DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi all,

Grateful for any advice with regards to fixing holes created by curtain rail being ripped off wall. It looks like they were quite short screws and they just came out all together when someone fell on it. It’s an old house (1895) and it looks like original plaster maybe (it’s grey) with various layers of stuff on top. 1. How should I fill these holes, some of the plaster seems stuck to lining paper? It looks like maybe some of it is not crumbly so possibly a solid edge to get back to around the hole…(parts of the house are held together by lining paper as far as I can tell from previous drilling elsewhere) 2. Should I cut away all the lining paper and try and fill it and sand it back or try and leave as much as possible? 3. I need to put the rail back up but should I put in same place with longer screws to cover some of the damage or move them? 4. Is an option to do it and then put more lining paper on top? I’ve never put up any lining paper - doesn’t hugely appeal. If it’s not clear in diy terms I’m a moron - any help appreciated thanks. Pics below

Hi stu8787
Suggest you experiment with one of the holes - cut back to a sound edge, fill the hole to level with the surrounding surface, when dry sand and apply a lining paper patch.
Regards S

Many thanks - picked up some pva and filler today so will hopefully give it a go tomorrow! When you say lining paper patch… is that just torn to approximately fit and I think there is some lining paper around - does it have to be pasted on with wallpaper paste? Cheers

Many thanks - picked up some pva and filler today so will hopefully give it a go tomorrow! When you say lining paper patch… is that just torn to approximately fit and I think there is some lining paper around - does it have to be pasted on with wallpaper paste? Cheers

Hi stu8787
You should not need to use pva. Tearing all round your lining paper patch should enable you to disguise the repair, stick it in place with WP paste. Using the same position with longer screws for the fixings will further conceal the repair.
Regards S