Drywall is a typical material used in buildings and residences for interior walls and ceilings. While you may add several textures and finishes to the material, it is subject to dings, nail holes, and peeling tape covering the joints.
Painting a patched wall that has been incorrectly fixed does not solve the problem because the patch is typically still visible. Instead, fixing the defect to merge with the wall texture surrounding the fixed area is preferable.
Because of variances in the texture of the adjacent wall, which has had multiple coats of paint added over the years, the more significant areas show through. So you’ve got smooth drywall patches and roller texturing.
If you can see the smooth locations of drywall patches through your paint job, apply drywall topping compound to redo the patched areas.
Patching and painting the mended sections will only look different unless recently done the paint job. (Learn How To Remove Drywall Anchors)
When you roll on paint, you get an orange peel effect, and you have to repair this by patching and sanding a smooth area and removing the orange peel buildup. After that, there’s nothing left to do but try to recreate the texture.
After that, sand the spot till it matches, and use a roller to prime the wall. Finally, use two coats of primer for better coverage and finish by painting the entire wall to cover the paint patches with two coats of your chosen paint.
In our guide, you can learn more about fixing small patches and the surrounding areas with flat spots and patch marks. By the end, you’ll know enough to tackle any of these visible patches and make the surrounding area all appear as one.
Why Can I See Drywall Patch Through Paint?
The texture difference between patched and non-patched areas causes drywall patches to show through your paint job. Patched areas of the wall are frequently smoother than the rest of the wall. Although the patches may not be visible from all angles, they will stand out like a sore thumb in the proper lighting conditions.
Drywall work is visible through paint because of texture differences between patched and unpatched areas and results in the rest of the wall reflecting light differently between rough and smooth.
The unprimed joint compound absorbs paint differently from the rest of your wall, resulting in visible drywall patches.
The smooth texture of drywall patches can lead them to show up in certain light, yet your patching procedure can also have an impact.
All drywall and drywall patches must be prepped to guarantee paint adhesion. Drywall patches that aren’t primed soak the paint, giving them a flatter surface appearance on your walls.
Steps to Repair Drywall Patches Showing Through Paint
It’s tremendously stressful to finish a drywall repair and paint job only to have drywall patches show through your final coat of paint. Unfortunately, it may appear there is no way to do the project without these complications. (Learn How To Cut Drywall)
Apply Topping Compound
The first step in dealing with those pesky patches is to
resurface them with a sandable and paintable material. Topping compound is the most excellent choice for this purpose. First, spread the topping compound over the surface with a wide taping knife. Next, apply an extra layer of smooth drywall compound to the visible patch.
- Use specialized mud to put on patches that can be easily sanded.
- Spread the topping compound to fill imperfections.
- Feather the topping compound by at least 1 inch around the visible patch area in all directions.
Sand the Topping Compound
After resurfacing the patched areas of the wall with topping compound, lightly sand them. Start with 150 grit sandpaper to smooth out the compound and remove any tape knife ridges. Then use 220 grit sandpaper to smooth off the edges and mix them with the rest of the wall.
- Sand the patches using 150 grit sandpaper to remove imperfections.
- Use 220 grit sandpaper and smooth the patches to blend the edges.
- Make sure all patches are flush to the rest of the wall.
Sand the wall afterward. Assemble the patched areas flush with the wall. An elevated spot will catch the light differently and stand out from the rest of the wall. Sand the patched areas until they’re flush.
Prime the Wall
Priming ensures that drywall patches match the texture of the rest of the wall. This will hide your drywall patches. Apply drywall primer to the whole wall, where your new patches are produced using a 3/8′′ or 1/2′′ nap roller. This roller nap is long enough to apply a light texture and conceal drywall patches. Don’t use a foam roller, as these can smear rather than roll.
- Use this to spot prime your drywall patches to accept the final paint color.
- A 3/8″ or 1/2″ nap roller is best for priming as it applies the same texture to all areas of the wall.
- For even more coverage, wait 24 hours and apply a second coat of primer.
If drywall patches show through the primer, they will show through the paint. This can be remedied by repeating steps 1 and 2. Use a longer nap roller to apply a second coat of primer. Wait at least 24 hours between primer coats to allow the paint to set.
Paint the Entire Wall
Now that your wall is patched, sanded, and primed, it’s time to paint. First, apply two layers of colorful paint, allowing 24 hours between each coat. Applying the first coat too quickly will not adhere properly and may peel or bubble.
- Paint the entire wall using two coats for a smooth finish.
- Wait 24 hours between coats of paint.
- It is vital to prime and paint the entire wall to ensure a uniform texture.
The entire wall must be re-primed and repainted to ensure a consistent paint color. It’s a bit much, but it’s the only way to make your patch job unnoticeable. Also, never use a brush or could have brush marks in your final coat of paint. (Read Mesh Tape For Drywall)
What Do You Do When Spackling Shows Through Paint?
The easiest way to remedy drywall patches that show through a final paint job is to follow this procedure:
- Over the visible patches on the painted wall surface, apply a coat of topping joint compound or hot mud if in a rush.
- To ensure that the topping compound is level with the whole wall, sand it.
- Prime the surrounding wall where drywall patches show through with a 3/8′′ or 1/2′′ nap roller.
- Repaint the entire wall in the desired color with two finish coat applications.
This method hides drywall patches, whether little ones from nail removal or huge ones from drywall joint sealing.
Here’s the full steps to deal with and cover patches in areas of the wall that have had several coats of paint over the years.
- Using a putty knife, scrape away any loose or elevated hot mud particles from the patched area, such as loose seam tape.
- To dislodge any remaining particles, lightly tap the area with a flat-faced hammer to make a slight indentation.
- Apply a thin application of drywall compound with a drywall knife. Replace the drywall tape over the compounded seam.
- Apply another thin layer of hot mud compound over the tape when the area to be patched is a seam, and let the compound dry.
- To reduce slightly elevated areas, carefully sand the patched area using a drywall sanding pad. Apply a second thin coat of drywall compound, working outward a few inches from the first layer’s perimeter.
- Allow this mud layer to dry completely before repeating, working out a few inches in subsequent layers until the patch is completely feathered and no flaw can be seen or felt.
- Apply a layer of primer to the patched area and about a foot into the painted wall with a medium nap roller.
- Spot priming can leave you with other patches, so cover a larger area and feather this into your existing painted area.
- Apply two coats of paint from the same paint to paint the wall once the primer has dried completely.
How to fix spackle showing through paint?
Don’t worry if you’ve previously painted the wall with patches on it. (Learn How To Remove Tile From Drywall)
Of course, even if you apply multiple drywall patches, they will be visible through the paint layer. However, you can still spot paint such areas to fix these patch marks with a few simple steps:
- Apply the topping joint compound to the visible patches. It’s fine to do it straight over the paint.
- Make sure the compound is level with the rest of the wall by sanding it.
- Now use a mini roller with a nap of 3/8″ or 1/2″ to apply a thin primer layer to the entire wall. Don’t use a brush as you can’t keep the same uniformity in your paint finish.
- Eventually, you’ll be able to repaint the entire wall with any color you like. When painting the drywall patch areas, use two coats of paint.
