Poly | How to fill hole in a plaster wall, by Poly on YouTube. 2 min 32 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 32 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Move furniture out of the way and lay a dust sheet under the wall. Pick out any loose plaster or crumbly bits around the hole with a filling knife.
Wipe the dust out of the hole with a slightly damp cloth. For a deep hole, fill it in two stages rather than one thick layer.
Load a little filler onto the filling knife and press it into the hole, working from the edges to the centre so no air pockets are trapped.
Scrape the surface flat with the knife, leaving the filler a fraction proud of the wall. Filler shrinks as it dries, so a slight bulge saves a second fill.
Leave it to dry for the time on the tub, usually a few hours or overnight. Do not sand or paint it while it is still soft.
Sand the dry patch flush with 120-grit paper, using light circular strokes and feathering the edges into the surrounding wall.
Wipe away the sanding dust with a damp cloth. If the patch has sunk, add a thin second coat, let it dry, and sand it flush again.
Paint over the repair with a primer, then apply your wall paint, feathering the edges so the patch blends in. Two thin coats usually cover it.
Tips and common mistakes
Overfill the hole slightly, because most fillers shrink a little as they set.
Keep filler off the surrounding paintwork where you can, as it can be hard to sand back without marking.
Use a fine filler for shallow dents and a deeper-fill product for holes wider than a coin.
Let each coat dry fully, or the sandpaper will tear the surface instead of smoothing it.
Questions
What kind of filler should I use on a plaster wall?
An interior wall filler or patching compound works for small and medium holes. For deeper holes, choose one labelled for deep fills or build it up in thin layers.
How long does the repair take?
The filling and sanding take about 20 to 30 minutes. Drying time is the slow part, from a couple of hours to overnight, depending on the filler and the depth of the hole.
Can I paint straight over the filler?
Yes, once it is fully dry and sanded. Prime bare filler first, or the paint may soak in unevenly and show a dull patch.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
