Repair drywall cracks and holes for your home

Surface Crack Repair: Unlike plaster, drywall has a seamless paper covering that rarely cracks or splits. When a crack appears, it is usually on a seam where two drywall sheets meet, and it is easily fixed. If the crack is on a vertical or horizontal seam, carefully widen the crack with the corner of a paint scraper, utility knife or chisel to determine if the crack extends completely through the paper that is covering the seam and if the tape has pulled loose from the wall surface. If the tape is intact and well-adhered, the crack was probably caused by the old drywall compound drying and shrinking. Simply fill the crack with new compound. When applying the compound, hold the knife at a 70-degree angle and swipe across the crack. Make sure the knife is clean by scraping both sides of it over the edge of the pan. Allow the joint compound to dry completely then lightly sand the area Wipe away the dust then paint over it. Go here this link repair drywall cracks and holes for your home and read more.

Deep Crack Repair: If the crack extends through the seam’s paper tape or if the tape has pulled loose from the wall, use a razor knife to cut the tape about 6" to 12" from both ends of the damage. Remove the tape but be careful not to tear away the drywall’s paper covering. Scrape away any loose compound and use a razor knife or drywall saw to expand the crack through the wall surface into the stud cavity. Avoid removing solid, well-adhered compound beyond the crack itself. Fill the crack with new drywall compound and apply a thin coat of compound to the wall surface where the old tape was removed. While the compound is still wet, place a strip of fiberglass tape over the seam bridging the gap between the ends of the existing tape Use a putty knife to gently flatten wrinkles and to bed the tape into the compound.

Nail Pop Repair: A common drywall problem, especially in newer homes, is “nail pops,” or nail heads that pull away from the wood studs and protrude through the drywall tape or paint. This is usually caused by warped wood that was inadequately dry when installed. Although the drywall is rarely in danger of falling off the wall, the bumps are visible and unsightly. Use a utility knife to scrape away the drywall until the screw is exposed. Then there are two ways to fix nail pops: use a screwdriver or hammer to drive the nail back into the studs, then bracket each nail head with closely spaced drywall screws. Or remove the nail and drive a screw in its place, along with a second screw nearby, to re-secure the drywall to the stud.

Corner Bead Repair: Outer drywall corners are reinforced with metal or plastic edging, called corner bead. Although this bead is damage-resistant, a sharp knock can cause the drywall compound that covers it to crack or chip off, and a strong enough shock can dent or bend the corner bead. Usually, the damage is confined to a short section that can be cut away and replaced. If the damage is limited to the drywall compound, simply remove all loose material and apply new compound. It is not necessary to tape over the compound. If the bead is dented, use a metal-cutting hacksaw to cut through the bead above and below the damaged area. Then use a utility knife to cut vertically around the corner bead. Corner bead is usually attached with drywall nails, so use a pry bar or claw hammer to remove the fasteners. 

Small Hole Repair: For holes no large than 6", a variety of drywall patch kits are available. The kits typically have a reinforced center panel surrounded by self-sticking tape. Simply adhere the patch to the wall and cover with drywall compound. You can create your own patch to repair larger holes in drywall. For holes that don’t extend to studs on either side, you will need to reinforce the hole. Measure the hole then cut a scrap piece of drywall that is slightly larger than the hole’s diameter. Place drywall piece over the damaged area and trace around it with a pencil. Use a drywall or reciprocating saw to cut out the area within the traced lines. Cut two pieces of 2x4 slightly larger than the hole. Position the 2x4s vertically inside the hole on each side of the hole. (It is not necessary to reinforce the horizontal edges of the replacement drywall.) Secure the 2x4s to the drywall with drywall screws. Set the new drywall into the hole and secure to the 2x4s with screws.