How to Fill Finishing Nail Holes Before Painting

Before going to the expense and time of repainting the walls and trim in your home, be sure you have a smooth surface to work on. This means filling in any holes or marks in the walls, such as those made by hanging pictures. Even the small holes left behind by finishing nails are important to fill, because they will show through the new paint as flaws.

Wood putty, compound or spackling
Putty knife
Rags
220-grit sandpaper
Primer
Paintbrush
Caulk
Caulk gun
Wood stain

Instructions

- 1
  Choose your filler product based on the wall or trim type you are working on. Use wood putty for wood and spackling or light or heavyweight compounds for walls such as dry wall. Lightweight is typically used for the interior and heavyweight for exterior applications.
- 2
  Spread your compound over the hole, using either a flexible putty knife or your fingers.
- 3
  Push the compound into the hole, forcing it in until it crowns, or overflows, the hole. You can do this easily with your finger or thumb.
- 4
  Allow the compound to dry. You may smooth it over the hole with your putty knife or a cloth or your fingers, or leave it a little messy.
- 5
  Sand down to level with the wall surface using 220 grit sand paper.
- 6
  Paint over the smoothed and sanded area with primer if not planning to prime the whole wall. Primer will keep the putty from absorbing the paint and changing the color over the patched holes.

How to Clean Paint Splatter From Wood

Painting Over Marker on a Wall

Painting