A method of repairing a thermal barrier coating on an article designed for use in a hostile thermal environment, such as turbine, combustor and augmentor components of a gas turbine engine. The method is particularly suited for the repair of thermal barrier coatings composed of a metallic bond layer formed on the surface of the article, and a columnar ceramic layer overlaying the bond layer. The method entails the steps of cleaning the bond layer exposed by localized spallation, treating the bond layer so as to texture its exposed surface, and then depositing a ceramic material on the surface of the bond layer so as to form a ceramic repair layer that completely covers the bond layer. Deposition of the repair layer can be carried out such that its upper surface projects above the adjacent ceramic layer, followed by abrading the repair layer to a height substantially level with the ceramic layer.