How Do You Fix a Hole in a Plaster Wall?

We’ve all had a mishap at some point in our lives that’s ended with a hole in the wall. From moving furniture to door knobs without door stoppers, there are endless ways for our interior walls to get damaged during daily life. Today, we’ll show you how to repair a hole in a plaster wall yourself, so there’s no need to panic the next time it happens.

Tools and materials:

First thing’s first: gather your tools and materials. Here’s what you’ll need to use to repair plaster at home:

Drill fitted with a hole saw
Plasterboard
Saw
Stanley knife
Base coat
Spatula
Putty scraper
Sandpaper
Face mask and goggles
Top coat

Step 1: Drill a bigger hole over the existing hole

Using a drill fitted with a hole saw, drill a slightly larger hole over the existing hole. You can use a homemade hole saw template to help guide you.

Step 2: Cut a square out of a piece of plain plasterboard

Using a saw, cut up a piece of plain plasterboard to create a smaller square. This square should be larger in size than the hole in the wall. It doesn’t need to be precise, so don’t worry if the edges aren’t straight or uniform.

Step 3: Drill ⅔ through your plasterboard square

Using your hole saw once again, partly drill ⅔ through your plasterboard square. You’ll see that there’s paper on both the outside and the inside of your piece of plasterboard. We’ll be using the outside layer of paper to fix the wall, so stop drilling once you start reaching the paper layer (about ⅔ in).

Step 4: Score the back of the paper and break away excess plaster

Using a stanley knife, score the back of the plasterboard. Next, break away the excess plaster by gently snapping the board and peeling the plaster away from the paper layer. We want to keep the paper layer intact, so be gentle and careful with this step. Your finished product should look something like a plug mounted on a thin layer of paper.

Step 5: Apply base coat to sides of hole and onto paper layer

Using a small spatula, apply base coat to the sides of the hole in the wall as well as to the back of the plaster paper. This will help the plaster plug adhere to the wall.

Step 6: Place plaster plug into hole and smooth out with scraper

With the plug facing the hole in the wall, gently place the plaster onto the wall to fill up the hole. Using a putty scraper, smooth out the base coat to ensure that there’s good adhesion. Allow to dry for about 24 hours.

Step 7: Lightly sand the patch

Once the area is dry, lightly sand the patch until it’s smooth. Make sure you wear a face mask and safety glasses to protect yourself.

Step 8: Apply second layer of base coat over the patch

Once the area has been sanded, apply a second layer of base coat over the patch with your scraper. Start from the middle and work your way outwards in firm, sweeping motions. Wait for the area to dry for another 24 hours.

Step 9: Sand and apply top coat

Once the second base coat has dried, sand the area again. The surface should be smooth and without bumps. Again, make sure to wear a face mask and safety goggles for protection.

Once the area has been prepped and primed, apply a top coat over the patch. Do this in the same way as you applied your base coat; i.e. starting from the middle and working your way outwards. After this has dried, you can sand the area and start painting.

Whether it be for small holes or large holes, for holes in the wall or holes in the ceiling, this foolproof method always brings great results. If you need help with filling a hole in your wall at home or in the office, contact your local handyman today.

Although fixing minor damage to your walls isn’t difficult, some of us just don’t have the time to do these repairs ourselves. If you need a helping hand around the home or office, contact Jim’s Handyman today to see how we can help you tick off your to-do list. Every single one of our Australian and New Zealand franchisees are fully insured and police checked, so you can rest assured knowing that your property is in safe and professional hands. Give Jim’s Group a call today on 13 15 46 for an obligation-free quote.