The essentials in 30 seconds
Match the repair to the damage: nail pops get a new screw beside the old fastener; dents and small holes get spackle or joint compound; fist-sized holes get a mesh or drywall patch; large holes get a new piece of drywall screwed to studs or backing. Apply compound in thin coats, let each dry completely, sand lightly and prime before painting. Cracks at the ceiling corner that open in winter and close in summer are usually seasonal movement, so they need a flexible fix, not more compound. Drywall soaked by a leak can stay only if it has kept its shape and the seams are intact; otherwise cut it out. In the UK, drywall is called plasterboard and spackle is filler.
- In a home built before 1978, assume the paint may contain lead and sand with wet methods.
- Older textured ceilings and patching compounds may contain asbestos: test before you sand or cut them.
Drywall repair by damage size: which method to use
| Damage | Method | Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Nail or screw pop | Re-fasten next to it, then fill | Drywall screws, joint compound, knife |
| Dents, nail holes, picture-hook holes | Fill with spackle or compound | Lightweight spackle, putty knife |
| Hole you can cover with a palm, such as from a door handle | Self-adhesive mesh patch or a cut drywall patch | Patch, joint compound, 6-inch knife |
| Hole larger than your hand, or a broken section | Cut back to a neat rectangle and fit a new piece on backing | Drywall offcut of the same thickness, wood strips or studs, screws, tape, compound |
| Crack along a joint or at a corner | Find the cause, then re-tape or make a flexible joint | Tape, compound, possibly trim |
| Water-stained but firm | Fix the leak, dry, seal the stain and repaint | Stain-blocking primer, paint |
| Soft, swollen, crumbling or moldy board | Cut out and replace | New drywall, backing, tape, compound |
How to fix nail pops in drywall
A nail pop is a small round bump or crack over a fastener. Canada's national housing agency, CMHC, explains the usual cause: framing lumber that was still moist when the board went up dries out and shrinks, the stud pulls away from the drywall, and any later movement pushes the nail head out. A 10 % change in moisture content can shrink a spruce or fir stud by up to 1/4 inch. That is why pops often appear as a new house dries out.
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Drive a new screw
Drive a drywall screw into the same stud close to the popped nail, pulling the board tight against the framing. CMHC notes that screws have more than three times the holding power of nails.
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02
Deal with the old nail
Drive it back just below the surface, or pull it out if it keeps lifting.
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Set the screw slightly below the surface
The head should dimple the paper without tearing it. If a fastener breaks the paper face, it loses its hold, so drive another one nearby.
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04
Fill and finish
Two or three thin coats of compound over each head, sanded smooth, primed and painted.
CMHC also notes that longer fasteners make pops worse, because shrinkage acts over more of the nail. The code minimum it cites for 1/2-inch board is 1 1/4 inch nails or 1 1/8 inch screws.
How to fix small holes and dents with spackle
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Clean the edges
Trim raised paper and crumbs with a utility knife.
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Fill
Press spackle into the hole with a putty knife, then scrape it flush.
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Let it dry
Deeper holes may need a second coat once the first is dry.
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04
Sand lightly
A fine sanding sponge, just enough to blend the edges.
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05
Prime and paint
Spot-prime the patch so it does not show through as a dull spot.
How to patch a hole in drywall: door-handle size
Option 1: mesh patch
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Prepare the hole
Cut away loose pieces and torn paper.
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Apply the patch
Center a self-adhesive mesh or metal-backed patch over the hole, pressing it flat.
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First coat
Spread joint compound over the patch with a 6-inch knife, feathering it a couple of inches beyond the edges.
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More coats
Let it dry, then add a second and third coat, each wider and thinner than the last.
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Sand, prime and paint
Sand lightly between coats only where needed.
Option 2: drywall patch
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Square the hole
Cut the damage out to a neat square or rectangle.
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Cut a patch
Cut a piece of matching drywall a couple of inches bigger on every side than the hole. On the back, score and snap away the gypsum around the edges, leaving the face paper intact, so you have a plug that fits the hole with a paper flange around it.
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Set it in compound
Butter the edges of the hole and the back of the flange with compound, press the patch in and smooth the paper flat.
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Finish
Skim over the paper, then add two more thin coats, feathering out, and sand.
To stop the same hole coming back, fit a door stop or a wall bumper behind the door.
How to fix a large hole in drywall with a new piece
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01
Check what is behind the wall
Turn off power to nearby outlets and look inside with a flashlight for wires, pipes and ducts.
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Cut a clean opening
Draw a rectangle around the damage with a level, and cut it out with a drywall saw. For big openings, extend the cut to the center of the nearest studs, so both edges land on wood.
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Add backing
Where an edge falls between studs, screw wood strips inside the opening, half behind the old drywall and half exposed, to carry the new piece.
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04
Fit the new piece
Cut drywall of the same thickness to fit with a small gap, and screw it to the studs or backing.
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05
Tape the joints
Bed paper tape in compound over every seam, making sure the tape is fully embedded so it does not bubble later, or use mesh tape with setting compound.
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Build up thin coats
Two or three coats, each wider than the last, letting each dry completely.
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Sand and prime
Sand the compound smooth without scuffing the paper face, then prime the whole patch.
On a ceiling, get a helper to hold the board overhead.
Drywall crack repair: why cracks come back
CMHC's builders' guide explains why some cracks keep reappearing. Fix the cause and the crack stays closed.
| Where the crack is | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Where the ceiling meets an interior wall, opening in winter and closing in summer | Truss uplift: roof trusses bow upward as their lower parts dry and shrink, often worst in a new house's first year | Re-tape is temporary. A drywall pro can release the ceiling fasteners near the corner to create a floating corner, or fit a trim molding fixed to the ceiling only. Never wedge or nail the trusses down to the wall |
| Diagonal cracks from the corners of doors and windows | Stress at openings from movement and vibration | Re-tape with lengths of tape set diagonally across the corner |
| Along a straight joint or seam | Tape that lost its bond, or the board moving | Cut out loose tape, re-tape, feather out the compound |
| Fine network of crazing on a fresh patch | Compound mixed too wet or dried too fast in heat | Sand and skim again with properly mixed compound |
| In an inside corner of fresh work | Too much compound in the corner | Cut out, re-tape with a thinner coat |
| Along an outside corner | Corner bead pulling away as framing shrinks | Re-fasten or replace the bead |
| Wide, growing or stair-step cracks, doors sticking | Structural movement or settlement | Have a structural engineer look before patching |
Tips for a joint that does not show
- Let compound dry completely between coats and before painting, or the joint can darken through the paint; CMHC suggests at least 50 °F (10 °C) for two days before and four days after taping.
- Avoid sanding through to the paper, which CMHC says causes "flashing": a patch with a different sheen.
Water-damaged drywall: repair or replace?
Fix the leak first: see ceiling leak, roof leak or leak detection. Then decide what the board needs. EPA's guidance on water damage gives a simple rule: wallboard may be dried in place if there is no obvious swelling and the seams are intact; if not, remove, discard and replace it, and ventilate the wall cavity if possible. Aim to dry water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Stain, board firm and flat | Surface marking from a past leak | Confirm it is dry, seal with a stain-blocking primer, repaint |
| Bulging, soft or crumbling board | Gypsum core softened by water | Cut out to sound, dry board and replace |
| Sagging ceiling | Water held in or above the board | Keep out from underneath; follow the ceiling leak guide |
| Peeling tape or swollen seams | Joints soaked | Cut out and replace the section |
| Mold spots or a musty smell | Growth on or behind the board | Small areas: see below; larger: mold remediation |
| Board submerged in a flood | Gypsum swells and breaks down | Replace; see the flood-cut rules in water damage restoration |
Mississippi State University Extension adds that submerged drywall must be replaced, and wet insulation behind it usually has to come out too.
When mold is involved
- Do not paint or caulk over mold: EPA warns paint over mold is likely to peel. Clean and dry first; moldy porous materials may have to be thrown away.
- EPA says most people can clean up an area under about 10 square feet themselves, wearing an N-95 respirator, gloves and goggles.
- Larger areas, mold inside the heating and cooling system, or damage from sewage or contaminated water call for a professional. See mold remediation.
Sanding, priming and painting a drywall patch
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Feather wide
Spread the final coat well beyond the repair so it blends in.
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Sand gently
A fine sanding sponge, dampened in older homes, takes off ridges without scuffing the paper. Hold a flashlight flat against the wall to show high spots.
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Prime
Drywall paper and compound absorb paint differently, so prime the whole patch to avoid a dull "flash".
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Match the texture
On textured walls, recreate the texture before priming; spray texture cans and a stiff brush cover most patterns.
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Paint
Paint the whole wall section, corner to corner, for an invisible repair.
Drywall repair: frequently asked questions
How do you fix a hole in drywall?
Small holes take spackle; palm-sized holes take a mesh or drywall patch; larger holes need a new piece screwed to studs or backing, then tape and thin coats of compound.
Why do nail pops keep coming back?
Usually the framing is still drying and shrinking. Re-fasten with a screw next to the pop and fill again; screws hold far better than nails as the wood moves.
Why does the crack between my ceiling and wall keep coming back?
It is often truss uplift, which opens the joint in winter and closes it in summer. A floating corner or a ceiling-mounted trim lets it move without cracking.
Can water-damaged drywall be saved?
Yes, if it has dried quickly, has no obvious swelling and the seams are intact. Soft, swollen or moldy board should be replaced.
Do I need to prime drywall patches before painting?
Yes. Compound and paper absorb paint differently, and an unprimed patch shows through as a dull spot.
Is drywall dust dangerous?
Wear a dust mask and keep the dust contained. In homes built before 1978, sanding dust may contain lead from old paint, so follow EPA's lead-safe steps.
What is drywall called in the UK?
Plasterboard. Small repairs use filler, and larger ones a plasterboard patch finished with joint compound or a skim of plaster.
Sources
Official and university guidance, checked on 27 October 2026.
- CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) · Builders' series: drywall application ↗Nail pops from lumber shrinkage, fastener length, screws' holding power, truss uplift cracks, stress cracks at openings, compound shrinkage, tape bubbling, flashing, minimum temperatures.
- US EPA · Lead-safe renovations for DIYers ↗Pre-1978 homes, containment, misting, wet sanding, HEPA tools, N-100 respirators, cleanup and who stays out.
- US EPA · Mold remediation guide, chapter 4: water damage cleanup ↗Drying wallboard in place only without swelling and with intact seams; otherwise replace; ventilating the cavity.
- US EPA · A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home ↗Drying within 24 to 48 hours, 10 square foot DIY limit, N-95 respirators, no painting over mold, contaminated water.
- Mississippi State University Extension · Disaster relief: home cleanup and renovation for walls ↗Submerged drywall must be replaced, swelling above the water line, wet insulation.
- US EPA · Protect your family from exposures to asbestos ↗Leave suspect materials alone; never sand, scrape or drill them.
Got a hole to patch this weekend?
Measure the damage, check what is behind the wall and pick the repair from the table before you buy materials.