How to fix a hole in the plaster

Not long ago a friend tripped in our hallway while wheeled his bike down it, leaving a handle bar shaped dent in the hallway plaster 😕 We have a house inspection coming up soon, so I am wanting to patch the hole and looking at options. I have gotten a couple of quotes from tradies, but they are asking a fair chunk of cash including time and materials for a very small project, so thinking I might be able to do this myself and learn a new skill.

My main question is the cost of materials, particulalrly the colour matched paint. What is the smallest amount I can buy and rough price, possibly a sample pot, as I think this would be the biggest expense. After that I'm sure I can find a YouTube video on the process. If anyone has any advice, that would be appreciated!

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Comments

Jason

Hi @Fendogz,

Welcome to Workshop. We're pleased you could join us and encourage you to post whenever you need a hand.

I'm sure all Workshop members will encourage you to tackle this one yourself as it's a quick and easy fix.

Take a look at this recent discussion from a member in a very similar situation - https://www.workshop.com.au/t5/Whole-of-House/Patching-holes-in-the-wall/td-p/19360

As I mentioned on the other post, I would recommend you start here - How to fix a hole in a plaster wall. It includes the tools and materials that you will need. I will also embed the video below.

I'll also tag one of our resident paint experts in @Simon who might like to share the best approach for colour matching the paint.

Good luck,

Jason

MartyH

Definitely do it yourself @Fendogz. You'll be fine. I reckon only an hour or two of your time.

Shopping list for you:

Little tub of filler - $6 - https://www.bunnings.com.au/earl-s-multfill-ready-to-use-filler-0-140kg-white_p1661244

Paint scraper - $4 - https://www.bunnings.com.au/uni-pro-75mm-carbon-steel-filling-blade_p1670148

Paint roller kit - $10 - https://www.bunnings.com.au/monarch-230mm-pro-renovator-all-purpose-roller-kit_p1661273

Cutting in brush (optional, but makes things easier for getting a great result) - $11 - https://www.bunnings.com.au/monarch-50mm-cutting-in-and-framing-synthetic-paint-brush_p1660278

Paint - $30 - https://www.bunnings.com.au/taubmans-low-sheen-white-easycoat-interior-wall-paint-1l-low-sheen-white_p1540743

I'd suggest not getting a sample pot but something like one litre so you can do the entire wall. That way the paint match doesn't have to be absolutely perfect and you'll never be able to tell where the hole was. If you can dig out the indent then you could take that bit of plaster to the paint desk for colour matching.

Hope that helps.

Kermit

+1 to the DIY approach.

Just make sure you get a big enough sample of the wall colour for the colour match. That 20c sized hole might not be enough. You might want to cut out something a little bigger.

Fendogz

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/4751#Comment_4751

Thanks for the reply and detailed list Marty. I reckon I'll give it a go myself. Not too sure if I'll go for teh full wall option, as I live in sort of a long skinny house so that wall is almost the length of my whole place!

Michelle_little

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/64524#Comment_64524

I recently had a very similar problem, only we were moving out. The ready to use filler, is very simple to apply, & mine came with a plastic scraper attached, so no need to buy a paint scraper. As there’s no paint matching service available in our small town, I went & got about 4 or 5 paint sample cards from our local hardware, that I thought were a close match to the wall. I took them home & held each of them up to the wall, in as much natural light as possible. After filling the hole, letting the filler dry, I sanded it back with medium, then fine sanding blocks. I applied the paint then, & when it had dried, found it was near impossible to see where the patch was!

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/94899#Comment_94899

@Michelle_little,

Many thanks for joining in the discussion and sharing your experiences.

Let me also extend a very warm welcome to the Workshop community. We're really pleased you could join us, and trust you will receive lots of useful information, advice and inspiration for your projects from our ever-helpful and creative members. Feel free to post whenever you need assistance or have something to share. We're looking forward to reading about your projects and plans.

Jason

june8875

I think a lot of people wondering how to fix small hole

1. Take out nicely the broken plasterboard where inside wall

2. Get somewhere small stick wood and put inside through that hole and holding wood using ur finger

if you have large finger, using rubber band ( but when first screw in left side on wall, you should holding with finger and when u right side screw in, you can use rubber band)

3. Screw in(small size) left side wall with inside wood

and screw in right side too

3. Then you dont need hold wood anymore,

4. Put the glue on before where you took it nicely out round board, and put the back same spot and screw in

5. Dont need explain anymore i think 😁

Krusty

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/6794#Comment_6794

I think you explain enough,please don't confuse this newer member of our plaster world,Cheer's Krusty.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/65672#Comment_65672

Hi @Krusty,

Thanks for joining in the discussion on Workshop. We're looking forward to reading all about your own projects and plans. Feel free to post anytime you need a hand or have something to share. We have helpful members sharing advice and inspiring projects on the site every day.

Jason

Krusty

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95619#Comment_95619

Thanks for the onboard welcome I am looking into building a Pizza oven I will put it in post shortly,Cheer's Krusty.

Frango

Great to see projects for customers but may I humbly point out possible amateurish practices in the plaster repair.?

The paint around the hole was sanded AFTER wet filler was applied and not before, even though the importance of paint prep had been pointed out before the filler was applied.

The smaller spatula was only used to dent the edges in where just the large one would have done.

There was an excessive amount of filler applied that was far away from the hole and likewise with the bandage.

Neither would have contributed to the strength of the filled hole past say 10 mm from the periphery..

And the most glaring point was even though it was previewed in the requirements, NO P.P.E. was used especially the mask when possible fibre glass (?) particles from the bandage, and dust from the filler were being sanded and no respiratory protection happened.

Cheers.

P.S.>>

On thinking about further, for the safety of those following your unsafe? recommendations in this otherwise great video, shouldn't it be remade?

If it was, I would hope to beat you to the removal of this post in the spirit of positivity.

You would be aware that responsibility and accountability are incurring increasing legal encounters.

e.g. only recently the dust from a few more industrial practices have been named as just as deadly as asbestos if not more so and quicker to die.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/7120#Comment_7120

Thanks for joining in the discussion and sharing your feedback @Frango. It sounds like you have a lot of knowledge and experience you can share with the community. We are looking forward to seeing more of your posts soon.

Jason

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