Unless you're making a skylight, you should repair ceiling holes.
Patching a small hole in the ceiling is just as easy as fixing one in the wall--neither requires any special skill, except that, in this case, you have to work at a unique angle. So the next time someone bounces a ball a little too high in the house or loses control of a lance on the way to the Renaissance Fair, don't worry. You've got it covered. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Carve or scrape away stray pieces of material hanging down from the hole so that the work surface is flat.
2. Scoop out some of the drywall compound with the putty knife--an amount about the size of a large cherry tomato--and push it into the hole far enough that it stays on its own, but not so far that it disappears.
3. Cut off a piece of the mesh joint tape with the utility knife, enough to fit over the hole and to extend past it for an inch on both sides. Stick it over the filled hole. Alternatively, cut off two pieces to form an x shape over the hole, making sure that the pieces extend an inch in every direction when they're taped to the ceiling.
4. Use the paintbrush to lightly coat the surface of the tape with the joint compound. Leave the ceiling to dry completely.
5. Sand off any rough or uneven spots with the sanding sponge. Clean off the dust with the dried paintbrush so that the next coat will keep better contact with the ceiling.
6. Apply another thin coat of the joint compound, but this time, extend it further away from the hole for 2 or 3 inches in all directions. Let the compound dry thoroughly before sanding--it might take a little longer since it's a larger area. Wait until you're sure it's ready, and sand down the surface again so that it's flat with the ceiling.
7. Using paint the same color as the ceiling, apply two coats to the area. Allow each layer of paint to dry for 12 hours.
Tags: from hole, joint compound, over hole, tape with, with ceiling
