During your time as a renter, your walls take a beating. Holes from nails, drywall screws and doorknob dings are all pretty common.
Some holes are considered normal wear and tear, while others could be property damage that a landlord may have to pay for. This depends on how the holes got there and how much damage they caused.
1. Paint
Painting is a great way to make apartment walls appear more spacious and pleasing to the eye. It also increases the apartment’s overall value and can help increase your chances of getting a better rent price when you move out.
However, painting an apartment wall isn’t always an easy task. It requires a lot of careful planning and can be a huge job for a renter to tackle on their own. If you’re not an experienced painter, hiring a professional can be a good option for you.
First, you should decide what type of paint you need. The most popular choice is white and cream, which are neutral colors that match with just about any color scheme. You may also choose to use a more pastel hue such as lavender or violet.
Using a neutral shade of paint can make your apartment more welcoming and appealing to prospective tenants. Additionally, it can be a good investment for your security deposit as it will likely increase the value of your property in the future.
Once you’ve made the decision on what paint color to use, you should consider your options for repairing the holes in your walls. If the hole is too small to need a complete drywall repair, you can fix it with spackle and joint compound. If the hole is larger, you should consider a more permanent solution for the problem.
Another option to consider is mixing baking soda with white glue, which will create a thick paste that can fill in nail holes. This is a good option if you don’t want to spend the time to get the proper materials or if you’re in a pinch and need to patch up small holes quickly.
Scuff marks are another common problem that can be easily fixed by simply sanding the damaged area. Unlike other repairs, scuff marks don’t require any special equipment and should not cost you much in terms of your security deposit. But if the mark is large, you should consider getting a piece of self-adhesive fiberglass mesh and putting it over the scuff to support it while you’re fixing it. Once you’ve sanded it down, it should look good enough to paint.
2. Putty
A lot of us love to hang art, pictures, memorabilia and TVs. Unfortunately, that can also cause holes in our walls!
Before attempting to fix the holes, it’s a good idea to check your lease. You’ll want to make sure that you can do so without incurring any penalties from your landlord. If you don’t, your security deposit might be taken back to cover the cost of repairing the damage.
If you have holes in your wall due to drywall plugs, nails or screws, you can try to repair them by using spackle. This method can be used on small holes, but it’s usually best to leave larger holes alone.
In terms of paint, you’ll probably need to find a matching color that blends in with the rest of your wall. This can be tricky, so it’s a good idea to use an online paint-matching service before you start.
Putty is a material that can be used in many construction and DIY projects. It’s a type of plastic that can be molded by hand, but becomes stiff and hard after it’s cured.
It’s commonly used in domestic construction and repair as a sealant or filler. It can be made from a variety of materials, including linseed oil, resins, and adhesives.
Some putties are fire-resistant and can be used to seal a hole in the wall or ceiling, or even protect electrical outlets from water damage. They can also be used to protect wood from moisture, rot, and insect damage.
While there are several different types of putty, most of them are a linseed oil-based product that can be sprayed or applied with a brush. Some of them can also be painted over, which makes them more convenient for DIY projects.
Another option for repairing small holes in a wall is to use an acrylic spray texture. This will give the repair a smooth, flat appearance that will match the rest of your wall.
If you have holes in your wall that are too large or difficult to patch, you’ll need to call a professional. These contractors will be able to help you repair the damage and ensure that you get your security deposit back.
3. Nails
One of the things that many tenants like to do when they move into a new apartment is hang pictures and other decorations. This can leave small holes in the wall, but it’s usually considered normal wear and tear.
It’s always a good idea to check with your landlord and property manager before hammering a nail into the wall or drilling holes. They might have rules in place that you must follow. This can help prevent damage to the apartment and keep your security deposit from being used to repair it.
The answer to this question varies from place to place, but most landlords will deduct money from your security deposit if you put holes in the walls. This is especially true if the hole causes damage to the walls, plaster or paint.
If the holes in the wall are minor, you won’t have to worry about this, but if the holes are large or extensive, you may have to pay for repairs. The amount that you have to pay depends on how severe the damage is and how long it takes to fix.
You can use a variety of tools to fix holes in walls, but some of the most useful ones are sandpaper, drywall compound, and joint compound. These can be found at most hardware stores.
It is important to note that most landlords will not deduct any of your security deposit if you fix these holes before moving out. However, it’s a good idea to ask about this when you tour the apartment and get an inspection from the property manager.
In addition, you’ll want to take photos of any holes before you move out so you can prove that they were repaired. That way, you won’t have to worry about losing any of your deposit if you end up in court.
You should also be aware that some states require landlords to send tenants a detailed list of repair charges before they deduct any of their security deposit. This will help you fight back if you decide to sue the tenant in a small-claims court.
4. Patching
When you live in an apartment, there are likely to be some things on the wall that you don’t want to touch or that you simply don’t like the look of. One way to make your place feel more homey is to hang pictures, art, or memorabilia. This can be tricky because it usually involves drilling holes in the walls or putting up brackets that will cause damage if you don’t take the proper precautions.
There are some exceptions, but in most cases, putting holes in the walls is considered tenant damage and will cost you a small fortune to fix. Some landlords will even deduct some of the money you paid in rent from your security deposit if the damage isn’t fixed, says David Kowalczuk, a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Warburg.
To fix the holes you made, it’s best to get some sheetrock putty or joint compound and a drywall patch tool. This will help you to make the repair a smooth and seamless one, which will look nicer once you’ve painted it.
The trick is to use the right type of putty and make sure you blend the color into the rest of the wall. You should also match the putty to the paint you’re using in the room. This will also make the patch look better.
You may also need some drywall joint tape to help you with this. You can buy a mesh drywall joint tape online that will help to hold the putty and drywall together. This will prevent the putty from sticking to the drywall or splintering in some spots.
It’s also a good idea to paint over the new putty to ensure it blends in well. This is important because some apartments have very strict rules about painting, and if you do this wrong, it could lead to charges for repainting the whole room or even your entire apartment!
Holes that you’ve made in your wall should be repaired before you move out. This is because many leases require that you return the apartment in the same condition you found it. This means repairing any holes you’ve made will be a requirement for you to receive your security deposit back at the end of your lease.