How to Patch a Hole in a Textured Ceiling

Prep

• 1

  Spray the ceiling around the hole with water, misting it until the texture is slightly damp.

• 2

  Scrape away the dampened texture, removing it in an area spanning at least 2 inches wider than the hole.

• 3

  Sand the ceiling around the hole with a drywall sander when the ceiling is dry.

Patching

• 4

  Cut a piece of drywall mesh tape large enough to cover the hole and position it over the hole. The tape is self-adhesive.

• 5

  Scoop up 1/4 cup of premixed drywall compound with a 6-inch taping trowel and smooth the compound over the hole, pushing it through the holes in the mesh tape.

• 6

  Let the compound dry. When it's dry, it will turn from gray to white.

• 7

  Sand off the surface of the patched hole with a drywall sander. Apply another coating of premixed drywall compound. This time, use only enough to cover the patched area thinly and let it dry.

• 8

  Re-sand the patched area smooth.

Texture

• 9

  Apply texture that matches the rest of the ceiling. This might be the most difficult part if you don't know how the original texture was made.

• 10

  Experiment on a scrap piece of drywall before applying the texture to the patched area.

• 11

  Thin drywall compound to the consistency of cake batter and roll it over the patched area with a paint roller.

• 12

  Texture the wet compound by patting with a brush, swirling with a trowel, whisk broom or wallpaper brush, or by knocking off just the tips of the rolled-on texture.