How to Paint Over Termite-Damaged Sheetrock

Move large pieces of furniture away from the termite-damaged area. Place a tarp on the floor and over any nearby furniture.

Remove any loose paper or chips of sheetrock from the wall. If you have any 1/2- to 2-inch holes, like those used by the extermination team to observe the termite activity, tear off a small piece of newspaper and crumple it up. Push the crumpled paper into the hole creating a surface to hold the mud.

Load the bottom third of the putty knife with mud and fill the small holes and dings in the wall. Press the putty into large holes. Reload the putty knife and sweep it across the hole again holding the knife at a 30-degree angle to the wall. Cover the whole area with a thin layer of mud. Smooth the surface with the putty knife, thinning the edges to blend in with the wall surface. Avoid leaving any ridges. Allow the mud to dry completely; in normal conditions, this will take 8 hours.

Sand any ridges on the dried mud with 200-grit sandpaper and feather the edges of the newly mudded area. Wipe the wall with a lightly damp cloth to remove any sanding dust.

Load the paintbrush with paint. Dip the bottom third of the brush into the paint and drag the brush against the rim of the can. Paint the repaired area from the center out to the edges. Paint slightly past the mudded area.

Allow the paint to dry and determine if you need to apply a second coat of paint. To achieve the same look as the rest of the wall, use a roller on the second coat of paint.