Guide to Spackling over Paint

One of the easiest ways to ensure that your walls don’t need repeated repairs is spackling them. Spackling is done before the drywall is painted. It is also recommended even if you are re-painting existing walls. Spackling ensures that the existing walls are properly repaired, which helps to provide a better, finished surface.

Spackling is essentially a process of repairing the drywall to ensure that all imperfections are mended before coating it with paint. Spackling is undemanding and it can be easily done with a few affordable supplies and some basic guidelines. Use the following information to spackle your drywall.

Step 1 - Getting Started

Identify all spots on the drywall that need repairing. This should include small holes created due to inserting nails and patches left by moisture seepage. Understand that drywall joints usually contain the most hard-to-detect, cracked surfaces. These can be comprehensively repaired through spackling. You need putty knives, as they are ideally suited for scooping out the joint compound. Metallic putty knives are best suited for drywall repair since they are also used for scraping-off the excess spackling compound.

Ask your hardware retailer for standard putty knives, like putty knife number 8, 9 or 10 (the number represents the measurement in inches). For household spackle application, a 10 inch putty knife is commonly used.

With the putty knife, scoop-out some of the joint compound. Ensure that you stir the spackle compound to a thick-but-uniform consistency. This can be easily done in a plastic bucket, using a mixing paddle.

Add a small amount of water. Most packaged instructions say that the spackle compound shouldn't be diluted. However, a few drops of water help to spread the spackle and strengthen its outer crust.

Step 2 - Applying Spackle

Using the putty knife, apply the spackle compound. Spread the compound on the repair site and press down upon it. This helps to insert the compound into the deep-seated crevices.

Apply sufficient amount of the joint compound. Ideally, some extra compound should be visible around the repair spot. This ensures that the area around the spackled site is also strengthened. Scrape-off the excess spackle material. Try to even the spackled surface with the putty knife; this is the first step of evening the spackled surface.

Usually, two applications of spackle compound are sufficient. However, among deeper holes, the joint compound may appear to be dented after some hours. You should apply additional layers of the spackle/joint compound. The first coat should always be the heaviest. Each following coat should have a lesser amount of joint compound pressed upon the previous coating.

Sanding Spackled Sites

Let the spackle dry. Now, you need to sand the spackled spot. Start sanding with low-strength grit for this. This form of sandpaper is ideal for gradual sanding without damaging the spackle layer. When the spackled spot appears to be smoothed, re-sand it with fine sandpaper. This ensures that the paint isn't absorbed in patches around the spackled spot.