What is the best way to fill nail holes and small cracks before painting interior walls in NB?

Lightweight spackling compound is the go-to product for nail holes and small cracks in interior walls, applied in thin layers, sanded smooth, and primed before painting — and the process takes 10 minutes per wall if you do it right.

For a standard nail hole in drywall — the kind left from a picture frame or shelf bracket — a finger-applied dab of lightweight spackle (brands like Polyfilla or DAP Lightweight Spackling, available at any NB hardware store for around -12 per tub) is all you need. Press it in firmly, wipe flush with a wet finger or a putty knife, and let it dry completely. Lightweight spackle dries faster than traditional fillers, often within 30-60 minutes, and it shrinks very little. Don't overfill — build flush with the wall surface on the first application rather than overfilling and sanding back, which creates a halo of sanding dust you'll need to prime carefully.

For small cracks in drywall (hairline to about 3mm wide), the same lightweight spackle works well. For cracks 3-6mm wide or longer than about 15 cm, use a ready-mixed joint compound (sometimes called mud) and embed a strip of fibreglass mesh tape before applying the compound. The tape bridges the crack and prevents it from re-opening as the compound dries and as the wall moves seasonally — something that definitely happens in NB homes that go from dry winter heat to humid summer interiors.

Plaster walls in older Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John homes need a slightly different approach. Plaster is more porous than drywall and sucks moisture out of fillers fast, causing premature drying, shrinkage, and cracking of the patch. Dampen the crack lightly with a wet sponge before applying any filler — this slows the moisture absorption and gives the compound time to properly bond. For deeper or wider plaster cracks, a setting-type compound like Durabond 20 or 45 (which chemically hardens rather than air-dries) gives a harder, more durable repair that matches the surrounding plaster better.

Sanding and priming are non-negotiable steps that many DIYers rush or skip. Once dry, sand the patch smooth with 120-grit sandpaper, then follow with 180-grit for a fine finish. Wipe away all sanding dust with a slightly damp cloth. Then — and this is critical — spot-prime every patched area before applying your finish coat. Spackling and joint compound are very porous and absorb paint unevenly, creating dull, flat patches called flashing that show through even a second coat of premium paint. A spot of PVA primer on each repair, allowed to dry, eliminates this problem completely.

A good putty knife set (4-inch and 6-inch), a tub of lightweight spackle, a pack of mixed-grit sandpaper, and a small roller of PVA primer — total cost under 0 at any NB hardware store — will handle the prep work in most rooms effectively. For walls with extensive patching needs or old plaster requiring more significant repair, a professional drywall finisher will deliver a far smoother result than most DIYers can achieve.

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