Distinguish harmless marks from repeated impact damage
A washable surface mark needs a different response from crushed plaster, a loose corner bead or a handle repeatedly striking the wall. Clean a small test area with a method suitable for the finish before specifying repainting. Check whether the striking object can be restrained, repositioned or fitted with an appropriate stop without creating a trip. Do not install a bumper into weak material merely to hide the symptom. Where several cracks move together or the substrate sounds extensively hollow, seek wider assessment. Record the height and shape of impact marks; they often identify the object involved. A local repair should restore sound material and address the repeated contact, otherwise the fresh patch becomes a short-lived record of the same route problem.

