How to fill holes in a wall
By Tom Drake | 1st August 2024 | 3 min read
Whether you’ve taken down a shelf or knocked a bookcase over, it’s never a nice feeling when you create a hole in your wall. In this guide, we take you through how you can fill a hole in your plasterboard wall.
Filling holes in a wall steps:
Most small holes in walls can be filled in using filler.
1. Scrape out loose material
Before you can apply the filler, you need to scrape out any loose material, remove dust, and make the hole slightly wider. This will give the filler a better surface to adhere to, which will help you achieve a better finish.
Use your filling knife to make the hole slightly wider, then use a vacuum to remove any remaining dust. Exact preparation guidelines will vary depending on the filler you choose, so always check the instructions first.
2. Spread the filler across the hole
With the hole clean, place a small amount of filler onto your filling knife. Press the filler into the hole using your knife and smooth it down. Apply small amounts of filler at a time and smooth as you go until the hole is filled.
The filler should be slightly raised when compared to the wall around it, but don’t apply too much filler, as this will extend the time you need to spend sanding later.
3. Sand the filler down
Leave the filler to dry for the time stated on the packaging of your chosen filler. When the filler is dry, sand it with a piece of fine sandpaper until it's smooth and flush with the wall. Remember to wear an appropriate dust mask and eye protection.
When sanding, regularly check how the repair looks against the rest of the wall. If you sand too much or the damage is still visible, you may need to re-apply the filler and sand again.
Fixing bigger holes using filler
For larger holes, you can follow the same steps as above but apply the filler in layers rather than one application. Apply a first layer to the hole, then allow it to dry before applying another. Repeat this process to build up the filler until you’ve completely filled the hole. You can then sand it down and paint.
Wall repair patches
If your hole is too large to fix with filler, you can use a wall repair patch. These are designed to quickly and easily cover holes in plasterboard walls.
Before you apply the patch, remove any loose plaster and dust from the hole and the area around it. Fit the patch to the wall and apply pressure across it using your filling knife. With the patch in place, you can cover it with plaster or filler.
Fixing large holes in a wall
If you’ve created a really large hole in a plasterboard wall that can’t be repaired using filler or a wall repair patch, you may need to remove and replace the damaged section of plasterboard.
Although this may seem daunting, the process is relatively simple and will be less costly and time-consuming than replacing the entire wall. Take a look at our guide to fixing large holes in a wall for more information.
