30
Jun
Top 6 reasons for drywall repair and how to fix them
- Drywall
- J & I DRYWALL LLC
Nowadays, drywall is simply one of the best and most sought-after materials for home and business interiors. Its insulation and fire-resistant features make it a safe and cost-effective option for your projects. However, it also needs repairs from time to time. Usually, damage in drywall is due to accidental situations. Doorknob blows, furniture, children’s games, and more – all of them contribute slowly to damage your interior walls. In this article, we will look at the six most common issues why people look for drywall repair services.
1. Simple surface cracks are not a big hassle
The outer layer of sheetrock panels consists of a paper covering that rarely cracks. As a matter of fact, this is one of the main reasons why drywall has displaced plaster in many cases. Usually, cracks appear over the seams, or in other words, where two sheetrock panels meet. So, in order to repair superficial cracks, the first step is to use a chisel to widen them. The reason behind this is that by widening the crack, you can see if it extends throughout the paper covering along the seam. Also, it allows you to determine the state of the tape. If the tape is in good shape, then the crack is due to old drywall compound. Thus, you don’t need extensive drywall repair. Filling the crack with more compound shall do the trick. Finally, just let it dry, sand it, paint it, and voila.
2. Deep cracks do need thorough drywall repair
Deep cracks mean that they extend throughout the seam’s tape, or when the tape looks pulled from the wall. In these cases, the first step is to remove the damaged tape leaving a little margin beyond the damage area (6 inches minimum) to work with. Then, proceed as if you were dealing with a minor crack. Scrape old compound in the damaged area and expand the crack (this time all the way into the stud).
Finally, it’s time to fill in the cracks with new compound. However, it’s a little more complicated drywall repair project. Make sure to follow these steps carefully:
- First, apply a thin coat of covering over the space where the removed tape was placed.
- While the compound is still wet, place new tape along the seam, until you bridge its ends with those of the existing tape.
- Use a putty knife to gently push the tape into the compound.
- Once dried, cover the newly taped area with more drywall compound. Remember, this process needs several thin layers, given that thicker layers dry slower and tend to crack more easily.
After you finish with all of this, it’s time to let dry and smooth the surface with a sander. Now, add a new layer of compound to cover the entire patch. This is the new wall finish, so make sure to blend it completely with the existing surface. Finally, it’s time to sand and repaint.
Stay in touch for our next article, in which we will explore more of these drywall repair ideas. As you see, these drywall repair projects have a certain degree of difficulty. So, if you have doubts, the best you can do is to ask a professional. By calling J&I Drywall today, you guarantee expert services and quality results.
