How To Repair Small Cracks in Drywall
Small cracks, called stress
cracks, commonly occur around door and window openings. They are usually
the result of movement of the wall or structure; typically from settling
and wood shrinkage.
Simply painting over the crack or filling it with spackling paste often
will only hide the problem for a short time. Follow these instructions
for a longer-lasting repair.
If the crack occurs over a seam between drywall panels, cut out any
loose drywall tape and other loose material. Press on the drywall panel
to determine if there is any movement. If so, start by driving a new
fastener nearby. It will be necessary to determine the location of the
stud behind the drywall, so that you drive the new screw into a solid
support. As you begin
driving the screw, use firm pressure with your other hand to snug the
drywall against the supports. If there is no movement of the panel,
you can proceed to the next step.
Use a razor-knife to make a small "V" groove down the length of the
crack. This will provide for better adhesion of the joint compound. Fill
the groove and any voids with joint compound and cover it with mesh drywall
tape. The tape proves a substrate
for the compound to adhere to, resulting in a smoother, stronger patch.
Next,
using a 3" putty knife, spread a coat of joint compound over the
mesh tape and allow it to dry. After the compound has dried for at least
a couples hours, lightly sand it smooth. Wipe away any dust and apply
another coat of joint compound. Taper the compound at the edges to blend
it with the surrounding surface. Allow this coat to dry and then sand.
Finally, apply a third coat of joint compound. With this coat, it will
be necessary to blend it with the surrounding decorative texture. There
are many different textures, so we can't list all of them here. However,
matching a texture can sometimes be done by dragging the compound around
with a putty knife, dabbed with a moist sponge, or sprayed on with off
the shelf products designed to retexture small patches. |