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Whether your lease is almost over and you are moving out (and, hopefully, taking your security deposit with you) or moving into a house that has some holes, filling holes is a must and it is very simple. If you follow these tips and tricks, it will even be hard for you to find the hole after your done.

Not all holes are created equal, small holes are generally faster and easier to fix than larger holes. There are generally two types of holes left after removing the screw or nail. If first is a screw( or nail) that was placed directly into the drywall and into a stud. The second and more common is a hole that has a plastic drywall anchor inside. These anchors are used when the picture does not hit a stud. Most people are tempted to leave the anchor to ensure they do not make a larger hole, but this is wrong. Use a screw driver or pair of needle-nose pliers to remove the plastic insert. Sometimes it helps to use a drill and drill-bit into the center of the insert to break it into smaller pieces for removal.

Supplies That You Will Need

• Spackle
• Putty knife
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Needle nose pliers
• Paint and Paintbrush

Now that you have a hole with no drywall anchor inside, follow these steps:

1. Clean Up The Hole

Before starting to fix the hole, run your putty knife over the hole and ensure the edges of the hole are not higher than the rest of the wall. If this is the case, use the back of your putty knife (rounded corner) to indent that section at least back to even with the wall. Next check for chipped paint, or drywall fibers that may be sticking out. These can cause problems later so it is best to remove them now.

2. Apply Spackle

Using the sharp corner of your putty knife, scoop out a small amount of spackle and gently fill the hole. Using the flat section of the knife to smooth it out. Keep this as small as possible especially if you have textured walls.

3. Let Spackle Dry

I generally use “DAP DryDex Spackleing” from Lowe’s, as this product starts out pink and changes color to white when it is dry. This process happens within a couple hours from small holes.

4. Sand The Spackle

If you left some extra spackle around the hole, now is when you use the fine grit sandpaper to sand back to original paint. Be sure to wear a mask when sanding. If you accidentally over sanded creating a divet, just add more spackle and start again. Be sure to wipe drywall dust off prior to applying spackle. This step can be skipped it your walls have texture as its easier to match since its not flat.

5. Paint The Area

Once the hole is flush and dry, its time to paint. Be sure to stir your paint. If you need help matching paint click here “How To Match Existing Paint“. Using a small paintbrush, paint the affected area.

If you have questions, or need help filling nail holes, feel free to contact BranSun Services.

Frequently Asked Questions

How large of a hole can I patch with this method?

Holes up to 1/2″-3/4″ can use this method. Holes larger than that should have reinforcing added.

Do I need to remove the drywall anchor?

Yes, be sure to remove the drywall anchor.

Should I use “spackle” or “drywall compound”?

Either can be used, but spackle will not shrink like drywall compound so it is better suited for small holes.

You just moved into a new house and like the color of the walls, but there are nail holes in them. There has to be a better way than paying hundreds of dollars to hire a painter, or waste a whole weekend trying to paint a single room yourself. You have come to the right place, I am going to discuss several different ways to match the paint with out needing to paint the whole room.

1. Look For Original Paint Cans

The obvious first solution is look in the garage, closets, or attic to see if the previous owner left the original container with paint still in it. SLOW DOWN… just because you found the correct paint does not mean the paint is still good. Opened paint (if stored properly) can generally be stored for around 5 years. If you open the paint and it has a sour or rotten smell, or has clumps that cannot be mixed into the paint it should not be used. Each paint that has been mixed will have a sticker printed and stuck onto the can, take this sticker to the store and they will be able to mix up a small amount that is the same as original.

2. Get Swatches From Paint Store

If you did not get lucky enough to find the paint can, you can get several paint swatches at Lowe’s that are close then compare them to the wall. If the wall is between two colors the store will be able to mix them to make a color that is very close. Sherwin-Williams has an app “ColorSnap Match” that can do the same process without having to go to store.

3. Cut Out a Sample

The process that I generally use to get the best results is scoring a 1″X1″ square into the drywall paper and taking this to Lowe’s so they can put it under the spectrophotometer. A spectrophometer will analyze the color and tell them exactly what to mix to get that color. After they mix the paint, request they put a drop on the 1″ square to verify it is the same prior to leaving the store. Lowe’s can use the spectrophotometer on a high definition picture on your phone, but depending on lighting when the picture was taken, it can give a false color.

I generally take the 1″X1″ square from a place that is not going to be noticed. The most common place is behind a door, a hanging TV, or in a closet. While repairing the nail holes, I take some drywall mud and add a thin layer there the 1″X1″ square came from then paint back over that section and it will look good as new.

If you have any questions, or would like help painting in you house, reach out to BranSun Services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How big of a paint chip do I need to match?

Paint stores request at least a 1″X1″ sample, but more is better.

Can I match the color from a picture?

Paint stores can match from a picture, but it may be slightly off due to lighting.

How much paint do I need for touch ups?

Generally, a sample size is more than enough for a single room.