1 What Causes Drywall Cracks? 2 Supplies You’ll Need 3 How to Fix a Drywall Crack that Keeps Coming Back: Step by Step Step 1: Apply the Mesh Tape Step 2: Apply Your Joint Compound Step 3: Apply a Second and Third Coat Step 4: Sand the Wall Smooth Step 5: Prime and Paint 4 Frequently Asked Questions 1 What Causes Drywall Cracks? 0 1 What Causes Drywall Cracks? 1 1 What Causes Drywall Cracks? 2 1 What Causes Drywall Cracks? 3 Although not the most attractive, drywall cracks are typical.
Due to natural settling and changes in humidity, you’ll probably have to deal with at least a handful as your home gets older.
But how can you repair a drywall crack that recurs?
To make your repair endure longer if you’ve been patching the crack only to have it reappear, support it with drywall tape and joint compound.
Here is all the information you require.
WHY DO DRYWALLS CRACK?
The good news is that drywall cracks are common and not always cause for alarm if you notice one in your wall. As a house settles or the humidity changes, it’s typical for drywall to crack.
You frequently notice cracks around windows and doors because of these variations in humidity levels.
You can take action to make a repair that will endure longer if your crack is not the result of substantial structural damage, leaks, or rotting.
ACCESSORIES YOU’LL NEED Here are the materials you need to repair your broken drywall before you begin. Any of these are available at your neighborhood hardware shop.
fiberglass mesh self-adhesive tape joint substance Mud pan for drywall drywall knife, 6 inches Sponge for fine-grit sanding HOW TO REPAIR A REPEATING DRYWALL CRACK: STEP BY STEP
If you want to permanently fix the crack, support must be added. Fiberglass mesh tape can be used for this. The patched area could slightly protrude from the wall if not applied properly, which is the only drawback even though this will likely permanently heal your fracture.
You must apply thin coatings of joint compound and sand the repaired wall to make the patched crack merge.
Apply the mesh tape in step one. Apply your fiberglass mesh self-adhesive tape over the crack. The crack should be as close to the center of the tape as you can manage.
Instead of being broken up into small bits, you want your tape to be in one single strand. Use more tape to conceal the crack if it curves or branches out.
Apply your joint compound in Step 2. Apply joint compound to the crack now by dabbing a small amount on the drywall knife. Apply the compound downward in a downward 45-degree angle, filling the crack and sparingly covering the tape.
Your compound should extend two inches past the tape on all sides after applying your first application.
45 minutes should be given for the compound to dry, or as instructed on the packaging.
Apply a second and third coat in step three. Add a second, thinner layer after the joint compound is totally dry, feathering it out slightly.
After the second layer has dried, apply a third thin coat if this doesn’t provide adequate coverage.
Step four is to smooth the wall. After you’ve patched your wall, softly sand it with a fine-grit sanding block to make it smooth. Use circular motions to knock down any high spots and even out the surface.
Once it’s smooth, wipe the drywall dust off the wall with a dry, lint-free cloth.
PRIME AND PAINT in Step 5 Prime the crack you just fixed before applying paint as a final step.
COMMON QUESTIONS CAN SPACKLE BE USED TO REPAIR DRYWALL CRACKS? You can use a spackle product like 1 What Causes Drywall Cracks? 4 if you don’t have any joint compound on hand. On the market, there are additional crack-spackling products.
Make careful to use fiberglass mesh tape before spackling, though, if you’re dealing with a crack that keeps reappearing.
WHAT IS CAUSING MY DRYWALL OVER THE DOOR TO CRACK? The most frequent locations for drywall cracking as a result of changes in humidity and weather are the door and window. By maintaining proper humidity and temperature levels in your home, you can avoid these fissures.
CAN A DRYWALL CRACK BE CORRECTED WITHOUT TAPE? A drywall crack may be easily covered with spackle, but it will probably recur. By including tapes, the repair is supported and repeated damage is reduced.
Fortunately, patching drywall gaps with tape is a DIY technique that anyone can complete.
CONCLUSION Mesh tape can help to offer support if your drywall is cracking as a result of changes in humidity or your home’s natural settling, which will prevent the crack from recurring. And fortunately, you can do this yourself.
However, no drywall repair will completely restore a crack in your home’s drywall if the cause of the crack is a more serious problem, such as structural flaws, excessive temperature changes, or leaks.
