How to Fill a Small Hole

Fix tiny nail and screw holes:

Wall Hole Filler: No matter how meticulous you are, you’ll need to repair some holes in the walls after a while. If a tiny section of drywall is severely stained or damaged, it may need to be removed and replaced.
Patching drywall holes takes little time or skill. Wall-repair kits are available at home centers and hardware stores. The size of the hole to be repaired determines how to proceed.

They’re the easiest to fix. With a putty knife, fill the gaps.
After drying, lightly sand the surface. Larger holes must be reinforced with bridging material before applying patching compound for strength.

Fix holes between 1/2 and 11/2 in. diameter:

Cover holes between 1/2 and 1 inch in diameter with adhesive-backed fiberglass mesh. We used a $2 Manco repair kit to manufacture the mesh squares.

The kit can be used in four steps:

First, polish the area around the hole with fine-mesh sandpaper. Remove sanding dust with water.
Cover the hole with a 1″ piece of fiberglass mesh that reaches over the edges. Then stick it to the wall.
Apply a thin layer of the spackling compound using a 6-inch drywall knife.
After a night of drying, softly sand it and reapply a thin layer. Apply a third skim layer once the second one dries.

How to Fix a Medium-size Hole

Holes between 11/2 to 6 in. diameter:

In order to bridge holes between 11/2 and 6 inches in diameter, a stronger, more rigid material must be used. Patches made of galvanized metal from Homax were utilized to repair a 2 1/2-inch-wide hole caused by a doorknob (purchased for $2.25) The company also makes 656-inch ($3) and 8×8-inch ($4.25) patches available. The patch is attached to a 6-inch-square piece of fiberglass mesh using glue on the back.

Three simple actions are required to complete the installation process:

Remove the paper backing from the decal and stick it to the wall so that it covers the entire hole.
In order to get the best results, apply three coats of the compound at a time, allowing each to dry before moving on.
At least 12 in. sq. should be used for the final coat to ensure a smooth transition from the patch to the surrounding wall.
Peel off the backing sheet from the metal patch to expose the adhesive for medium-sized holes. Then stick the patch to the wall.

How to Patch a Large Hole

Fix Holes larger than 6 in. diameters:

If the hole is greater than 6 inches in diameter, you only need two 1x3s and a scrap of drywall to patch it up.

This is how to fix a large hole:

Cut a tiny square or rectangle out of the ragged hole to begin.
Assemble a 1×3 by sliding it into the hole and screwing it into place with a 1 1/4-inch overlap in the cavity.
To finish the cutout, fasten the second 1×3 to the other side.
Each 1×3 should be coated with construction glue after cutting a drywall piece that will fit into the cutout.
1 1/4-inch drywall screws are the best way to fasten the patch to the 1×3.
Make sure the margins of the patch are covered with a thick layer of joint compound.
In order to conceal the joints, use a drywall compound to push the paper tape into the compound firmly.
Make sure the compound is entirely dry before sanding it to a nice finish.
Let the primer dry well, then apply two coats of paint, allowing each to dry before the next is applied.