Small home repair question???

AngelPuppy1 · ‎03-13-2010

I didn't know where to put this question. I didn't see any topic for this so I chose "Home".

I know this might sound basic, but I don't know how to fix this. We recently got a new thermostat and it's square and our old one was round. So -- this left a hole which needs some kind of fill. Also, where the round thermostat was, there is no paint. First off, in order to fill the hole --- do I use some kind of putty -- or --- caulking or what?

After that, I don't want to have to paint the whole wall and we no longer have any paint to just touch it up. I was just going to go to a paint store and get some swatches and then bring them home and compare. Then I would just get the closest and patch. Thankfully, it is in a hallway and not in a main room. I wouldn't think that would be too difficult as it just a very slight off white.

I am definitely not much of a home repair person, so I would appreciate your thoughts!

Thanks!

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

Largoman · ‎09-29-2021

That online shopping site, that has the same name as a huge river, sells covers you can place on the wall to cover your current hole. You can get universal ones and some brand names.

jlkz · ‎12-02-2013

Last summer we had a new AC unit installed and its thermostat was a different shape. The installer made a white rectangle with the thermostat attached and then attached it to the wall. No need for any " repair " or painting.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

Did a company do this? If so, I'd call the people who installed your thermostat. I just had a new one installed with my new furnace and they put a plate behind it to cover where the old one was.

Gerri S · ‎03-27-2010

MORNING AngelPuppy, don't get yourself crazy trying to get a perfect match! It's just a suggestion, but I would go to the dollar store and see if they have some sort of PEEL & STICK paper, there are lots of choices in our local stores (including Walmart, Michael's & Hobby Lobby). You just might find a perfect match. First make a copy of the area that needs to be covered, maybe with cardboard, You can get as creative as you want. You may just find you're more of a fix-it repair person than you thought. Best of Luck.

Somertime · ‎09-18-2010

@AngelPuppy1 Try Amazon. Search for thermostat covers decorative or thermostat wall covers.

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

Everyone's assuming the new thermostat is where the old one was. If that's the case, their advice is great. If it's been moved you'll need to patch the hole or hide it. (Picture frames are pretty good at that.)

If you do need to patch the hole, the size of the hole becomes important to know. In general, holes made for thermostat wiring are pretty small as most thermostats are low voltage (typically 24 volt) and thin wire is used. A small hole, say under a half-inch in diameter, can typically be filled with joint compound or a similar substance. There are also hole patching kits out there, lots of them, that contain everything you're likely to need.

In terms of matching the paint color, your idea of using a swatch to find a similar color works well. If the difference is noticeable after the paint has dried (assuming you're using an acrylic paint), you can thin out the paint with some water and feather out the new paint to blend it into the existing paint a bit better. Good luck!

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!

Biftu · ‎02-05-2011

To match your paint color, try and scrape off about 1" of your current paint and bring the sample to a paint store. They put the sample into a computer and it will match the piece you provided. I've done this and it works quite well.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

Thermostat covers restrict air flow in/around the thermostat itself and affect it's accuracy. Instead of a cover for the thermostat, get a universal wall plate to cover the hole and surrounding mismatched paint, for example, like this one:

You won't need to buy paint. Just buy a plate large enough to cover the mismatched paint.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
Thermostat covers restrict air flow in/around the thermostat itself and affect it's accuracy. Instead of a cover for the thermostat, get a universal wall plate to cover the hole and surrounding mismatched paint, for example, like this one:

You won't need to buy paint. Just buy a plate large enough to cover the mismatched paint.

We had a round thermostat until we got a new furnace last year. Now the thermostat is a rectangle.

@SilleeMee's picture and our arrangement is similar. There is a white "frame" around the thermostat that would cover any holes.