Holes and dents in plasterboard are among the most common household repairs. Door handles punch through, furniture bumps leave dents, and removing hooks and anchors leaves holes behind. The right repair depends on the size of the damage.

Small holes and dents

Nail holes, screw holes and small dents can be filled with a ready-mixed filler or a lightweight compound. The key steps are:

• Clean away loose paper and debris
• Fill slightly proud of the surface
• Let it dry fully (compounds shrink as they dry, so a second coat is often needed)
• Sand flush with fine sandpaper
• Prime before painting, so the patch does not show as a dull spot

Medium holes (up to about a fist)

Holes from door handles and knocks need a backing. Options include:

• Self-adhesive mesh patches: an aluminium or fibreglass mesh stuck over the hole, then covered with compound in several thin coats.
• Backing piece: a strip of timber or plasterboard fixed inside the cavity behind the hole, with a plasterboard plug cut to fit, then jointed.

Several thin coats, feathered out wider each time, give a flatter result than one thick coat.

Large holes and damaged sections

Larger damage is best fixed by cutting the plasterboard back to the nearest studs and fitting a new piece. The joins are taped and set with compound in three coats, sanded and primed. This takes more time because each coat must dry, so large patches often need two visits or a full day.

Why patches show through paint

Even a perfectly flat patch can show when painted, because:

• The patch has a different texture and absorbency from the surrounding wall
• The paint on the wall has faded, so new paint of the same colour looks different
• Sheen levels differ between old and new paint

For the best result, prime the patch and paint to a natural break, such as a corner, rather than painting just the patch.

Cracks

Fine cracks at cornices and joins are often caused by seasonal movement and timber shrinkage. They can be raked out, filled with flexible compound and painted. Wide, diagonal or growing cracks may indicate structural movement and should be checked by a building inspector before repair.

Preventing door-handle holes

Door stops are cheap and quick to install. Skirting-mounted, floor-mounted or hinge-pin stops all prevent the handle reaching the wall. Fit them on every door that can swing into a wall.

Water damage

Plasterboard that has been wet may be stained, soft or swollen. Fix the source of the leak first, often with a plumber or roofer. Then replace the damaged plasterboard rather than patching over it.

Rentals

Tenants should check their lease and talk to their property manager before repairing walls at the end of a tenancy. A poorly matched patch can be worse than the original hole.

How we can help

We repair holes, dents and cracks in plasterboard across Berwick and the surrounding suburbs, and prepare walls for painting or touch them up ourselves. See plaster and wall patching or get a free quote.