Repairing Drywall Cracks In Ceiling
In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to repair drywall cracks in a ceiling. Climb into the attic and remove the insulation from between the ceiling joists directly above the damaged drywall. How to Fix Cracks in Plaster Walls & Ceilings Step 1. Remove any loose plaster that's embedded in the crack. Measure the length of the crack and cut strips of self-adhesive mesh drywall tape to. Place the mesh tape directly over the crack and run your hand over it to stick it. How to Repair a Drywall Ceiling. Ceiling repairs due to cracks, water stain, holes and exposed nails are common problems for most homeowners. It may seem daunting to repair a drywall ceiling. However, it is a relatively easy task if you have some basic skills, the necessary tools and right materials.
Repairing Major Damage. When exposed to a lot of water, drywall tends to warp as the gypsum swells. When it dries, the gypsum may harden into a bulging wall or ceiling surface. This bulging gypsum will tend to be harder than before it got wet. This will be true of plaster with gypsum board lath also. How to Repair Cracks in a Drywall Ceiling. If the drywall isn’t firmly attached, drive drywall screws into the framing on both sides of the crack. 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. Drywall repair. Minor repairs are necessary for things like cracked joints 4, hairline cracks, or nail holes. These repairs are relatively simple and require only a few materials such as joint 4 tape and spackle 5. Minor repairs can generally be taken care of in 1 to 2 hours by a handyman at around $60 to $90 an hour.
Introduction
It is very important to understand that a crack in drywall, specifically in the ceiling, could indicate structural damage. Be sure to check the framing of the room and fix any problems before fixing cracks in your ceiling.
- Five-in-One
- 4' Putty Knife
- Paint Roller or Brush
- Medium Grit Sand Paper
- Drywall Joint Compound
- Mesh Tape
- Paint and Primer to Match Your Ceiling's Color
Use a utility knife or five-in-one to remove loose paint or drywall from inside the crack.
Don’t gouge the ceiling but firmly scrape parallel to the crack. Scraping perpendicularly to the crack will only cause more damage.
Use mesh tape to tape over the crack.
Try to use long pieces of tape, if possible taping the entire crack with one piece.
It is also important to keep each piece of tape centered on the crack.
Use either a five-in-one or a putty knife to spread the compound.
Spread drywall joint compound over the tape so that it appears flat.
Use more joint compound than you need rather than less. You will sand off excess later.
Make sure to cover the tape completely.
After the compound has completely dried sand down any ridges that resulted from the putty knife.
This step will be messy! Everything in the room will get some dust on it, so either use dropcloths or be ready to clean when you're done.
Also, be careful not to get dust in your eyes, or inhale dust. You may wish to wear goggles and a dust mask.
Don’t sand into the tape.
You still want the compound to cover the tape and its contours completely.
Prime and paint the ceiling.
Use a primer and paint that has been matched to your ceiling by a paint shop.
The primer can be any color that is the same or lighter than your ceiling color.
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It is important to note that a crack in drywall may indicate a more critical problem with the framing in your walls or ceiling. Please do not assume that this repair will prevent further cracking.
It is important to note that a crack in drywall may indicate a more critical problem with the framing in your walls or ceiling. Please do not assume that this repair will prevent further cracking.
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Gather your materials.
You’ll need a 6-inch taping knife, a 10- or 12-inch taping knife, 1 square piece of plywood or a plastic mud pan, drywall compound, drywall tape (paper or fiberglass), and fine-grit sandpaper and a sanding block.
Clean out the crack.
Use your taping knife to scrape the edges of the crack to remove any dust.
Put some compound on the plywood or mud pan.
This makes it easy to load onto the knife.
Put some compound on the plywood or mud pan.
This makes it easy to load onto the knife.
Apply a light coating of compound to the crack using the 6-inch taping knife.
Make sure that the coating is wet but not thick.
Embed the tape in the compound immediately.
Lay the tape over the compound you just applied and use the knife to push the tape into the compound. If necessary, cut the tape in short lengths to follow the line of a really crooked crack.
If you bought fiberglass tape, you can skip the embedding coat of compound under the tape because it is self-sticking. Otherwise, you do everything the same way.
Warning: Fiberglass tape is thicker than paper tape, which makes it harder to repair invisibly.
Scrape the tape with the wider knife to scrape away any excess compound.
Use a smooth scraping motion.
Scrape the tape with the wider knife to scrape away any excess compound.
Use a smooth scraping motion.
Apply a thin coat of compound over the tape using the 6-inch knife.
Be sure to feather the edges. Let the patch dry completely (usually overnight).
After the first coat is dry, apply a second coat with the wide knife.
By using a wider knife, you blend out the original edges. Make sure to feather the edges again. Again, let it dry.
Allow to dry and then apply a final coat.
Follow the same procedure as before.
Allow to dry and then apply a final coat.
Follow the same procedure as before.
Sand the patch until smooth.
Use a fine-grit paper to smooth out the surface.
Paint over the patch with primer.
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Don’t skip this step or you’ll end up with a permanently goofy-looking, non-matching area.
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