Stupid person fucks up kitchen wall. Film at 11.
October 12, 2014 1:02 PM Subscribe
Hi. I'm stupid. I tore a piece out of my kitchen wall. Please help me put it back.
Somebody long ago stuck a cheap stupid adhesive plastic dishtowel holder to my kitchen wall. I pulled it off today, and part of the wall came with it.
Here is a pic of the damage. The surface of the actual wall is a semi-gloss paint. The damaged area is sort of a brown papery substance. I am getting ready to paint the walls a different color (a bright green semi-gloss.)
Possibly relevant factors:
1. I don't have any of the original paint.
2. I do have the piece that pulled off, but it has bits of adhesive still stuck to it (possibly painstakingly removable) and has a slight tear at one edge.
3. I am not handy or crafty or clever or anything useful like that.
4. My landlords are spectacularly unhelpful assholes and I'd just as soon not get them involved in fixing this.
How do I fix this damage well enough that it won't be too noticeable under the new coat of paint?
Somebody long ago stuck a cheap stupid adhesive plastic dishtowel holder to my kitchen wall. I pulled it off today, and part of the wall came with it.
Here is a pic of the damage. The surface of the actual wall is a semi-gloss paint. The damaged area is sort of a brown papery substance. I am getting ready to paint the walls a different color (a bright green semi-gloss.)
Possibly relevant factors:
1. I don't have any of the original paint.
2. I do have the piece that pulled off, but it has bits of adhesive still stuck to it (possibly painstakingly removable) and has a slight tear at one edge.
3. I am not handy or crafty or clever or anything useful like that.
4. My landlords are spectacularly unhelpful assholes and I'd just as soon not get them involved in fixing this.
How do I fix this damage well enough that it won't be too noticeable under the new coat of paint?
You can take the chip that came off to a local hardware or paint store and have them mix you a small amount for your touch up.
posted by The Deej at 1:13 PM on October 12, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by The Deej at 1:13 PM on October 12, 2014 [3 favorites]
Get some spackle. You're only going to need a little bit. Spread it over the area. Let dry. Sand with sandpaper until smooth. Paint.
posted by miles1972 at 1:14 PM on October 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by miles1972 at 1:14 PM on October 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: You need a small container of spackle and a scraper that's wider than the damaged area. Spread spackle and the draw the scraper over it to even it. Scrape as much spackle off the paint as you can, and then wipe away the residue with a damp sponge. The main mistakes people make with spackle are leaving a slightly raised area, and spreading it too wide on the surrounding surface. The compound might shrink as it dries; if that happens, add more spackle, scrape, and wipe. You can use a folded or torn piece of 180-220 sandpaper, but for me the damp sponge is fine for smoothing.
Best practice would be to paint a little primer on it before repainting. Use the same brush you'll be using to cut in the edges, or a cheap foam brush. Feather out the edges so you don't get any ridges under the paint. Primer will keep the sheen even; spackle usually absorbs paint, and you could end up with a dull spot once your paint has dried.
posted by wryly at 1:32 PM on October 12, 2014 [7 favorites]
Best practice would be to paint a little primer on it before repainting. Use the same brush you'll be using to cut in the edges, or a cheap foam brush. Feather out the edges so you don't get any ridges under the paint. Primer will keep the sheen even; spackle usually absorbs paint, and you could end up with a dull spot once your paint has dried.
posted by wryly at 1:32 PM on October 12, 2014 [7 favorites]
Go to a hardware store. Get a tiny tub of a spackle called DAP Fast N Final. You do not need to be handy to apply it. It's like spreading icing and you can use a kitchen spatula. You spread and smooth it over the hole; do not try to reattach the bit that fell off.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:36 PM on October 12, 2014
posted by DarlingBri at 1:36 PM on October 12, 2014
Response by poster: Okie dokie... spackle it is. :) I'm gonna mark wryly as best answer just for the level of detail, but I appreciate everyone who chimed in.
Thanks a bunch!
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:44 PM on October 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Thanks a bunch!
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:44 PM on October 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
And if it still looks terrible after the new paint... Get a new, better towel holder and put it in the same spot.
posted by bluedaisy at 2:06 PM on October 12, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by bluedaisy at 2:06 PM on October 12, 2014 [6 favorites]
If you haven't gone to the store yet there is a light pre-mixed spackle that I found easier to use.
posted by sammyo at 3:44 PM on October 12, 2014
posted by sammyo at 3:44 PM on October 12, 2014
Drywall mud would be my recommendation. Spackle is a bit stiff and brief for my skill level and fast to dry so you don't have much working time. Stippling is good, or my secret, apply the mud and use a slightly wet Sea Sponge as you would to dab up a spill. It picks up the pattern.
No-one notices except the author of the work.
posted by vapidave at 6:19 PM on October 12, 2014
No-one notices except the author of the work.
posted by vapidave at 6:19 PM on October 12, 2014
Eponysterical btw.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 7:56 PM on October 12, 2014
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 7:56 PM on October 12, 2014
if you don't feel like painting, and would also like to jazz up your kitchen a bit, why not get an interesting wall decal and just cover it up?
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 10:57 PM on October 12, 2014
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 10:57 PM on October 12, 2014
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posted by xingcat at 1:09 PM on October 12, 2014 [7 favorites]