the holes. Let the spackling compound dry, prime, and paint to match the rest of the wall.

• Some large holes in wallboard can be patched with precut, adhesive wallboard patches. You may need to widen the ho

Drywall, otherwise known as gypsum wallboard, has replaced plaster as the most common wall surface in American homes. It is used as a backing for wall treatments such as wallpaper, fabric, tile and wood paneling. Or it can simply be painted. Drywall has the virtue of being easy and inexpensive to install.

Repair

• To fix nails that have popped from drywall, make sure the panel is secured to the studs above and below the nail. Hammer the nail in and dimple the nail; drive in and dimple a nail of the same size right next to it to hold it in. Use joint compound to cover the nails. When that has dried, sand the area, prime, and paint.

• To fix small holes in your dry wall, clean the holes and dampen them with a sponge. Fill the holes with spackling compound using a narrow putty knife. You can also use patching plaster to fill the holes. Let the spackling compound dry, prime, and paint to match the rest of the wall.

• Some large holes in wallboard can be patched with precut, adhesive wallboard patches. You may need to widen the ho

Or it can simply be painted. Drywall has the virtue of being easy and inexpensive to install.

Repair

• To fix nails that have popped from drywall, make sure the panel is secured to the studs above and below the nail. Hammer the nail in and dimple the nail; drive in and dimple a nail of the same size right next to it to hold it in. Use joint compound to cover the nails. When that has dried, sand the area, prime, and paint.

• To fix small holes in your dry wall, clean the holes and dampen them with a sponge. Fill the holes with spackling compound using a narrow putty knife. You can also use patching plaster to fill the holes. Let the spackling compound dry, prime, and paint to match the rest of the wall.

• Some large holes in wallboard can be patched with precut, adhesive wallboard patches. You may need to widen the ho

below the nail. Hammer the nail in and dimple the nail; drive in and dimple a nail of the same size right next to it to hold it in. Use joint compound to cover the nails. When that has dried, sand the area, prime, and paint.

• To fix small holes in your dry wall, clean the holes and dampen them with a sponge. Fill the holes with spackling compound using a narrow putty knife. You can also use patching plaster to fill the holes. Let the spackling compound dry, prime, and paint to match the rest of the wall.

• Some large holes in wallboard can be patched with precut, adhesive wallboard patches. You may need to widen the ho

and paint.

• To fix small holes in your dry wall, clean the holes and dampen them with a sponge. Fill the holes with spackling compound using a narrow putty knife. You can also use patching plaster to fill the holes. Let the spackling compound dry, prime, and paint to match the rest of the wall.

• Some large holes in wallboard can be patched with precut, adhesive wallboard patches. You may need to widen the ho

the holes. Let the spackling compound dry, prime, and paint to match the rest of the wall.

• Some large holes in wallboard can be patched with precut, adhesive wallboard patches. You may need to widen the hole so the patch can fit. After you have popped it in, cover the seams and the patch with joint compound, according to label directions, then prime with a wallboard primer and paint the surface.