I want to paint my house, and I have several holes to patch from hanging paintings. What do I need to do? -Lisette

Hi Lisette,

Here’s how to go about repairing small holes in drywall, such as those made by picture hanger or nail:

• Start by gently tapping the hole with a crown head hammer to slightly dent the wall around the hole.
• Next, fill the hole with spackling using a putty knife.
• To make the repair blend into the texture of the wall, use a damp sponge to wipe off any excess spackling around the patch while it’s still wet.
• Allow the spackling to dry. If the spackling shrinks enough to leave a depression in the surface, apply a second coat of spackling.
• When dry, spot prime the patch before painting.

To repair larger holes, check out our article on Patching a Hole in Drywall.

Good luck with your project,

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