I'm dealing with a couple of 1-inch holes in my drywall, and I'm on a tight budget since my landlord will hit me with a $50 charge for each hole that I don't fix. What's the best way to patch these up myself? I need some tips and tricks to get this done right! Here's an image of the hole situation: https://imgur.com/a/JkKeeLu
5 Answers
In a pinch, some people even use toothpaste as a filler, but that's definitely not a long-term solution!
If you're feeling ambitious, you could cut a rectangle around the holes, use a bigger piece of drywall, and install support pieces behind the wall to hold the patch in place. Then fill in the gaps, smooth it out, and paint. It's a bit more work but totally worth it for a solid repair!
That sounds like way overkill for just a few holes!
Thanks for the detailed method!
Head over to Home Depot and grab some DryDex for under $10; it's perfect for small holes like yours. You'll also need a putty knife, which you can find for about $5. Just spread the DryDex over the hole with the knife and smooth it out. It should dry in a few hours—opt for the color-changing kind if you're into that. Once it’s all dry, sand it lightly and paint over it if needed.
Thanks for the tip!
How do you suggest matching the paint? That's often tricky.
If you've got a scrap piece of drywall lying around, you can cut it to fit the hole. Push it into the hole slightly deeper than the wall surface, then apply joint compound with a putty knife. After it dries, sand it down a bit. You might have to repeat the process to get it all nice and smooth before painting it.
Thanks for the advice!
For a quick fix, you could just squeeze some caulk into the hole, let it dry, then cover it with joint compound using a putty knife for a smooth finish. Sand it lightly afterward.
Appreciate it, I'll give this a shot!
True! But if you're patching holes, you definitely want to stick with something a bit more reliable.