Spackling Walls - Patching Holes in Drywall

drywall repair > spackling holes for patching

Spackling Walls - Patching Holes in Drywall

Orginally, a patch given the term 'spackling' had a rather different connotation than what has come to be known today. Spackle in past form, and not putty, has a formulation distinct from that of redimix all purpose, and topping compound, and should be applied to holes for which it is best suited.

Use Clean Mix for Spackling Holes in Walls

Use Clean Mix for Spackling Holes in Walls

Note that some spackles are made for interior and some are for exterior applications. When filling drywall it is best to patch with interior grade. Many exterior types tend to gum up, making the patch hard to sand. Typically the interior grade has best shaping and sanding characteristics. Those with vinyl content, can offer ease-of-sanding with adhesive properties.
A possible drawback of many of the light weight formulas is that they offer little cohesion, breaking apart when sanding

note: beware of the one coat applications because coverage/settling does not depend
alone on the spackling, but instead factors like the volume of the hole being filled.

Spackling is, for all basic purposes, a minor hole patch treatment. That is pre-mixed and intended for small dings and dents. Spackle is available in quarts, pints and half pint sizes quantity containers.

1) Prep the hole to be filled, setting any rises below surface by pushing inward with the corner of a rigid putty knife. Use a hammer and large nailset for nail and screw buldges.

2) For minor holes, apply with a narrow putty knife such as 1 1/2", realizing that any excess layering will require sanding. Apply the spackle with discernment, forcing the paste into the hole repeatedly so it fills the void fully. When pushing in the material it will reach fullness when a push-back slightly bubbles outward and this is normal. The spackle should be applied to the area immediately surrounding the hole rise -- all forms of attachments into the drywall do cause a rise, no matter how severe -- and so this built-out layer serves as a leveller

3) On drying, see if the spackle has condensed below surface. Add to this concave dip if needed to accomodate an even sand back.

4) Sand smooth with a sanding sponge or a folded piece of sandpaper for reaching tight areas. To maintain the texture even from the paint roller, wet rag the perimeters.

See Also
Mudding / Taping Tips Finishing

Other Patching and Repair

Drywall Ceiling Repair Repair Ceiling Cuts, round
Repair Ceiling Texture Drywall Ceiling Hole Repair
Corner Bead Repair Repair Ceiling Cuts, square

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