How to Repair a Damaged Wall

Close up of mans hand using a filling knife to smooth white filling compound over a repaired plaster wall.

Got an unwelcome hole and want to know how to repair a plasterboard wall or ceiling? In the following guide we’ll walk you through a few helpful steps and show you to make a permanent repair.

Covering Plug Sockets

When it comes to refurbishing indoor spaces, permanently covering large holes in walls and ceilings from things like old sockets and light fittings, can be time consuming and troublesome.

In situations when there are multiple occurrences in a concentrated area, the best and easiest solution might be to replace entire sections of plasterboard and re-plaster. But for isolated instances, we recommend that you follow the steps shown below, to save time and money.

Permanently Patch Up Holes

Plasterboard is a soft material, so it can be damaged easily. This might happen when you move furniture or, in some cases, due to accidents like a wild party or an intense reaction to a big football game! Let’s face it, when walls or ceilings have unsightly holes, they need to be repaired.

Pack of Hippo plasterboard patch and repair

In situations where the resulting damage is too big to repair using just a filler, we recommend that you use our Plasterboard Patch & Repair. This will provide you with a strong base for making a long term repair.

Unpackaged Hippo plasterboard repair patch with removable backing paper — An unpackaged repair patch featuring a strong aluminium plate, sticky fibreglass mesh, and removable backing paper.

How to repair a wall step 1 - line drawing of a damaged wall that is ready for a repair patch to be applied

Step 1: Prepare The Area

First use a utility knife to trim around the edges of the area that you need to repair and remove any loose material. Then lightly sand the surface around the hole using a sanding block with an abrasive paper. Make sure you clean and wipe away any dust using a cloth, before moving to the next step.

How to repair a wall step 2 - line drawing showing filler compound being applied to a repair patch

Step 2: Apply Plaster Board Patch & Repair

Take your patch and remove the backing paper. Firmly place it over the hole with the sticky side down, making sure it overlaps on each side.

Then thinly apply a suitable jointing compound or multi purpose filler by spreading it over the repair patch and let it dry overnight. This coat should be thin enough to still see the patch.

Apply a second coat of compound over a wider area than the first. Let it dry, then apply a third, this time extending further past the patch on all sides. Repeat as needed and feather the edges, until the patch is no longer visible through the compound.

How to repair a wall step 3 - line drawing showing a final coat of compound being smoothed over a repair patch

Step 3: Finish & Admire Your Results

Once your final coat of compound is dry, sand it down to level everything out with the wall. Using a light grade of abrasive paper will give the best results. Then, prime and paint or apply a wall covering to finish.

Finally grab a brew and take a moment to admire your handy work.