How to Prevent Patches in Wall to Show Dark After New Paint

Cover the hole using a peel-and-stick wall patch. Peel-and-stick patches are available in hardware stores near the drywall patches. These patches consist of an aluminum screen with a fiberglass mesh top. Purchase a patch that is slightly wider than the radius of the hole. Peel off the back of the patch to expose the adhesive and apply it over the hole. Smooth the patch in place using your hands.

Gather a small amount of joint compound on the edge of a putty knife. Press the joint compound against the patch and smooth it by angling the edge of the knife’s blade just slightly. Cover the entire patch and a 1-inch area around the patch. Leave a slightly elevated mound of joint compound, since the compound will sink as it hardens. Allow the compound to dry for the time listed on the manufacturer’s instructions.

Put on safety goggles and sand the joint compound with 150-grit sandpaper or a sanding block. Sand the surface of the joint compound until it is completely even with the wall’s surface. If you sand too much away, cover the spot with the joint compound and repeat.

Apply a small amount of primer to the patched area and around the edges using a paintbrush. This helps the paint stick to the patch and look even, since drywall compound absorbs paint differently from the way a wall absorbs it.

Pour a small amount of top-coat paint in a paint tray. Use a paint-rolling pad similar to the one originally used to paint the wall if just covering the patch spot. Load the roller with the paint and even it out on the ridged surface of the paint tray.

Gently roll the paint over the patched area to avoid paint edges. Use a light, lifting motion to paint over the patch to keep the paint even. Apply a second coat of paint if needed until the patch is covered and the paint is evenly distributed.