touching up paint help please

silvercar

Just had a room painted and in an attempt to put a picture on the wall I now have a divot that has been filled with filler. 

Paint is very pale grey colour that had had 3 coats. Divot is only about 10mm x 5mm, though there is a smearing of filler around.

Do I need to undercoat the divot? Or should I just put 3 coats of paint on it? Would a paint brush leave marks? If so, should I use something else?

I would have just left the divot, as it was paint coloured and not noticeable, but someone decided to be helpful and fill it! 

WIAWSNB

How was your room painted - roller? And do you still have the exact same pot of paint, and ditto roller?

If so, make sure the filler is dead flat using 120-180 grit and a flat sanding block. Yes, that will initially mean a larger area of 'damage' as it's blended in, but it'll pay dividends.

Then roller over it as originally. First just the immediate area. You can do this by only applying paint to the first inch of roller! See how it dries - if the outer edges have colour-blended in nicely, then you can afford to apply the next coat slightly wider. 

If the filled part has a raised edge, then that suggests it has expanded by absorbing the water in the paint. No option but to sand this flat once more and repaint, then it'll hopefully be fine. Add a third coat if needed.

Obviously each coat must be fully dry before the next. 

How good it'll be will largely come down to the quality of the paint - some blend in seamlessly, others are more problematical. 

Mr.Generous

For small areas dab paint on with a washing up sponge - no brush marks and blends with roller finish 

silvercar

I have the tin of paint, I don't have a roller.

Will try the sponge. Do I need an undercoat, or am I overthinking it?

WIAWSNB

silvercar said:

I have the tin of paint, I don't have a roller.

Will try the sponge. Do I need an undercoat, or am I overthinking it?

Overthinking

Good luck. Perhaps have a trial on a piece of card, to see how 'wet' you make the sponge, and how firm you apply it.

It should work, but might come down to these factors. 

Glad

could you hang the picture over it?

silvercar

Glad said:

could you hang the picture over it?

No, the picture is above. This occurred when the picture wire didn't grab onto the hooks properly and slipped. The divot is about waist level.