\u00a9 2022 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Step 2 Place the new corner bead in place and secure it with drywall screws. Now, if you are looking for ways to avoid any damage to your wall and keep it safe from any harm, I have listed some easy steps that you can follow to get the job done right. If you use glue, its important not to get it on the rest of the wall. Allow the area to dry, then sand lightly. You always have to fill and cover the nail hole before painting over it. Scrape the knife against the repair to make the spackling flush with the wall. 3. Sealer can be applied by hand or with a spray bottle. Holding the knife at an angle to the drywall with the mudded side facing the wall, press the front edge of the knife against the wall and draw it across the hole. Pick up lightweight spackling to avoid harsh edges. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If youre reluctant to rearrange the pictures on your walls because you dread dealing with the nail holes left behind, youre in good company. It's a common question asked by home sellers as they transition from marketing their homes to taking down pictures and packing.you know, the fun part of sellingnot!According to a report by the National Association of Home Builders, Buyers, on average stay in their homes 13 years. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). In most instances, nail holes are considered normal wear and tear. Follow the instructions available at the back of the container and mix it nicely. Just use a putty knife to spread the mortar into the hole and allow it to dry. To learn how to fix nail holes in walls without painting, keep reading. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Wipe off excess spackling. If you need help figuring out other ways to make your home beautiful, Melissa Vickers Design can help. If you leave the nail in, it looks even worse than the hole. Youd begin your mini home improvement adventure by purchasing supplies. READ This filler (Amazon Link) is also one of the best spackling tools to fill nail holes without painting. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Tiny nail and screw holes are the easiest to fix. I often see poorly done repairs of this type and decided to show you how to 'Do it Right'. For slightly larger holes, squeeze some toothpaste onto a Q-tip. I like using soap because you dont always have to go for a white-colored one; you can buy one that matches your wall color, and you are good to go. Here are some steps you can take to get the best touch-up results. If it's a pin-size hole on a white wall, you can likely get away with applying a touch of filler or paint with a cotton swab. Now, let the spackle dry for two to three hours. Painting over every single nail hole is tedious and time-consuming. Slightly recess the new nail (about a 1/16 of an inch). Drywall screws Joint compound Prime and paint Step 1 Start by using your saw and cut a half-inch below and above the damaged area. Nail holes in exterior surfaces, just as with cracks or gaps, can be dealt with using a good caulking. Well get to the right way to do the job in a bit. Align the nail over the mark and hammer with a gentle hand. Tip: If your sponge is still dripping water, it's too wet. After that, grab a piece of sandpaper with a fine grain and use it to polish the surface. Toothpaste is the most commonly used item to fill nail holes in drywall without painting, as it is a quick and cheap way to solve the problem. After the painter is done, your wall will look as if the hole never existed. We now have an advice page for your questions at: https://www.thatkiltedguy.com/advice-page***************************************************** FREE GUIDES \u0026 INFORMATION Our website is at: http://www.thatkiltedguy.com/ TO SAY THANKS for our help, you can do that at: https://www.patreon.com/ThatKiltedGuy for as little as $1.00FREE GUIDES- 1- How to choose the right contractor 2- Common mistakes that can ruin your drywall job Get them both for free at: https://www.thatkiltedguy.com/resources DON'T MISS OUT, join our mailing list and get emails of our latest videos, special classes, articles, photos and more. If youregoing to paint, its important to order the right color. To easily cover nail holes in a wall, you'll first take a drywall joint compound (such as spackle) and apply it to the spot. If you dont have the drywall mud available, you can refer to Polyfilla, which offers an excellent alternative. For larger holes use a 1-inch putty knife. Rub in a circular motion using a mixture of water and soap. For instance, you can use baking soda to make your own homemade spackle-like compound. Brick walls When patching holes in brick walls, the best method is to mix up some mortar and patch the hole with that. Step 3 Apply joint compound and let dry. Theres a range of reasons why you might want to repair a nail hole without painting, and youve come to the right place to learn how to do just that. Joint compound (also called Drywall compound or Sheetrock compound) Tools Putty Knife Hammer (ball peen) Instructions Remove any nails, screws or anchors that are in the wall. You can find a putty knife at most hardware stores. If you want to explore more about the tricks that can help you cover the nail holes in drywall, you can continue reading to find some of the easiest ways using just some household items. First, hand-sand around the hole to smooth any rough spots. For example, you may have your landlord coming by in less than an hour to take a look around. solid brass shower systems. Wipe off excess spackling. The fiberglass mesh will give your fix added stability. If the hole is small enough, you can use glue by itself. Tip: Save the nail in your toolbox in case you want to use it later. With a larger hole, youll want to wait for 5 to 6 hours to pass or more if you can. In short, you can fix nail holes with spackle or putty. Working on homes and buildings can involve many dangers and That Kilted Guy Videos recommends viewers learn and understand the proper safe practices when attempting anything seen in our videos. Then, you can wipe the area down with a damp cloth. Spackle and putty are easy to apply, dry in less than 15 minutes, and disappear inside the holes. If not cardboard, you can also opt for a comb, hairpins, or pliers. Method 1: Fix a Hole in the Wall with Toothpaste Look no further than your bathroom's medicine cabinet. To fix nail holes without paint, you can use spackle or putty. In this quick fix, handyman Sean Buino shows his favorite trick to easily cover nail holes in walls. White toothpaste works fine, although it will be painted over. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Look for these soft sponges at a hardware store near you. Step 4: Cut the excess putty and flatten it out using a flat material. We also have drywall hanging tools, general tools and supplies, gift ideas and more. These compounds will disappear right into pinholes. Its just a way to cover up damage to your walls quickly if youre pressed for time. Try not to spread the paint beyond the edges of the repair, as it will make the spot more visible. You are now going to use your utensil to push the toothpaste into the nail hole as deep as it will go. You can also use other household items to fill the holemore on that in a moment. Let it dry for about 30 minutes. dry the repair agent. And we didn't have a lot of decorations on the walls, but the few things wf had, I did not patch/paint. With confidence and enough time, you can fix holes in walls like a pro. You can use it efficiently while filling the nail holes, and it works just as fine. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Wipe off excess spackling. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. The project's lowest cost would be around $75 to apply joint compound to a few small nail holes. This will be a VERY thorough guide. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. -Use a dry rag to clean away any dust. 4 How to Fill Nail Holes in Drywall Without Painting | TC Tools; 5 How to Fix Nail Holes in Apartment Walls: 5 Easy Steps; 6 Cheap and Easy Ways to Fill Nail Holes - How To Build It; 7 10 Money Saving Tips to do Now | Southern Living; 8 How to Fill Nail Holes In Your (Rental) Walls; 9 4 DIY Tips How to Fill Nail Holes in the Wall - Updater jo malone body hand wash. LOGIN Spackle and putty are easy to apply, dry in less than 15 minutes, and disappear inside the holes. Another clever way to fill nail holes in drywall without painting is to use Elmers glue. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Cut off two sections of paper joint tape, so that each length of tape will extend at least 2 inches beyond each side of the hole. Filling nail holes can be challenging, particularly if youre trying to completely erase any trace of the fasteners. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. You can choose the right color by taking a picture of your walls using natural daylight. If you need to repair your drywall and you dont have the paint to match it, you can fill your holes in smoothly to avoid using paint at all as you fix up your home. What Is The Best Interior Flat Paint? Take a puffy knife, kitchen knife, or ruler and scrape off excess paint around the hole. Another problem you might face while working with putty is that they tend to dry quickly. NEW- I now have a brand new eBook to help you choose the drywall finishing tools AND supplies you need. In either case, if you simply fill the nail hole, the area might look smooth to the eye for now, but the bump will stick out like a sore thumb once you paint it. However, theres a trick that will eliminate this problem. The sandpaper will enable you to make any damage less obvious. The professionals use this fantastic technique, and so can you! I have also stated a few hacks in this blog post involving baking soda, soap, toothpaste, chalk, and glue to do the job without any material. So a good fix is to add a new screw that's longer. How do you fix nail holes with toothpaste? Use a drywall or reciprocating saw to cut out the area within the traced lines (Image 3). Its understandable not to want to paint after fixing a small hole. Then cut a piece of fiberglass mesh to overlap the hole by at least 1 in. Step 3: Spread a little extra toothpaste around the outside of the hole to make sure you dont have any gaps. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 18,938 times. These compounds will disappear right into pinholes. If your landlord has a policy against adding holes to walls of any size in the lease, it's a different story. The slight flexibility facilitates easy spreading as you pull the spackling over the hole. Though similar in application, different patching compounds are formulated for use on different surfaces. Use lightweight spackle to avoid having to paint over the hole. Lightly sand the area around the hole to eliminate any excess compound from your second application, and then inspect the hole itself. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Note, this is Just a mailing address.Disclaimer: At That Kilted Guy Video Productions LLC, we cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. You only need a dab. Use a light touch as you fill in the nail hole to avoid damaging your walls further. Small holes can be patched over with drywall tape or a self-adhesive drywall patch, but large holes need a more rigid material to span over the larger opening. I'll show you an easy way to build a shed yourself\" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTqoAI3Mho-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-If you need to mail us anything our business address is Guy Purcella, That Kilted Guy Videos, 1700 I-70 Business Loop, Unit #2, Grand Jct, CO 81501. [TESTED], How Soon To Drill Concrete after A Fresh Laying? It will also vary based on the wall color and your personal tastes. What's more, they're easy to use. Just squeeze the white paste (not the blue gel) into the hole, and smooth it over with a putty . George To fill in nail holes in drywall without the use of paint, try applying putty or drywall spackle, which is easy to use and can quickly disappear right into these small holes. They're easy to use, and that's something. Youve also learned the right way to fix a hole in your wallwith paint. Mix 1 tablespoon of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt and a few drops of water to make a paste. You can also use other household items to fill the holemore on that in a moment. Holes in wood trim are best filled with wood filler. I often see poorly done repairs of this type an. This will allow you to simply hide the nail holes. The soap will also help keep your bar from drying out too quickly, which can cause it to . Filling a small nail hole is a very simple process: Apply a repair agent. You read it right. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. You can get the nail out and place it at a different point to secure it properly. Washing your walls and trim will remove grime, cobwebs, dust and stains that can prevent your paint from adhering. Remember: Move in a circular pattern when sandingdrywall, and follow the grain when sanding wood. If the hole is less than 1/8 inch deep, one coat should be enough for good coverage. To get rid of the soap, use a rag. Accordingly, you may wonder if theres a better method. Instead, stick to the outside edges. Smooth the area with a putty knife before applying a quarter-sized amount of spackling to it. Mix patching plaster according to the manufacturer's instructions. Pull a popped nail using pliers or if you've got a drywall screw just back it out using a drill. Drywall compound dries after the painter applies it, and most painters will apply two or three layers for all holes. How To Prevent Health Hazards While Drilling Into Concrete? Put a small amount of spackling on the corner of the knife and press in the hole. Step 2: Push the toothpaste into the hole in the wall with your toothpick or Q-tip. Before applying the paint, the surface needs to be cleaned. Now, you can sand the wall smooth and apply paint. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. Then, you can wipe the area down with a damp cloth. Drive a new nail immediately adjacent to the popped nail using the hammer and nail set. We assume no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. If you have time, its worth knowing the right way to do the job. If so, crushed one or two aspirin and mix them with a small amount of toothpaste. Follow the same two-swipe method described in Step 3, then let the compound dry for the recommended amount of time. When sanding wood, however, always sand in the direction of the wood grain to keep from leaving cross-sanding marks. First, take some drywall joint compound (also known as spackle) and apply it to the area where there are nail holes in the wall. Everybody has a tube of toothpaste lying around. You can use toothpaste to fill small nail holes in your wall. I have also stated a few hacks in this blog post involving baking soda, soap, toothpaste, chalk, and glue to do the job without any material. Apply the thick paste over the nail holes and give it ample time to dry, at least an hour. But if the hole is noticeable, you have to plug it. You may be wondering, why not do this method? Well, there most certainly is a faster way. Dab a tiny amount on an old knife or the end of your finger and push the putty into the hole. If the hole is on a white wall, there's probably no need to paint it. For a simpler method silicone caulk should also work well to patch nail and screw holes in brick walls though it might not blend as well if your walls are unpainted. You dont have to worry, as there is always a way out! To prepare the surface, lightly swipe a fine, 220-grit sanding block over the nail hole to sand away ridges. It is also readily available and can minimize a lot of hard work for you. Many hardware stores call this material a drywall repair kit. Then, sand smooth and paint the first layer. If you find that your second swipe across the nail hole leaves streaks of spackling paste on the wall or wood, youve probably used more paste than necessary; take note and scoop up a little less the next time. If the abovementioned methods did not work for you, you have a slightly larger hole. With this in mind, here are a few DIY methods that will save some work and a trip to the hardware store. Thats why you have sandpaper. If needed, a trip to the store for a small tube of white toothpaste is a lot easier than making your way to a hardware store. References. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Now there are a few ways to fill holes in white walls without having to putty and paint. Filling Nail Holes in Walls 1 Apply spackling paste to the holes with a putty knife. Peel off the paper backing and press the mesh to the wall. Once its completely dry, you can sand the spackle with the fine-grained sandpaper. From there, smooth the surface with a putty knife, and paint right over the area with a color that matches the rest of the wall. For example, your choice will vary depending on how much time you have. The technique to use toothpaste is simple, take the help of a toothpick or an earbud to get a small amount of toothpaste out of the tube, then put it into the nail hole and remove the excess using a putty knife.