The repair techniques on this page can be used to repair wall and ceiling cracks in plaster or drywall. This old house general contractor tom silva shows how to permanently patch a damaged ceiling. We have six different ways to make the repair depending on the size, type and place of the damage. By the time i got to the dining room, i just couldnt face another day of dust and rubble. Before you patch, use a painters 5in1 tool to rake out the former repair materials. Patching a settlement crack in drywall video dailymotion. Home improvement shortcuts usually lead to trouble. Dont let a drywall crack set you back from your next paint project. Id recommend experimenting on a castoff bit of drywall first.
Holes and cracks in wallboardsmall or largeare easy to repair, and the finished patch will be almost invisible. Next, cut a vnotch 14 to 18 inch along the crack to help keep the compound in place and remove any debris inside the crack with a vacuum hose. Add a thin coat of patch plus primer to the drywall tape. High performance elastomeric spackling compound eliminates recurring cracks by providing a permanently flexible fill. Usually the seams are invisible due to the use of drywall mud and tape. Once youve got the first layer on, go over it with a damp doublesided sponge. Drywall sheets are vulnerable to breaking and crumbling, but can easily be repaired with drywall compound and a little sanding and painting. Fifteen years ago, i tore out most of my crumbling plaster walls and replaced them with drywall. Settlement cracks are caused by movement in the ground. Ill be using a composite drywall crack repair tape that is perfect for fixing wall cracks and fixing ceiling cracks.
It seems to need replacement after 10 years or so depending on how much shifting occurs in the cracks and how much continued settling occurs in the house but it is far better than anything else weve tried. How to repair damaged drywall video how to repair a ceiling crack video. Remove any crumbling plaster or paper from the edges of the hole and measure it across. How to repair a popped nail in drywall video how to patch a hole in drywall using a hot patch video video transcript danny lipford. How to patch drywall with fiberglass mesh howtos diy. However, major plaster cracks caused by extremely loose and crumbling plaster can not be repaired using this technique alone. To do this youll need drywall joint compound, a drywall. Over time, gypsumboard walls can sustain ugly cracks or holes. When dry, apply several additional coats of joint compound with a 10 12 wide drywall. Use a 6inch taping knife to trowel a thin layer of joint compound over the patch, the seams, and the screwheads. How to fix cracks in drywall sherwinwilliams youtube. Drywall repairs done in just a few minutes using my favorite drywall trick that uses science to help you get a quick finish without sanding. This project guide will show you how to patch drywall in a few easy steps.
Joint compound formulations include lightweight, designed for easy application to drywall seams, and setting compound, ideal for small patching jobs because it dries more quickly. For tiny holes and popped nails, use 4inch drywall knife to apply two or three thin coats of joint compound. In this video, i show you how to fix a crack in the drywall. Most drywall cracks occur on the seams, where two pieces of drywall meet. But for bigger repairs, you need to cut out the hole to create clean edges, then cut an identically sized patch from a new piece of drywall. Use in place of fiberglass mesh tape on tile backer board. How to repair cracks and holes in drywall howtos diy. Alex flex flexible spackling is ideal for providing a solution to eliminate reoccurring cracks in drywall. How to fix cracks in drywall and plaster doityourself. Like covering a hole in your jeans, patching drywall aims to cover a problem area and reinforce the original structure and appearance. Both parts have their challenges, and both have tried and true techniques that make the patch strong and virtually disappear. How concerned you should be about cracks in the walls.
Patch drywall if youre setting out to patch drywall, whether the problem at hand is a few nail holes or a large gash, these simple tips can help you restore a smooth surface ready for paint. How to fix a hole in drywall can be one of your top concerns when getting ready for a move. In this video series, learn tips from the pros on how to get. The screen prevents cracks from forming between the patch and wall. Repairing cracks in drywall is easy with these detailed instructions. Watch how to patch and repair a hole or cracks in drywall or sheetrock with these simple steps. Embed the joint tape in about 18 of all purpose joint compound and press it into place with a. It does a fabulous job, particularly on cracks that continue expandingcontracting due to weather changes. To view the next video in this series, please click here. Definitely, when a house is sitting on a slab it will have a tendency to shift as the ground gets wet and dries up. Repairing cracks in drywall is easy with these detailed instructions and helpful tips. How to repair drywall inside corners home guides sf gate. How to repair a popped nail in drywall video article video transcript. To feather the edge, increase pressure and angle on the drywall knife as you reach the outer edges of the patch area to minimize, or thin, the joint compound on the drywall.
To get full project details and materials for fixing drywall. You can also use this method for fixing drywall cracks. Cracks in drywall also called wallboard, gypsum board, and sheetrock are common because its surface is made of paper. Repairing cracks in walls the best way to repair a crack in drywall is to retape the joint. For most cracks, taping is an effective and permanent solution, but if your plaster is cracking because it is loose. Allow the repair to dry thoroughly, sand it smooth avoid exposing the tape and paint it. Holes drywall are sometimes left behind when shelves or cabinets that have been removed from the wall.
Next, apply a thin coat of drywall joint compound to the crack, using a 4 5 wide drywall knife, and embed a strip of paper drywall tape in the wet compound to bridge the crack. Ill also be using some allpurpose joint compound, a 12 inch and 6 inch. I first gouge out the crack and make it wider, then pack it full with a plaster of paris mud. Then use the steps shown in photos 2 and 3 to fix it. This video shows patching small holes and gouges in drywall, what drywall repair tools youll need, and how to paint the patch. Drywall expert mark mcclain demonstrates his top tips for repairing drywall in your home, including how to patch a settlement crack in drywall. To repair a drywall settling crack, cover the crack with joint tape and 3 coats of drywall compound. As homes settle, cracks may radiate from the corners of doors and windows. Patching a settlement crack in drywall monkeysee videos. How to repair a cracked drywall ceiling this old house youtube. How to repair stress cracks in walls and ceilings youtube. Patching drywall holes holes less than 3 inches in diameter can be backed and filled.
How to repair cracks in a drywall ceiling todays homeowner. A full list of tools and materials for fixing drywall can be found below. Drywall damage can range from small cracks to large holes, but most repairs are easy and inexpensive to fix. A tip of the hat to lynda for her blog post, fix ceiling cracks for good, for confirming my hunch that caulk could be a pretty okay product to use when repairing a crack in a wall. The fast, easy way to make sure the repairs you make to cracks in plaster, drywall and wood stay repaired. Cut a piece of window screen a few inches longer and wider than the patch, then press it into the compound with the trowel. How to repair a drywall crack that flexes with the seasons. Fortunately, drywall is fairly easy to repair, but there is an art to it.
For larger cracks or defects, apply joint compound to the wall, then cover the crack with paper drywall tape pressed into the wet compound. I first gouge out the crack and make it wider, then pack it full with a plaster of paris mud pie plaster of paris and usg all purpose. How to repair cracks and holes in drywall drywall damage can range from small cracks to large holes, but most repairs are easy and inexpensive to fix. Then, apply the first layer of joint compound making sure to push the mud through the mesh of the tape and into the crack. Allow each application of compound to dry, and then sand, between coats. How to easily fix drywall cracks on walls and ceilings. Patching wall board cracks and holes before painting. This involves scraping away the loose tape and crumbled bits of drywall mud, sanding the surface smooth. Use a drywall knife to cover the patch with lightweight joint compound in a crisscross pattern, feathering the edges so it blends with the wall. Small holes in drywall can usually be filled with a little spackle or joint compound. The opinions expressed in this video are solely those of leah bolden, and no other. Applies like paint, dries to form an elastic cover thats flexible to keep cracks. After enlarging the crack i filled it up with an elastic sealant product called big stretch.
Then at the end of the video ill show you how to skim coat the drywall crack repair and patched area. I patched the worst cracks with mesh tape and joint compound and primed the walls. Repair cracks in the drywall seams with help from a construction professional with over 25 years of experience in this free video clip. Perfect for finishing drywall in high humidity applications.
Excellent for use on smooth surfaces including masonry, brick, plaster, drywall or any surface requiring a permanently flexible seal. How to repair cracks and dents in drywall todays homeowner. In this video, this old house general contractor tom silva explains how to patch a drywall. When you install drywall, you drive drywall screws into the material, barely sinking their heads just below the surface of the paper. Im curious, why you are watching how to videos instead of making them.
For exterior applications, always topcoat with a highquality exteriorgrade paint. How to repair drywall cracks drywall cracks keep coming back. Drywall repair cost does not have to be expensive, and this same method can be used for ceiling drywall repairs. If youre going to repaint a room, you may as well take the opportunity to repair any flaws and cracks in the drywall before you apply the new color. Cover the tape with more joint compound, and allow it to dry before sanding. Whether your walls are made of plaster or drywall, you can repair the cracks in two steps over a day or twoand get the area ready to sand and paint. Inside drywall corners are a bit more difficult to finish than flat seams, and an inexperienced worker may fail to spread enough mud or to sufficiently scrape the tape. To repair cracks in your drywall, buy prepared joint compound or mix some yourself using the instructions provided on settingtype compound powder, which you can get from the hardware store. Unlike plaster, drywall has a seamless paper covering that rarely cracks or splits. From small holes and scratches to holes in your walls, watch this video on how you can repair your drywall.