How to Fill Holes in the Wall

It’s much easier than you might think to fill a hole in the wall, whether you’ve got a small hole left over from hanging up a picture frame, or something larger that may have been created by a bump or fall. We’ve put together a simple step-by-step guide to help you through the process. First, let’s cover filling holes in plasterboard.

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To repair small holes in your wall, clean out dust, apply wall filler, let it dry, sand smooth, and paint to finish. To repair medium-sized holes, clean the area, apply a repair mesh, cover with filler, sand once dry, and paint. To repair larger holes, you’ll need to cut out and replace plasterboard. This is more time-consuming but manageable for all DIYers.

How to fill in small holes

If you’re redecorating or just rearranging your furniture, it’s likely there will be a few small holes dotted around your walls from old picture frames and fixings. These are easy to fill in, so your walls will look good as new in no time.

Clear out the hole, scraping out debris and using a vacuum to take out any dust. You’ll want it to be as dust-free as possible to make sure the filler adheres properly.

Apply filler onto a filling knife and scrape it over the hole. Work it into the hole, making sure that the filler is slightly raised from the wall.

Once you’ve filled the hole, allow the filler to dry, checking the manufacturer’s instructions for drying times.

Once completely dry, put on a dust mask and sand the filler back until it’s flush with the wall.

Paint over the filled spot so it blends in with the rest of your wall.

How to fill in medium holes

Medium-sized holes can be formed from things like screws being ripped out too hard and taking some of the wall with them, or smaller bumps from moving furniture around. These require an extra step in the form of a wall repair mesh.

Vacuum cleaner
Wall repair mesh
Scissors
Wall filler
Filling knife
Sandpaper or sanding block
PPE

Clear out the hole, scraping out debris and using a vacuum to take out any dust. You’ll want it to be as dust-free as possible to make sure the filler adheres properly.

Cut a piece of repair mesh significantly larger than the hole. You’ll want it to be at least 3 inches wider on each side.

Stick this to the wall, making sure the hole is in the centre.

Smooth the mesh down with a filler knife.

Apply a generous amount of filler to a filling knife and scrape it into the hole, covering the repair patch completely. Make sure the filler is slightly raised above the rest of the wall.

Once the filler is completely dry, use sandpaper or a sanding block to sand the filler down so it’s smooth with the wall. If any of the mesh becomes visible, you’ll need to apply more filler to cover it up.

Make sure to wear a dust mask when sanding.

Paint over the filled spot so it blends in with the rest of the wall.

How to fill in large holes

For larger holes, you’ll need to cut out and replace a piece of your plasterboard. This is a more time-consuming task and may seem a bit daunting, but it’s something the average DIYer can absolutely do themselves. For an in-depth guide on how to fill in larger holes, check out our guide on how to repair walls.

How to fill holes in the ceiling

If you’ve found yourself with a hole in the ceiling, you’ll repair this in the same way. For smaller holes, use wall filler; for medium holes, add a layer of repair mesh; and for larger holes, replace that section of plasterboard. You can use the same wall filler in the ceiling as you would in the wall, and its thick consistency means it won’t drip down as it’s drying.

How to fill holes in brick walls

While you can use wall filler in brick walls, a better way to make repairs is by mixing up some mortar. Apply this using the same steps detailed for plasterboard walls above.

As small as a hole may be, it can still be an eyesore in your wall. Thankfully, you don’t have to cover it up as filling it in is a quick, easy, and cheap task. Smaller holes just require a bit of filler and a fresh lick of paint, and medium holes just need patching up with mesh and going over this with filler. If you’re currently ticking off a few simple DIY tasks like this one, check out our guide on fixing the most common door problems.

FAQs

For plasterboard walls, wall filler is specially made for this exact task. Just spread it into the hole, making sure to leave a flat surface to paint once dry. For brick walls, mix up some mortar and use this to fill the hole.

Repairing small holes in your wall is one of the simplest DIY tasks that still makes a huge difference in your home. All you need is some filler and a putty knife and you can fill in every screw hole in your home.