Renovation Videos

Fix it, build it, learn it.

Patch a hole in drywall

The right patch depends on the size of the hole. Our guide to which patch fits which hole has a quick chooser.

  • Nail and anchor holes: spackle, scraped flat. No video needed.
  • Small to large holes: start with Home RenoVision DIY’s three-hole lesson. It covers a tape “sandwich” for a doorknob dent, a California patch for a medium hole and screw-in repair clips for a hole too big for either. Every first coat is setting compound (hot mud), so you can add a second coat the same day.

If the drywall is wet, soft or sagging, find and fix the leak before you patch anything. Whatever the size, keep coats thin, let the patch dry fully before the finish coat, and prime before you paint. Before cutting into a wall, check for wires and pipes. In an older home, test for lead paint and asbestos before you sand. More drywall jobs are on the Drywall page.

Videos

  1. How the California Drywall Patch Works and Why It Fails

    Step by step how toVancouver Carpenter · 17:35

  4. Easy Drywall Patch for Beginners: Plywood Backing and Mesh Tape

    Step by step how toVancouver Carpenter · 24:48

  5. Drywall Repair Methods for Dents, Nail Pops, Holes and Corners

    Step by step how toLowe's Home Improvement · 3:10

  6. How to Patch Small, Medium and Large Drywall Holes With Hot Mud

    Step by step how toHome RenoVision DIY · 30:48

Related topics

Follow a job, a problem, a room, a system or a tool.

Job