Walls & Paint
Walls are the canvas of your home, but they take a lot of abuse—from doorknob holes and scuff marks to settling cracks and peeling paint. Fortunately, wall repair and painting are some of the most accessible and forgiving DIY projects for homeowners.
Unlike electrical or plumbing work, mistakes in plasterboard and painting are usually cosmetic and easy to fix. Learning to fill a hole or cut in a straight paint line can transform a room for a fraction of the cost of hiring a contractor. These skills allow you to maintain your home’s appearance and tackle everyday wear and tear immediately.
Whether you’re looking to refresh a room with a new colour or fix that accidental hole from moving furniture, our guides will walk you through the materials, techniques, and finishing touches needed for professional-looking results.
Common Wall & Paint Projects
Small Plasterboard Holes
Easy
Tiny holes from nails or tacks are unsightly but easy to fix. A dab of filler, a quick smooth with a putty knife, and a touch of paint make them vanish completely.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a professional if there are dozens of holes across a large area or if the plasterboard feels soft/damp, indicating water damage.
Large Plasterboard Holes
Medium
Doorknob damage or accidental impacts require a patch kit or a “California patch.” This involves using mesh or a new piece of plasterboard to bridge the gap before filling and taping.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a pro if the hole is larger than 15 cm, spans multiple studs, or if you are unsure about matching the wall texture.
Paint Peeling
Medium
Peeling paint typically happens when moisture gets under the paint layer or the surface wasn’t prepped correctly. You need to scrape off the loose flakes, sand the edges smooth, prime, and repaint.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a professional if the peeling is extensive, if the home was built before 1978 (risk of lead paint), or if it’s caused by an active water leak.
Paint Bubbling
Medium
Blisters or bubbles in paint occur due to heat or moisture trapped beneath. Pop the bubbles, scrape the area, sand it down, identify the moisture source, and repaint.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a pro if bubbling appears widespread on ceilings or walls, as this often points to a hidden plumbing leak or roof leak.
Water Stains
Easy
Ugly yellow or brown rings on ceilings or walls indicate past water intrusion. After fixing the leak source, seal the stain with an oil-based primer before painting, or the stain will bleed through.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a pro if the stain is wet or growing, or if the plasterboard is sagging, which poses a collapse hazard.
Cracks in Plasterboard
Medium
Hairline cracks often occur near windows and doors due to house settling. Open the crack slightly with a utility knife, apply mesh tape, and cover with joint compound.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a structural engineer or pro if cracks are wider than 3mm, run diagonally across the wall, or if doors/windows stick in the frames.
Scuffs and Marks
Easy
Furniture and daily traffic leave marks. Magic erasers or a mild detergent wash can work wonders. For tougher marks, touch-up paint is the best solution.
When to Call a Pro:
Professional help is rarely needed unless you want to repaint the entire high-traffic area with more durable, washable paint.
Paint Colour Matching
Easy
Trying to touch up a wall without the original paint can be tricky. Take a chip of the paint (at least 3cm square) to a hardware store for computer matching.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a professional painter if you need to match a faded colour across a large open-concept area where seams would be visible.
Primer Application
Easy
Primer is essential for raw plasterboard, covering dark colours, or sealing stains. It provides a “tooth” for the new paint to grab onto, ensuring an even finish.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a pro for large-scale priming of new construction or if dealing with difficult stains like nicotine or heavy smoke damage.
Paint Prep
Medium
The secret to a great paint job is 80% prep: cleaning walls with sugar soap, patching holes, sanding glossy surfaces, and taping trim carefully.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a pro if the walls require extensive sanding of lead-based paint or if there is significant mould that needs remediation.
Textured Walls
Hard
Matching orange peel or knockdown texture is an art. Canned spray textures work for small patches, but adjust the nozzle on a test piece of cardboard first.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a pro for large patch repairs on textured walls, as achieving an invisible blend is very difficult for beginners.
Popcorn Ceiling Repair
Hard
Repairing a damaged section of acoustic ceiling requires special texture spray. Be aware that older popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos.
When to Call a Pro:
Call an abatement pro if your home was built before 1980, as disturbing popcorn ceilings can release asbestos fibres.
Nail Pops
Easy
When a plasterboard screw or nail pops out, it creates a bump. Secure the plasterboard with a new screw nearby, then drive the popped nail in or remove it, and patch over.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a pro if nail pops are appearing systematically across the entire ceiling or wall, indicating installation failure.
Corner Damage
Medium
Outside corners take a beating. If the metal corner bead is dented, you may need to cut out the damaged section or use a specialised corner repair tool and joint compound.
When to Call a Pro:
Call a pro if the damage involves extensive structural framing behind the corner bead.
Tools You’ll Often Need
Putty Knife
Used for applying filler or joint compound. A 2.5cm size is good for nail holes; 10-15cm is better for patches.
Sanding Sponge/Paper
Essential for smoothing patches before painting and scuffing glossy surfaces for better paint adhesion.
Filler/Joint Compound
Lightweight filler is great for small holes; joint compound is stronger for larger repairs and taping.
Roller & Brush
A quality 6cm angled sash brush is best for cutting in; a roller is needed for large wall areas.
Primer
Never skip this on raw plasterboard or stains. It seals the surface and ensures the topcoat looks even.
Drop Cloth
Protect your floors and furniture. Canvas drop cloths are safer and less slippery than plastic sheets.
Safety Notes: Read Before You Start
Painting and plasterboard work may seem low-risk, but there are critical hazards to be aware of. Ventilation is key. Always work with windows open when using paints, primers, or cleaners to avoid inhaling VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Dust Protection. Sanding plasterboard creates fine dust that is harmful to your lungs. Always wear a N95 mask or respirator when sanding joint compound or plaster.
Lead and Asbestos Warning. If your home was built before 1978, layers of old paint likely contain lead. Sanding this releases toxic lead dust. Test first! Similarly, textured ceilings (popcorn) applied before 1980 often contain asbestos. Do not scrape or disturb these surfaces without professional testing.
Proper Disposal. Never pour paint down the drain. Let leftover latex paint dry out in the can (you can add kitty litter to speed this up) before disposing of it in the rubbish, or take liquid paint to a hazardous waste facility.