DIY Plaster Wall Patching

Use a straightedge and pencil to outline a rectangular section around the hole. Make sure that the section is at least 1 inch outside the patch area. Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs and to make sure that the rectangular section is centered between two studs--one on each side of the hole.

Cut out the outlined area by cutting in layers with a utility knife. Start with a light cut and then go back with a deeper cut until the plaster section falls away from the wall easily.

Cut a plywood support two to four inches longer than the height of the rectangular section and place it inside the cutout. Screw the support in vertically using a power drill in the center of the patch area to prevent further cracking and give the patch a secure hold. Make sure that the screws are long enough to go through the drywall and reach the support but not long enough to go all the way through the support.

Using a utility knife, cut the new wall patch to the same size as the rectangular section cut from the wall.

Position the wall patch over the open section and screw it to the support beam using two screws placed as far away from each other as possible to prevent the patch from splitting.

Place self-adhesive fiberglass strips around the edges of the patch making sure that the seam of the patched area is in the center of the tape.

Spread premixed wall spackle with a putty knife over the patched area, making sure to cover a 1-inch area outside the patch and fiberglass tape. Scrape the excess spackle from the wall. Remember to scrape excess spackle from the putty knife back into the spackle’s bucket to prevent dry bits of plaster from sticking to the wall.

Allow the plaster to dry completely. Since every plaster manufacturer is different, remember to read the dry time on the instructions. Once dry, use fine-grit sandpaper to sand the wall surface smooth so the patch is even with the rest of the wall surface.