Do I need to repair hole in rendered brick wall?

Question

Hi all

So I was screwing a screw into an interior brick wall, but the screw was longer than the hole I drilled. As a result I damaged the plaster behind the paint and the paint blew up into a bubble (note: the photos are after I pushed the bubble back down, so it was actually a lot bigger).

My question is, do I NEED to repair this?  I'm wondering if there will be any significant consequences down the road if I just leave it as is.  Honestly I'd rather not go through the whole repair process (it's a 1950's double brick building, so there's probably about 5 layers of paint I'd have to remove here before I get to the damaged plaster).  Also when I tugged on the screw when it was in the wall anchor, it still felt super stable so I think it's still structurally sound?

Other relevant details:

- 8 gauge, 30mm screw

- Will hold less than 5kg

Any advice appreciated!  Thanks all

jayflip · Answer

Amazing thanks team.  Yup I think I'll leave as is for now and monitor going forward.  If things start to deteriorate then I'll bite the bullet and do a repair job.  Appreciate both of your replies!

TedBear · Answer

Hi @jayflip, I am assuming that we are looking at the side of the wall where the screw goes in. If you get a piece of scrap, flat wood you should be able to lean that over the plug and then hammer the wood toward the wall, which will push the plug back in flush against the wall and shouldn't damage the paint. Then use the plug as you planned, given that you have tested that it holds in ok.

EricL · Answer

Hello @jayflip

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your brick wall.

It's highly probable that the damage is superficial and has only affected the surface layer of the wall. It is technically still being held in place by the paint on the surface. If it had cracked and fallen off the proposed general solution would have been to fill it with multipurpose filler and painted over. But because the paint held and continues to hold the plaster piece, I propose leaving it as is.

In regard to the screw, I propose leaving it as is as well seeing that it has anchored on properly and is not lose or shows signs of falling off. Keep in mind however that anything too heavy might pull the screw out.

Where it can become an issue is over time if that plaster has loosened more than it looks. Even if you’ve pushed the bubble back down, it may not be properly bonded anymore, and small vibrations (like doors closing, temperature changes, or even just the load on the screw) can cause it to crack, flake, or lift again. Worst case, you might see a small patch of paint or plaster chip away around the fixing later on. It won’t cause bigger structural problems, just a slightly messier repair if it spreads.

If you’re happy with how it looks now and the screw is holding firm, you can absolutely leave it and just keep an eye on it. If it starts to show cracking or movement, then it’s worth doing a small patch repair at that point rather than pre-emptively pulling everything apart now.

Please note that due to the age of the house, I would suggest having your walls tested for asbestos before you drill more holes in your wall. Should the test be positive, I suggest engaging the services of an asbestos removal specialist. But if the test is negative, you can continue with your wall decorating plans.

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric