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How To Patch Nail Holes in Drywall

It’s a landlord’s worst nightmare: holes are everywhere in the drywall thanks to nails used to hang up pictures.

In many jurisdictions, this is considered normal wear and tear and can’t be charged against a security deposit.

Yet you can’t rent a unit when the walls are full of holes, right? Here’s how you can fix that problem quickly and cheaply.

1. Clean The Wall.

You’ll want to have a clean surface before starting.

Use warm soapy water for the best results.

Don’t use a chemical cleaning agent or one that contains bleach.

2. Pick Up Some Joint Compound.

For nail holes of any size, joint compound does a great job.

There are compounds that will even match the color of your walls in some instances, helping you to skip a repair step.

Grab some, get a putty knife, and a drywall sanding brick while you’re at the store as well.

3. Apply The Joint Compound To The Nail Hole.

Take a small bit of joint compound with the putty knife and then press it into the nail hole.

Then take the edge of the putty knife to create a flush surface with the wall.

You may need to repeat this a couple of times if the hole is deep or wide to completely fill it.

Move onto the next nail hole and repeat, then allow each repair to dry.

4. Sand Down The Repair Site.

If there are small ridges on your wall remaining from the joint compound application, then know is the time to remove them. Use your drywall brick and lightly sand the compound.

Be careful not to sand the paint around the nail hole so you don’t add to your headache.

5. Paint To Match.

If your joint compound doesn’t match with the paint on your wall, then just paint over it so it does match.

Keep in mind, however, that any paint over 3 years old tends to be faded, so you may find it necessary to repaint the entire room.

This is why white walls in a rental are to your advantage as most joint compounds will dry white and leave a seamless look when you do it right.

With some practice, nail holes of any size can be repaired over the course of an afternoon with these simple steps.

Follow them today and you’ll know how to patch nail holes in drywall.

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