The secret to fixing cracks in drywall is that there really is no secret! It is a very straightforward procedure that will work every time. In this article, I share that with you. Cracks are usually easier to fix than holes in drywall, so you can be thankful for that!
So how do you fix cracks in drywall? Fixing cracks properly is mostly about preparing the wall and using drywall tape when repairing. If you don’t use drywall tape, the cracks will return quickly.
Now you know you need drywall tape to repair cracks properly and that proper preparation is important. Almost anything you do in the trades requires some form of preparation so that shouldn’t be a surprise! Up next, I will explain how to prep the wall properly as well as talk about applying drywall tape.
How to Prep a Cracked Wall for Repair
When cracks happen, there is a good chance the edges of the cracks will not be perfectly flat anymore. A lot of times where the crack is, the drywall paper will either be pushed outward or flipped out, which needs to be fixed asap.
- What you are checking for is to see if both sides of the crack are smooth, solid and not bowed out so much that it will be noticeable after the repair is done, if you don’t fix anything.
- You can take a piece of 2X4 or small level and hold it across the crack, sliding it over the length, keeping an eye on where the wall seems to be pushing outward. Mark those areas with a pencil. Circle them or put an arrow pointing to the location.
- Now, using a utility knife, cut out the parts of the crack that are now protruding outwards. Just hold the knife on an angle to the edge and cut it like you would cut into a cucumber to peel it. Hopefully that makes sense. In most cases, you will just be trimming a bit off, enough to clean-up the crack.
- After you feel the crack edging has been sufficiently cleaned up and there is no heaving of that area, then (if needed) a light sanding might be necessary. Also ensure that there are no loose materials as in paint flaking, etc. When you mud, you want the bond to be as strong as possible.
- That’s pretty much it! Your wall crack should be prepped and now ready for mudding.
How to Apply Drywall Tape to Fix a Wall Crack
When fixing cracks in drywall, always use a piece of drywall tape, no matter how small the crack may be. It’s really a waste of time if you fix a crack and two weeks later the crack returns because you didn’t use tape.
For the type of tape to use, I prefer paper tape whereas some DIYers might prefer a mesh tape. The bonus to the mesh drywall tape is there is a bit of adhesive on it so it sticks to the wall. I like using it as I find it doesn’t allow cracks to reappear as easily.
- First apply a thin coat of mud wider than drywall tape over the crack then lay your piece of drywall tape on the mud.
- Take a bit of mud on the drywall knife and apply to the top side of the tape. You might have to use a finger on your free hand to hold the tape in place while you press firmly with your knife, wiping the mud down the length of the tape.
- This should force any excess mud out from underneath the tape. Apply more mud if you can still see the tape or wipe off excess as necessary.
- Apply one or two more coats of mud after each coat dries. Make sure you wipe of any excess. The less sanding you have to do, the better.
That’s about it for fixing a wall crack!
If the crack you are fixing is very wide, say ½” or more, you might want to apply a thick mixture of drywall mud into the crack and let it dry. Just make sure it doesn’t drip out. Tape would not be required in this case until you have filled some of the whole. Once that is done, you will have a bit of a base to work on and can apply the tape and mud to finish the job.
What Causes Cracks in Drywall?
Cracks are typically caused by shifting of the building. Even the slightest movement can cause cracking.
You will notice that a lot of cracks appear at the tops of doorways and windows. This happens when the building shifts. The building could be settling or the ground underneath the structure starts contracting because of temperature changes. Or, in some cases, concrete basement walls are cracking so bad that it’s causing shifting.
One thing to check when this happens are your teleposts. Makes sure that they are not too loose or too tight. If they are loose, you either have to tighten them up or find out what is causing them to be loose and fix the problem.
If they are too tight, you will see some bulging of floors on levels above the posts. When this happens, loosen the telepost slowly, checking to see when the bulging floor looks normal and level.
At this point, it is safe to start repairing the cracked drywall.
Do Cracks in Drywall Mean Foundation Problems?
Not always. Shifting and settling is normal for newer homes and homes in regions where clay is present or other earth’s materials that shift when there is a wet season. Don’t discount dry regions, however, wet conditions seem to cause the most problems.
The cracks you have, could appear and disappear in certain seasons. I had a home once in an area known for heavy clay deposits and every spring the cracks above the doors would open slightly and then in the winter they would almost seal right up.
The only way I was going to fix that was to brace the concrete walls in the basement with channel iron. The cracks were long, deep and horizontal.
So sometimes it doesn’t matter if you fix the crack or not. If you don’t fix the root of the problem, the cracks will keep appearing.
How to Fix a Crack in Drywall that Keeps Coming Back?
If you have read everything I have written so far in this article, this question should be answered for you. Most times, if it’s more than settling and you don’t fix the root problem, cracks will keep reappearing.
Also don’t use mesh tape, use paper drywall tape.
How to Repair Drywall Cracks in Ceilings?
Fixing cracks in the ceiling can be done with the same process as previously explained. The only thing different here is you might have to scrape some ceiling compound off so you can apply the tape.
Sometimes with ceiling cracks, I will see if I can just fill the cracks with drywall mud or spackle, if the ceiling has had spraytex applied. Sometimes this works and the crack doesn’t come back. Sometimes the crack does come back.
You will most likely have to touch up the ceiling with some ceiling paint.
How to Fix Drywall Cracks in Corners?
If a crack appears in a corner, use the same technique of cutting out excess materials. When that is done, use drywall tape as previously discussed. Sometimes when corners crack, you have to cut out a bit more of the drywall tape already installed as it might ripple a bit.
Use a corner trowel to mud.
Are Cracks in Drywall Serious?
Lastly, are cracks in drywall serious? Sometimes yes, but most of the time, no. Usually it is a bit of shifting. Make sure to focus on the cause of the shifting and if you can rectify that, the cracks will definitely not come back.
I hope this article helped answer your questions regarding fixing cracks in drywall.
If you are looking for info on what tools are needed to drywall check out my article on the subject. Tools Needed for Drywalling.
If you are just starting a drywalling job, you might want to know if you should drywall the ceiling or the walls first. If so, check out the following article. Do I Drywall Ceilings or Walls first?
Good luck, fellow weekend warriors!
