Patching a small hole in drywall

Small holes (screws, nails, hooks)

You need: joint compound, a putty knife, fine sandpaper. Scrape the edges of the hole, apply the compound in a cross pattern with the knife, smooth while slightly overlapping, let dry (2-3 h), sand gently, then apply a thin second coat if needed. A touch of paint, and the wall is like new.

Medium holes (doorknob, up to ~10 cm)

Use a self-adhesive repair patch (metal mesh from the hardware store, a few dollars): stick it over the hole, cover with thin successive coats of compound — two or three coats, letting each dry, widening each time to blend the edges. Sand, prime, paint. The secret: several thin coats rather than one thick one.

Tip: install a door stop at the same time — it's the number one cause of this kind of hole.

When to call a worker

Large hole (over 15 cm), damaged corner, recurring crack, water stain or soft drywall: that requires cutting and replacing a section, taping the joints and repainting fully — real know-how for an invisible finish. A “light painting / handyman” request on AlloPro with two photos will get you a fair price quickly.