Repair Wall Dings

Tools:

scrap cardboard pieces
safety goggles
dust mask
80-grit sandpaper
5-in-1 painters tool
wall putty
spray-on wall texture
spray primer
spray paint

1. Use sandpaper to blend and smooth down nicks on rail and wall (figure A). Run your hand over the surface occasionally to see how work is progressing.

2. For deeper dents and gouges in a hardwood rail or trim, fill the area with putty . First wipe the area with a damp towel to remove any dust or debris. Fill areas with putty using your fingers (figure B) and allow putty to dry. Come back later and sand away excess and paint. Repeat process if necessary until surface is smooth.

3. When repairing scrapes on textured drywall, sand lightly to remove as little of the texture as possible.

4. Before filling in areas with spray-on texture, do a test run using a piece of cardboard to determine if the texture will blend into wall. Stand about a foot away from the wall and spray texture on affected area (figure C).

5. Prime all areas before painting.