If you’re like most homeowners, you’ve probably hung a few pictures or decorations on your walls only to be left with unsightly nail holes once you’ve taken them down.
These holes can be a real eyesore, especially if you don’t want to go through the hassle of painting the entire wall to cover them up. But fear not!
There are actually quite a few simple and effective ways to fill nail holes in drywall without having to break out the paint.
We’ll walk you through the steps for each method and provide tips on how to get the best results.
So, if you’re ready to say goodbye to those pesky nail holes, let’s get started!
Step By Step Guide On How to Fill Holes in Drywall Without Using Paint
To fill nail holes in drywall without painting, you will need the following:
- Spackling compound or wood filler
- Putty knife
- Sandpaper
- Water and a small bowl (if using spackling compound)
Gearing Up for the Project
It is possible to fix holes in walls like a pro if you have enough confidence and time to do so.
To do this job properly, you’ll need spackles. In addition to fine-grit sandpaper, you’ll need paint to match your wall’s color if you want the job done right.
It would be a good idea to purchase supplies before you begin your mini home improvement adventure. For small nail holes in walls, however, you do not need a lot of tools.
To begin with, you will need some fine grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge. It will be easier for you to hide any damage with sandpaper.
Putting a small hole back together without painting is understandable. Paint makes it more difficult to fix one or two small spots if you have only a few to fix.
Therefore, it makes sense if you don’t feel that the effort is worth it. These DIY methods will save you some time and money – and maybe even save you a visit to the hardware store too.
Doing The Job, The Right Way
The right way to complete the task is worth knowing if you have time. Except if you already have everything you need, it’s impossible to avoid going to the hardware store this time.
Choosing the right paint color is crucial if you plan on painting. If you take a picture of your walls using natural sunlight, you can choose the right color for them.
Take a look at your wall and compare it with your picture. Your picture can help find the right color paint at the hardware store if it’s a good match.
Your job can begin as soon as you have everything you need. First, use a putty knife to apply a small amount of spackle. Once the spackle is in place, you can slowly push it into any nail holes you have.
After you have finished the spackle, use the flat side of the knife to even it out. A smooth surface is best for applying spackle over a nail hole.
There will be extra spackle, but do not worry about it. There’s a reason why you have sandpaper.
After the spackle has dried for two to three hours, remove it and clean it up. You can sand the spackle using fine-grained sandpaper once it is completely dry.
Here’s How To Do It:
- Choose your filling material. You can use either spackling compound or wood filler to fill nail holes in drywall. Spackling compound is a thick paste that is specifically designed for filling holes and imperfections in walls. It can be found at any hardware or home improvement store.
- Wood filler is a putty-like substance that is used for filling holes and cracks in the wood. It is typically made from wood particles and a binder and can be sanded and painted once it dries. Both spackling compounds and wood fillers are effective for filling nail holes in drywall, so the choice is up to you.
- Prepare the filling material. If you are using spackling compound, mix a small amount of water into the compound until it reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency. If you are using wood filler, simply scoop a small amount out of the container and knead it until it is pliable.
- Apply the filling material. Using a putty knife, apply the filling material to the nail hole, pressing it firmly into the hole and smoothing it out on the surface of the wall. Ensure to overfill the hole slightly, as the filling material will shrink as it dries.
- Sand the filled hole. Once the filling material has dried according to the manufacturer’s instructions (usually a few hours), use a piece of fine-grit sandpaper to lightly sand the filled hole until it is flush with the surface of the wall.
- Clean up any excess filling material. Use a damp cloth to wipe away any excess filling material that may have spilled onto the wall.
- And that’s it! With just a few simple steps, you can easily fill nail holes in drywall without having to paint the entire wall.
Filling Large Holes in Walls
If you have a larger hole, you will need to pick up one extra item at the hardware store. For this project, you will need a pack of self-adhesive fiberglass mesh. Many hardware stores sell this material under the name drywall repair kit.
You can add more stability to your fix with the fiberglass mesh. When you have a hole more than half an inch in size, you typically need a drywall repair kit.
To get started, cut a piece of fiberglass mesh that extends about an inch around the hole in every direction.
Once you have removed the backing, place the patch directly above the hole and press down. The patch should stick to the wall without any problems. You will now cover the mesh with spackle. However, give it some time to dry if you’re repairing.
When it comes to a larger hole, you’ll have to wait until 5 or 6 hours have passed -or more if you can. Now you can apply paint to the wall and sand it smoothly.
There you go! There’s one less thing to worry about, and your wall looks like new again.
Best Way To Fix Nail Holes In Walls Without Painting
Filling pinholes in drywall can be a hassle if you’ve ever worked with it. Having many of them makes the job especially difficult.
Every nail hole has to be painted over, which is tedious and time-consuming. This may lead you to wonder if an alternative method works better.
Well, there is undoubtedly a faster way. However, fixing holes in walls requires a bite of the bullet and hard work. In a few minutes, we’ll discuss what we need to do.
The reason you’re here isn’t that. There’s nothing special about this—you’re here for a quick fix for something small and unattractive.
There are two ways to fix nail holes: spackle or putty. As soon as these compounds are applied, they disappear right into pinholes.
The best thing about them is that they are also easy to use. You simply need to apply them and wait 15 minutes for them to dry. You can wipe down the area with a damp cloth after that.
In addition to household items, you can also fill the hole with other items – more on that later. But there’s a catch.
There is no way to hide your patch job unless you have a white wall. Filling nail holes on painted white walls takes just a few minutes, but you cannot do it with black walls.
Quick Nail Hole Fixes In A Pinch
Everyone carries a tube of toothpaste around with them. If you have small nail holes in your wall, you can fill them with toothpaste. There’s no faster way to accomplish the task.
Using toothpaste is the most convenient thing you can do when you’re in a pinch. Suppose, for example, your landlord decides to look around your apartment in less than an hour.
Take any product you use to keep your teeth white and shining in that case. The drying process of toothpaste eventually causes it to crack.
Thus, hammer holes accidentally made by a hammer won’t be filled with it. You can, however, eliminate this problem with a trick.
Aspirins are also probably lying around, so make sure you have some handy. In this case, crush 1 or 2 aspirins and mix them with some toothpaste.
Using this mixture, the hole will be sealed and won’t crack. To make this work, you simply apply toothpaste to the hole, let it dry, and you’re done.
As mentioned previously, this quick fix only works on white walls without painting. You can only use white toothpaste with it. It’s much easier to go to the store to get a small tube of white toothpaste than to make the trek to a hardware store if necessary.
Other Quick Fix Alternatives
Besides compounding your own spackle, there are other compounds you can use. There are a few factors to consider before you make your choice.
Your choice, for example, will depend on the amount of time you have. Depending on your personal preferences and the color of the walls, it may also vary.
Using baking soda, you can make a homemade spackle-like compound. White glue is needed to mix it with it.
Eventually, you should have a white, thick paste. After filling small nail holes with the concoction, you would use it for a manicure.
It is possible to use glue by itself if the hole is small enough. Q-tips are perfect for applying glue. The Elmer’s glue that kids use to craft will likely lie around your house if you have children.
Make sure not to get glue on the rest of the wall if you’re using glue. Remember that your goal is to do less work, not more. To prevent spills, you’ll also need to place a piece of cardboard under the glue bottle.
There’s still hope, even if you don’t have an item from this list. Filling nail holes in walls with soap is an easy way to make them look better. Soap, however, can be used as a last resort.
A soapy solution to wall holes isn’t a permanent solution. The purpose is to cover up wall damage quickly if you are pressed for time.
We are dealing with a straightforward situation here. Take the soap, put it in the damaged areas until they are completely covered, and make it look nice, and that’s it.
Final Words
Using this method, you can fill nail holes in walls without painting. Besides learning how to paint a hole in a wall, you’ve also learned how to fix a hole in an interior wall.
Rearranging pictures might be a challenge even if you aren’t moving. Despite what it seems, fixing small holes is not as difficult as it may seem. Despite this, you are not the only one feeling this way.
Filling a hole in the wall may prove challenging for some people. If you take your time, the task will be completed as you expect.
