How To Fill Holes In The Wall Without Leaving Visible Marks
You’ve decided to repaint – but when you took
all the pictures off the wall and moved that big
cabinet, you were left with a surprise number of tiny holes, cracks
and bumps.
You bought really top quality paint. You really don’t feel like
wasting it by painting over these marks and blemishes – especially
since you were planning to replace the big cabinet with a
flat-screen TV, and change the location of all the pictures.
The truth is, the ten minutes you spend filling holes and repairing
cracks will bring you hours of satisfaction as people compliment you
on your beautiful, professional paint job. (Or at the very least,
don’t say “Gee, I never noticed that crack before…”)
And if you do your repair like a professional, you’ll thank yourself
forever afterwards for the results.
Apart from your planned painting supplies, you will need:
* Sandpaper
* Hand sanding block (to mount sandpaper on)
* A small pot of filler appropriate to the surface being filled
* 1” putty knife (plastic)
* 4” drywall knife
* Safety glasses
* Sanding dust mask
* Tack cloth (for magically lifting dust from a freshly-sanded spot)
Depending on what you’re repairing, your sandpaper should be:
* 120 grit for drywall compound
* A variety of grits for glossy woodwork
But What About Stains?
Sometimes the blemish you want to cover is a stain. Permanent ink
marker, for example, is
notorious for bleeding through new paint – you can’t just paint over
it!
When dealing with a stain that won’t come off easily, it’s always
best to paint the area first
with a sealant such as Kilz (found at Home Depot stores.)
* Always apply the Kilz after you repair and sand any cracks.
Kilz is also good for permanently eliminating cigarette smoke, when
you’re taking over a room
from a habitual smoker. If you just paint over it with latex paint
alone, you’ll find the smell
comes back after a few weeks – or days.
But do spend the extra bucks necessary for a can of Kilz, if you
have one of the above
problems. How heartbreaking would it be if that marker scribble bled
through your beautiful
faux suede Ralph Lauren paint – and you had to stare at that mark,
day after day?
We’re Ready To Go – Almost
If your wall is really greasy or dirty – especially from smoke
damage of any sort – one great
precaution is to give it a wash with a solution of T.S.P. salts.
Note that T.S.P works like a
dream in lifting grease and prepping your wall for painting – but it
is extremely corrosive on
skin and banned in some States. (Ask your Home Improvement store
professional for a
substitute). It is ESSENTIAL that you wear HEAVY GLOVES when dealing
with T.S.P., and
avoid splashing yourself with it at all costs.
That being said, it is odorless and one of the least likely
chemicals to cause any problem with
inhalation.
Repairing That Crack
The most basic rule to remember: If the crack more than ¼” wide, you
will need drywall tape
for a successful repair.
The second rule: Drywall compound will shrink on drying. You will
probably need at least 2
coats.
Make sure your piece of drywall tape is at least 2” longer than the
crack itself.
Spread a very thin layer of drywall compound over the crack
Apply the tape and push in firmly (but not too hard, or you’ll
squelch the drywall compound
out from under the edges.) Use your fingers
Smooth the tape flat with your drywall knife
If the crack is very small, omit the drywall tape, and just fill
Use a special filler for wood, when filling cracks in woodwork you
want to paint. If the surface
was previously painted, sand first and wipe before filling. If the
wood was varnished, and
you’re painting over it, use a variety of grits (starting with the
coarsest and working your way
up to the finest) to sand off as much of the old glossy surface as
you can. (This works on small
areas; for example if you have decided to paint previously varnished
wood trim or baseboard.
For an entire paneled, varnished wall, consult your store
professional, as this is a large
undertaking.)
When each layer of drywall compound is completely dry, sand. Using
the hand sanding block
is your best bet, when sanding a flat surface. If you use sandpaper
alone, you are liable to
accidentally make a concave depression, when spot-sanding.
Wipe with a tack cloth, and repeat your fill, if necessary. Don’t
stop until your surface is
absolutely smooth and flat.
And now you are ready to paint!
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
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