BC Rental Wall Repairs Before Move-Out: Nail Holes, Scratches & Stains — DIY Guide

In Part 1, we covered what landlords can and cannot legally charge for paint damage in BC. This guide is the practical follow-up: how to fix the three most common…

In Part 1, we covered what landlords can and cannot legally charge for paint damage in BC. This guide is the practical follow-up: how to fix the three most common types of rental wall damage yourself — nail holes, scratches, and stains — before you hand back the keys. No contractor needed. Everything you need is available at any Home Depot or Canadian Tire.

Before You Start: Match the Paint Colour

Any touch-up paint job lives or dies by colour matching. Your options:

  1. Check if the landlord left paint cans — ideal. Stir thoroughly before use.
  2. Ask the landlord for paint info — brand and colour code let you get an exact match at Home Depot.
  3. Bring a wall sample to a paint store — scrape a small chip from behind furniture, or take a photo. Most stores offer free colour matching.

Note: Even a perfect colour match can look patchy if the sheen differs from the original finish. When possible, paint corner-to-corner across a full wall section rather than spot-patching.

Repair 1 — Nail Holes

Materials needed:

  • Spackling compound or Polyfilla — $5–8
  • Putty knife or an old credit card
  • Sandpaper (120–220 grit)
  • Touch-up paint + small brush
  1. Remove dust and debris from around the hole.
  2. Apply spackling with the putty knife, slightly overfilling the hole (it shrinks as it dries).
  3. Let dry completely — usually 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the product.
  4. Sand smooth with 120 grit, then finish with 220. The surface should feel flush with no ridge.
  5. Apply touch-up paint in thin coats.

Repair 2 — Scratches

Materials needed: Spackling (shallow) or Drywall Joint Compound (deep), sandpaper, touch-up paint

Shallow scratches (surface only):

  1. Lightly sand the scratch to remove any raised edges.
  2. Apply touch-up paint in two thin coats. One thick coat will streak.

Deep scratches (into the drywall):

  1. Apply a thin coat of joint compound over the scratch.
  2. Let dry, sand with 120 grit, apply a second thin coat.
  3. Final sand with 220 grit, then paint.

Repair 3 — Stains (Grease, Handprints, Food)

Materials needed:

  • TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) cleaner or Sugar Soap — $8–12
  • Stain-blocking primer (Zinsser BIN or Bulls Eye) — $15–20
  • Touch-up paint
  1. Clean the stain area thoroughly with TSP solution. Paint won’t adhere properly over grease or residue.
  2. Once completely dry, apply stain-blocking primer over the stained area. Skip this step and the stain will bleed through the paint.
  3. Once primer is dry, apply touch-up paint in two coats.

Cost Summary

MaterialEstimated Cost
Spackling / Polyfilla$5–8
Sandpaper set$5–7
Stain-blocking primer$15–20
Touch-up paint (small quantity)$10–20
Total$35–55

A professional would charge $150–300+ for the same repairs. Doing it yourself protects your deposit at a fraction of the cost.

Final Thought

A single nail hole or scuff can affect hundreds of dollars in deposit. The repairs themselves aren’t difficult. What matters is colour matching and respecting the drying time between coats.

Part 3 covers paint finish types — flat, eggshell, satin — and which one to buy when you need touch-up paint so the repair doesn’t stand out.

📌 ← Part 1: Paint Damage in a BC Rental — What Landlords Can and Cannot Charge You For

📌 → Part 3: Paint Finish Types in Canada — Flat, Eggshell, Satin: Which to Buy for Touch-Ups?