Best Spakfilla to use on drywall for paint prep?

Innov8tive

I literally have about 100 holes or so to repair before painting. Some are quite large like this one in the photo. I'm wondering what the best spakfilla would be to get and if hand sanding is better than using a machine. What grot is recommended for sanding paper when sanding back to make the surface even. I'd like to know if I need to fill these larger holes first before repairing with the spakfilla and if so what is best to use?  

MitchellMc

Hi @Innov8tive,

Spakfilla works really well for patching smaller holes, up to about the size of a 50-cent coin. Any larger than that, and the filler tends to sag or fall through without support. For bigger holes, like the one in your photo, you’ll need to give the filler something solid to sit against. A simple way is to slide half a timber paint stirrer or a strip of scrap timber through the hole, then secure it by driving a couple of screws through the plasterboard into the timber. This gives you a backing plate so you can fill the hole properly.

For holes much larger than that, it’s often easier to cut out a neat square or rectangle around the damage and fit in a new piece of plasterboard. Again, you’ll need timber strips behind the cut-out to screw the new plasterboard into. Another option is to use a plasterboard repair patch, which can be applied directly over the hole and then skimmed over with filler for a smooth finish.

When it comes to sanding, hand sanding is fine if you only have a few patches, but with 100+ repairs, a sanding pole or even an electric sander will save you a lot of time and effort. Start with 120-grit sandpaper to level out the filler, then finish with 180–220-grit to get the surface smooth and ready for painting. 

Here's a helpful guide that covers large and small holes: How to fill a hole in the wall.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell