How to Patch a Small Hole in the Ceiling

The problem with trying to patch holes in a drywall ceiling is that the drywall mud or spackle that's spread over the hole can sag or fall out. For small holes in your ceiling, there is a clever trick to avoiding this pitfall -- and making a perfectly smooth repair.

Things You'll Need

• Self-adhesive fiberglass mesh drywall tape
• Drywall mud (joint compound)
• Drywall knife or wide putty knife
• Sanding pad or 80-grit sandpaper and sanding block

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of self-adhesive fiberglass mesh drywall tape 2 inches longer than the hole. Stick the tape over the hole, with the ends extending an inch beyond each end of the hole and onto the adjacent ceiling surface. For a wider hole, use two pieces of tape to cover the width of the hole. Overlap the pieces of tape in the center of the hole.

2. Spread drywall mud around the edges of the tape, using a drywall knife or wide putty knife. Extend the mud slightly onto the part of the tape covering the hole, but don't try to cover up the hole.

3. Let the mud dry completely. The mud will not only secure the edges of the tape as it dries, it will shrink and pull the tape tight, creating a rigid surface for applying drywall mud over the hole.

4. Spread a coat of drywall mud over the hole, extending it over the edges of the tape. The taut tape will keep the mud in place without sagging. Allow the mud to dry completely.

5. Sand the mud flush with the ceiling, using a sanding pad or sandpaper secured to a sanding block. Apply one to two additional coats of mud, feathering it outward to blend with the ceiling surface. Let each coat dry, then sand it before applying the next coat. After the final coat dries, prime and paint the patch to match the ceiling.

Tips & Warnings

• If the hole in your ceiling is larger than two widths of fiberglass drywall tape, repair it with a piece of drywall or a metal patch screen.

• "Non-shrink" spackle will not work for this repair, because you need the patching material to shrink and pull the tape tight.

References

• Colorado Property Improvement: Drywall Repair