How to Repair Drywall Cracks

Every homeowner will eventually have to make repairs to their home. Read our guide to learn how to repair cracks in drywall so you can when the need arises.

Anyone who owns a house will have to deal with repairs of one kind or another. Kids will be kids, and at some point, you’re going to either have to hire a professional or learn how to repair cracks in drywall. Of course, you don’t have to have kids running amok to sustain damage to your home—settling and age can also take a toll. With help from CertaPro Painters® of Northwest Florida, you can learn.

Materials You’ll Need

The materials you’ll need to repair drywall depend on how severe the crack is. Surface cracks can be easily covered up with some drywall compound using a putty knife. However, deep cracks will need to be held together with fiberglass tape to ensure it doesn’t continue to pull apart and break the seal again. No matter what kind of crack you’re repairing, you should have a fine-grit sanding sponge to clean up the drywall compound and paint to cover it up.

Assess the Damage

When you’re trying to see how to repair ceiling drywall or walls in your home, you need to look at the damage that’s been done. Many superficial cracks are easy fixes and can be done in a few minutes without worrying about future damage. You can identify surface cracks by looking at how much of the drywall has cracked. Drywall cracks typically occur at seams, and it’s nothing more than the drywall compound shrinking after it dries. Use a knife or the corner of your putty knife to carefully cut into the crack to see if the seam has pulled. If it hasn’t, you can fill the crack with drywall compound.

A crack where the seam has started pulling apart will need to be held together with fiberglass tape, which will ensure it doesn’t continue pulling apart after the compound dries and shrinks once again. Our drywall repair services can help if you’re unsure about the extent of the damage you’re dealing with.

Performing the Repair

If you need to use fiberglass tape, use it the same way you would if you were taping a piece of paper together. Cover the length of the crack with as much of it in the middle of the tape as possible. Apply your drywall compound using your putty knife. Don’t worry about using fiberglass tape if you’re fixing a surface crack. Hold your putty knife at a 70-degree angle to get the best coverage and pressure to fill the crack. After the compound has dried, clean up the area using your sanding sponge. You can then paint over the area to make it look as good as new.

Repairing cracks in drywall isn’t always easy, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Northwest Florida drywall repair services for help.

Get in Touch for an Estimate

Drywall cracks are a normal part of homeownership. If you’d prefer not to learn how to repair cracks in drywall yourself, you can always call us at CertaPro Painters® of Northwest Florida to do it for you. You can refresh your home’s interior by hiring our team to repair your drywall damage, cracks, and holes. Our experts will arrive on time and provide you with top-quality craftsmanship for a beautiful finish. Contact us today for a free estimate.