Q. My family and I are preparing to leave our rental property. Unfortunately, an incident with my energetic children has left a small hole in one of the plasterboard walls. Can you suggest a straightforward repair method so we don’t risk losing our security deposit? – Ocea, Dartford

A. It’s common to encounter holes in plasterboard, a material that consists of dried gypsum between two layers of paper, making it less durable than other wall materials.

For a simple repair, you don’t need professional qualifications — even a novice can handle this fix, especially if the hole is under three inches in diameter.

Start by cleaning up the hole’s edges, removing any loose paper and gypsum. Following this, lightly sand the area, as this will facilitate a smooth finish later. Cover the hole with self-adhesive fiberglass mesh tape (commonly referred to as scrim tape) to ensure proper adhesion. After that, apply ready-mixed finishing plaster using a filler knife or any similar flat tool, making sure to spread it over the tape until it is smooth and slightly raised above the wall surface. Once the plaster has dried completely, use fine sandpaper to gently smooth it down until it is flush with the wall.

If the hole exceeds three inches, relying solely on scrim tape may not provide adequate support for the new plaster. In such cases, you should first enlarge the hole to create a uniform shape, ideally a square. Cut a piece of wood that fits snugly into the gap and is just thick enough for screwing into place yet narrow enough to fit through the hole. This piece of wood will provide a solid backing for your repair.

Fasten a screw in the center of the wood before you insert it. This screw acts as a handle for positioning the wood securely against the plaster surrounding the hole.

When the wood is secured, remove the screw used as a handle. Cut a piece of plasterboard to fit the hole and screw it firmly into the wooden backing to ensure stability. Note: Before purchasing a full sheet of plasterboard, check with local hardware stores, as they often sell damaged boards at a reduced cost.

After covering the hole with new plasterboard, apply scrim tape over the joints and screw heads, then finish with plaster as mentioned earlier.

I wish you the best of luck in reclaiming your deposit after following these tips — it should feel like a notable DIY success!

Wayne Perrey hosts the TV Carpenter podcast