How to Patch a Small Hole in the Ceiling

The problem with patching holes in a ceiling is that the drywall mud or spackle sags or falls straight out. There is a clever little trick to avoid this and make a perfectly smooth repair on any ceiling. It's an easy two-step process.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fiberglass drywall tape
• Drywall mud/joint compound
• Drywall or wide putty knife
• Sanding block

1. Cut a piece of fiberglass tape and stick it over the hole. If the hole is larger and you need two pieces of tape to cover the width, that's fine. Make sure they are butted together and extend a good inch or so onto the surrounding ceiling. If the hole is larger than the width of two strips of fiberglass tape, either use a piece of drywall or a metal patch screen for the repair.

2. Using a putty knife and drywall mud, smooth it around the edges of the tape. Extend it onto the part over the hole a little, but don't try to cover the hole up. Let it dry completely.

3. Do a second coat. Once dry, you will see that not only has the mud fixed the tape in place, as it dried and shrunk it pulled the tape tight. Now you can do your second coat of mud on a rigid surface without it sagging and falling onto the floor.

4. Once it's completely dry, sand it flush with the ceiling. A sanding pad or sandpaper over a sanding block will get you a much smoother surface.
   Now you are ready to texture or paint.

Tips & Warnings

• If the hole is wider, you may need to do a third coat of mud to get a perfectly smooth surface.
• "Non-shrink" spackle will not work for this because you need the patching material to shrink and pull the tape rigid.

[pondlady]

on 5/8/2008 What a good idea, especially for patching up after tenants move.

[Walkaboutangel]

on 3/24/2008 Thanks for sharing...+++

Angel

[amylaine]

on 3/20/2008 Great info.