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News Flash!
News Flash!
If you're a real Beatles fan then "Fixing a Hole" might remind you of one of their songs, but if you're taking down your Holiday decorations it has a "whole" other literal meaning. Hanging heavy decorations or letting the kids have a little too much fun playing in the house with their new toys could have left some damage on your walls. Not to fear, Lisa's here...
A general-purpose filler can be used for the majority of small holes and cracks, especially those left by screws and nails. You can buy it already mixed in tubs or in powder form to be mixed with water. Simply apply the filler with a putty knife, pressing it into the crack or small hole and smoothing it flush with the surface. If the small crack or hole is very small you may need to slightly enlarge it to give the filler something to hold on to. Very fine cracks can also be filled with a "hairline crack filler".
TIP: To fill a small hole or crack neatly always use two strokes for each coat; one stroke to apply the mud or filler and the other stroke to smooth it. Smooth each coat flush with the surrounding walls, dried lumps of filler make the next coat more difficult.
If a large hole has been punched into your wall, like by a door handle, then a patch must first be made and then placed behind the hole to provide support for the layer of mud or filler. First use a jigsaw or padsaw to open up the hole and square the sides. Then cut a section of fresh drywall (plaster or gypsum board) to a length slightly less the diagonal dimension of the hole. This way you can pass your patch through the hole at an angle. Drill a tiny hole in the middle of the patch and run a knotted string through it before adding the filler to the edges on the grey side of the patch. This will help secure it firmly to the back of the existing drywall.
Now pass the patch through the hole and pull it back against the edges. While holding the string taught, add filler to the hole and leave it to set. Come back later and cut off the extra string and make one last pass with a final smooth coat of filler, or finish plaster, making sure the surface is level. Once the surface is set and dry you can sand smooth and paint. Or just cover it up with a picture...whichever suits your needs and the time.
