hole-repairrepairspackling-pastewalls
While using a pull-up bar, I damaged the wall adjacent to the door frame in my flat. On inspection, more than just paint came off.
To fix it, can I use spackle to fill in the missing layer, sand and then paint? I have no issue with the potential difference in texture and patchy paint.
Also, can the same method be used to fill a hole in my ceiling? (also pictured)
Moving hinges are not an easy task.
Moving the hinges 1/8 of a inch will require repairing the old screw holes first.
To repair the old holes you will need to fill them with suitable filler that will hold the screws. My preference is to wood dowels and wood glue. With a thin layer of glue o the dowel, tap it in the old screw hole. Let cure (look on glue bottle for cure time, usually 24 hours). Once cured, use a chisel to flush the dowel to the door jam. Taper and mark the dowel to minimize chances of splitting the wood:
Once the old screw holes are filled, you can now remount the hinge. Hold the hinge up to the jam where it will go back, shift it 1/8 of a inch and mark the new hole positions. Pre drill the holes since a screw will not go in cleanly with the repairs.
Asking the basic questions is what gets us started.... not silly at all.
If they are as simple as nail holes from picture hanging and the like, and there are only a few of them, use spackle. It comes in small quantities, pints for example, so much will not go to waste. It is intended for only small holes.
If there are a lot of repairs, you may want to go with joint compound, it is pretty much the same as spackle, it is easy to sand, water based for easy clean up, but you will get a bunch more for the about the same money. It is intended for larger repairs, or new drywall install, can be built up, but it does shrink a bit, not so that it will fall out. If the shrinkage is noticeable, add another coat, no biggie.
Plaster is way overkill for this type of repair, it requires a skill to use. I have tried to use it before years ago, and it set up as soon as it touched the wall, quite surprising. I now know were it is to be used nowadays, and nail repair is not one of them.
Best Answer
Yes spackle can fill those places. Do remove the loose piece at the bottom before you fill. The rough texture on the walls will make it difficult to get you patch smooth, and I don't think sanding the spackle will be the way to go when the spot is filled. There will always be overlap of the spackle when filling a low spot, but try to keep it to a minimum. After the low spot if filled sufficiently, and it may take few coats, use a damp or wet sponge if needed to wipe the excess off of the existing texture to minimize the texture change. The roughness over the new spackle may be left alone, since sanding it flat may be more noticeable than the roughness left naturally by the application.
For the hole in the ceiling, that same thing can be done, use a small putty knife or even your finger to fill the hole, and wipe the excess with a damp sponge.