmares - with a little preventative maintenance.

    5 Ways to Prevent Plumbing Problems

    You can prevent plumbing problems - a clogged drain, leaky faucets, and other common plumbing nightmares - with a little preventative maintenance.

  • Just when you think it can't get any hotter, it does. You want to stay cool - and keep utility bills under control. These 10 air conditioning tips can help.

    Air Conditioning 10 Ways to Lower Bills

    Just when you think it can't get any hotter, it does. You want to stay cool - and keep utility bills under control. These 10 air conditioning tips can help.

  • You really can handle many minor repairs and home-improvement projects around your home all by yourself. A basic toolkit is all you'll need. Here's what to include

    Building a Home Toolkit

    You really can handle many minor repairs and home-improvement projects around your home all by yourself. A basic toolkit is all you'll need. Here's what to include

  • How to save on energy bills by making a few simple changes on your gas and electrial use daily around your home.

    3 Ways to Save on Energy Bills

    How to save on energy bills by making a few simple changes on your gas and electrial use daily around your home.

  • Energy-smart day-to-day living is easier than you might think. Save cold cash year-round with these energy savings tips.

    Home Energy Savings Tips

    Energy-smart day-to-day living is easier than you might think. Save cold cash year-round with these energy savings tips.

  • Fixing a backed up sink yourself has two big advantages: You save time and money. These tips for clearing a sink clog can help.

    How to Fix a Backed Up Sink

    Fixing a backed up sink yourself has two big advantages: You save time and money. These tips for clearing a sink clog can help.

  • Don't wait until the first storm to winterize your home. The few hours spent checking your home's major systems and could save you a bundle.

    How to Winterize Your Home

    Don't wait until the first storm to winterize your home. The few hours spent checking your home's major systems and could save you a bundle.

  • Hiring a carpet cleaning service to do the dirty work on your flooring surfaces may be the safest, fastest and easiest option. These tips can help.

    Hiring a Carpet Cleaning Service

    Hiring a carpet cleaning service to do the dirty work on your flooring surfaces may be the safest, fastest and easiest option. These tips can help.

  • Of course you want your home to be warm in the winter, cool in the summer. And you can have both - without sky-high bills. Here's how to save energy at home.

    Save Energy at Home

    Of course you want your home to be warm in the winter, cool in the summer. And you can have both - without sky-high bills. Here's how to save energy at home.

  • An ant problem is a frustrating challenge, to say the least. You want the ant infestation gone - stat! Here are 3 effective, non-toxic pest control methods.

    Ant Problem? Less Toxic Solutions for Solving It

    An ant problem is a frustrating challenge, to say the least. You want the ant infestation gone - stat! Here are 3 effective, non-toxic pest control methods.

  • Home maintenance tackled throughout the year is the easiest way to prevent small problems from becoming big expensive fixes. Here's how.

    Home Maintenance and Repair

    Home maintenance tackled throughout the year is the easiest way to prevent small problems from becoming big expensive fixes. Here's how.

  • Here are the homeowners expenses you should not skimp on. And tips on how to pay for it all.

    Homeowners Expenses Never to Skimp On

    Here are the homeowners expenses you should not skimp on. And tips on how to pay for it all.

  • Home repairs you can do yourself offer two big advantages: You save time and you save money.

    Home Repairs You Can Do Yourself

    Home repairs you can do yourself offer two big advantages: You save time and you save money.

  • Keeping your home up and running can cost a bundle. These money saving ideas can help you reduce your household deficit.

    Easy Money Saving Ideas

    Keeping your home up and running can cost a bundle. These money saving ideas can help you reduce your household deficit.

  • Home may be where the heart is, but it is also where germs, dust, mold and mildew set up shop. These tips for cleaning the house can keep your home healthy.

    Cleaning the House for a Healthier Home

    Home may be where the heart is, but it is also where germs, dust, mold and mildew set up shop. These tips for cleaning the house can keep your home healthy.

  • DIY home repairs have two big advantages: You save time and you save money. You can easily handle these quick fixes around your home .

    DIY Home Repairs

    DIY home repairs have two big advantages: You save time and you save money. You can easily handle these quick fixes around your home .

  • Fixing a backed up toilet yourself has two great advantages: You save time and you save money.

    How to Fix a Backed Up Toilet

    Fixing a backed up toilet yourself has two great advantages: You save time and you save money.

  • Dealing with wasps: What you need to know about identifying a wasp infestation and getting rid of it safely.

    Dealing With Wasps

    Dealing with wasps: What you need to know about identifying a wasp infestation and getting rid of it safely.

  • Of course you want your home to be cool and comfortable during the dog days of summer. Save cold cash year-round with these home energy saving tips.

    Home Energy Saving Tips

    Of course you want your home to be cool and comfortable during the dog days of summer. Save cold cash year-round with these home energy saving tips.

  • Bathroom caulking is easy to do yourself. And the result packs a big decorative punch that makes this fix more than worth the effort.

    Easy Bathroom Caulking

    Bathroom caulking is easy to do yourself. And the result packs a big decorative punch that makes this fix more than worth the effort.

  • These refrigerator maintenance tips will help keep the appliance in peak operating condition - and the fridge repair people at bay.

    Refrigerator Maintenance Tips

    These refrigerator maintenance tips will help keep the appliance in peak operating condition - and the fridge repair people at bay.



Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.