Drywall gives your interior walls the perfect completeness and form. Unfortunately, one hairline fracture on your wall will be enough to throw away its entire aesthetic. If you observe drywall cracks, don’t worry. It happens, and while you can do little to prevent it, it’s better if you act fast to repair the fissures.
1. Identify the Cause of Drywall Cracks
It’s only by identifying the cause of drywall crack that you can approach its repair correctly. Drywall consists of several sections that diverge seams. In most cases, this is where the fracturing will occur. At these joints, this is where drywalls are weakest. This increases susceptibility to common upsets—cracking being one.
Cracking at seams can be a result of different stresses. For instance, vacation homes with no full-time climate control may experience temperature changes. These changes result in constant expansion and contraction of the drywall, and the subsequent pressure on seams will cause cracking.
Another major cause of drywall cracks is the settling of the home itself. If you observe vertical cracks that extend along door jambs, corners, and windows of your house, this may be due to settling, especially for new homes or older homes settling on the foundation.
Also, faulty drywall installation may result in cracking issues. If the drywall seams were not well taped or covered with enough drywall mud, you may observe thin, straight cracks in your drywall.
Establishing the root cause of drywall cracks is essential in preventing repeated repairs, and especially from the same drywall stress. It’ll save you a lot of money, and in the current economic situation, a dollar means a lot.
2. Ensure That You Have the Necessary Materials
The kind of cracks evident in your drywall will determine the tools and materials you need for your repair works. Cracks range from the deep, nail, corner bead, and surface cracks.
For deeper and wider cracks (more than ¼ inches wide), you may have to replace the entire panel. Alternatively, you may have to undertake a deeper repair with professional assistance.
For hairline fractures and slight cracks, the repair is easy. The tools and materials you require for the work include the following:
Tools
Dust mask (for protection)
Mud pan
Taping knife, utility knife
Putty knife
Materials
Paper drywall tape
Setting compound
Premixed joint compound
Painters’ tape
3. Prepare the Area for Repair
The first step toward repair involves cutting a V-shape notch to clean the crack. Ensure you don’t leave any debris hanging from the cracks. This allows you to repair them well, ultimately getting a professional finish.
Also, you need to protect the surrounding surfaces. Therefore, use the painter’s tape to cover these areas, especially if the crack is near any trim or woodwork.
4. Going about the Actual Repair
After preparing the cracks for repair, it’s time to carry out the actual repair. Follow these steps:
First, apply a premixed joint compound over the crack, and introduce a strip of drywall tape. In case of any excess joint compound and air from the strip, the putty knife will help you squeeze it out.
Apply a thin layer of the joint compound on top of the strip of tape and smoothen it out. Allow the compound to extend a few inches on both sides of the strip and give it time to dry completely.
After it completely dries, remove any rough spots or excess compound using the putty knife.
Next, use the taping knife to apply more joint compound over the strip. You can add a second or even a third layer.
Employ long strokes to smoothen it out, ensuring the compound extends some inches on both sides of the tape.
Finally, sand or scrape off any excess or rough particles and go ahead to paint.
Wrapping Up
While a crack in your drywall can be heartbreaking, it doesn’t mean that’s the end of your beautiful interior space. Take your time to identify the cause of the cracks, gather the necessary tools and materials, and get down to work. If you follow these tips and repair properly, fractures will be a thing of the past in your home.
