How to Fill in Dents and Sand Before Interior Painting
Most homeowners will have to deal with damaged drywall at least once in their lives (usually more). It doesn’t take much to ding up your drywall, after all. While larger holes require patching, small dents from removed nails and minor impacts can be easily repaired with a little bit of spackle and sandpaper. Then, a fresh coat of paint will complete the picture, making your wall look as good as new. For the best results, however, you must follow the proper steps. Let’s break down the right way to repair dents in your walls before interior painting.
How to Prepare for Interior Painting
Clean Out and Sand the Dent
For starters, grab a small tool and dig out any debris that’s lingering in the tiny hole in question. Then, sand the dented area down with a fine-grit sandpaper. Taking these initial steps will allow you to more effectively fill the small depression.
Prepare Your Joint Compound
If you’ve ever performed a DIY home interior painting project before, you’re probably aware that most paints need to be properly mixed before application – the same goes for joint compound. In most cases, you’ll need to add a certain amount of water to the dry mixture and stir the compound until it shares a consistency with soft butter. Always follow the instructions on the bucket’s label to determine how much liquid to add, how long to stir, and how thick the spackle should be before application – if the mixture is too thin or too thick, you’ll have a hard time working with it, and it might not dry properly. Note that you’ll only need a small amount of spackle for this project unless you’re filling multiple dents around your home.
Apply Joint Compund with Putty Knife
Once your joint compound is ready for action, carefully apply it with a putty knife. Proper technique matters here. You’ll want to slowly glide the knife across the dent in a single stroke before turning it at 90 degrees and pulling it back across the same area to get rid of any excess material. After you’ve applied the spackle in a smooth and even manner, let it dry for the instructed amount of time (usually several hours or overnight, though some compounds are quick-drying).
Sand the Repaired Dent Down Again
Now that the dent is filled and the spackle is dry, it’s time to sand down the area once more. Continue using a fine-grit sandpaper for this step, as coarse paper can remove too much of the compound, forcing you to reapply it.
Remember to Prime
It’s always a good idea to prime for both interior and exterior painting projects. If a surface isn’t properly primed, the incoming paint won’t adhere as strongly. Priming the area in question will also help you ensure that the damage won’t be at all visible when all is said and done.
Make Sure the Paint Matches
Before you finally get to painting, make sure the product you’re using perfectly matches the color and finish of the surrounding wall. It’s always recommended to save and label interior house paint from previous projects so you have access to the identical product when touch-ups are required. If you don’t have any paint leftover, however, you can seek color matching services from professional painters or your local hardware and paint store.
Making a Dent in Your List of Repairs
With the right tools and techniques, most people can fill dents and touch up their walls on their own. But if you don’t feel confident in your DIY abilities, seek a reliable residential interior painting service to help you out. At Nash Painting, we offer a range of painting and repair services for homes and businesses across Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin, TN. To learn more about us, our services, and our values, call us at 615-829-6858 today!