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This Old House - How to Patch a Drywall Hole | Ask This Old House

Thumbnail of the video “This Old House - How to Patch a Drywall Hole | Ask This Old House”
Community upload. AI output has not been independently verified.
Author: This Old House
Categories: Real Estate
Tags: real-estate
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-15 07:48 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: For drywall holes, match the repair method to the hole's size: spackling compound for small holes, mesh or plaster tape with joint compound for medium holes, and a backed or screwed-in patch for large holes. The video also covers a cut-in patch method that uses the drywall paper as the tape, with the patch held in place by a first coat of compound.

Key Points

  • Small holes need only spackling compound pushed in, smoothed, dried, and recoated as needed.
  • Medium holes, such as those near baseboards or from doorknob impacts, call for mesh or plaster tape over the hole with multiple heavy coats.
  • A pre-made metal adhesive patch with mesh overlaps the hole, sticks to the wall, and is then covered with layers of compound or spackle.
  • Joint compound is used for seams at installation, while spackling compound is thicker and better suited for patch work.
  • Large holes need a backing, either a board behind the opening or clips, so the patch has something to fasten to.

Details Worth Noting

Concrete instructions:

  • Small hole: press spackling compound into the hole, smooth it off, let it dry, and apply a couple more coats as needed. Expect slight shrinkage as it dries.

  • Medium hole: place mesh or plaster tape over the hole and apply about three heavy coats of joint compound.

  • Large hole, screwed patch: cut out the damage and trace a patch slightly smaller than the opening, enlarging the hole to match. Slide a board behind the opening, place a couple of screws, remove the center screw, and screw the patch to the wall.

  • Large hole, clip method: install clips on two or four sides depending on size, insert the patch, and fasten it with small screws through the flange. Flatten those spots with a hammer so the patch sits flat.

  • Cut-in drywall patch: cut a drywall piece larger than the hole, remove its perimeter so the paper remains as tape, and cut the patch to the opening size, making it slightly smaller to fit. Apply glue or compound around the perimeter (spackling for small holes, joint compound for larger ones), press the patch in, scrape excess from the seam with an upright knife, and let the first coat dry before adding top coats.

  • Finishing: keep each coat as smooth as possible, apply two to three coats, and sand and feather the patch so it blends in and avoids cracking.

  • The video notes spackling shrinks less than joint compound but still sinks as it dries, so filled holes may need extra coats.

  • Pre-made adhesive metal patches come in three or four sizes.

  • The cut-in method needs no tape and is described as preventing cracking when done well.

Bottom Line

Choosing the right patch method for the hole's size, then building up thin, smooth coats and sanding well, is what makes the repair invisible.