How can I repair my mantel?

Holly
by Holly

It’s a decorative mantel and is hollow behind the cherubs.

  10 answers
  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Apr 21, 2020

    That's going to be tricky. I would look into latex puddys/caulks and try to find one thick enough to be able to gently fill in the hole.

  • Gk Gk on Apr 21, 2020

    You might be able to buy a drywall patch kit and cut a small piece to go around the hole and then gently wipe on some drywall compound with your fingers until the screen patch is covered. You should probably do it in thin layers letting it dry well in between. You can then sand a little bit. It may be rough looking but it looks as if the background of the decorative area isn't flat-perhaps a bit textured--so it may look OK. You might have to do a touch up with some acrylic paint found in small bottle in the craft section of places like Walmart.

    • Holly Holly on Apr 21, 2020

      Thank you. I’ll look into that. Hopefully something will work, it’s so thin a thumb went right through it. I always thought it was stone

  • Holly Holly on Apr 21, 2020

    I was thinking about trying that. It’s so old and thin that a thumb went right through

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Apr 21, 2020

    Fill in space with a spray can of Great Stuff. Dig out the excess to just below the level of the cherubs then add a top coat of player repair to mimic the finish texture, match color and paint. Prime the plastered area first. Since so small you cab just use Elmers glue to seal it. Good luck. It should come our fine.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Apr 21, 2020

    I think trying Great Stuff is a great idea! Just spray small amounts at a time as it does expand a LOT. You can always add more. If it overfills, don't worry as it dries as foam and can be easily cut.


    My other idea would be to try to insert a small piece of wood behind the hole and secure it in place with glue. You can then put drywall patch over it.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Apr 21, 2020

    Hello Holly,

    I would use a piece of gaffer tape behind the hole. I would then use a foam air dry clay and mould it to suit the shape of the hole. I would try to make the tree shape on the front of the clay and press it in place once dried out sufficiently. Sand off excess and paint to match in with the right paint.

    If that didn't work, I would use a white expanding foam and try to carve that to match the missing tree. Then use primer and then something to match frieze.

    Best wishes.


  • Holly Holly on Apr 21, 2020

    Thanks!! I’m going to look into all

  • If this was my job to fix I would use expanding foam. Spray it I side and the excess that comes out you can cut away. Primer and then paint it.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Apr 22, 2020

    I agree with the above posters to put something in the back for structual support for patching. I would then suggest a skim top coat with something more substantial maybe bondo, epoxy putty or even a self dry Clay. It should be smooth down before it cures sanded and painted to match

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Apr 22, 2020

    You could repair this a couple of ways. You could get a glue gun make a small square the size of the whole on a table let it cool then peel it off then glue it in the whole and paint it .or you could put thick tape over it then paint it or you could get plaster plaster the whole when dry paint it .