dry wall help please!!?

Question

The house we just bought has alot of handyman stuff to do. The down stairs was done by the previous owners. When they put the dry wall up they didn't tape the joints. Noe the plaster is cracked at the joint all the way down. Is there a way to fix this short of replacing all of the dry wall?

Answer 1

I do things kind of the hard way I guess. If it was my house I would use a two inch putty knife and scrape out the seams and start over. Yes I do agree fiber tape is better for preventing cracks but paper tape is easier to cover( especially for beginners). Your first coat of mud should be applied with a 6" mud knife,24 hours sounds a bit extreme but allow it dry completely. Then use a ten inch knife for your next coat if it needed apply a third coat. Or you can really cheat and fill the cracks with paint-able caulking and paint. Good Luck

Answer 2

This is an easy fix. What you should do is enlarge the crack, by using a dremel tool with a dry wall cutting bit, or use a utility knife. The purpose of enlarging the crack is so the dry wall has room to expand, that's why it cracked in the first place. Lightly sand any rough spots, tape the joint, apply drywall cement using a 4" putty knife, sand when dry, apply more dry wall cement using a larger putty knife than the first, sand when dry, repeat if needed, using an even larger putty knife. Using different length putty knifes will feather the cement out giving a smother finish. Primer with 2 coats then paint.

Answer 3

You are going to place drywall mesh tape along the length of the crack. Cover over with a coat of drywall compound. Let dry overnight. Sand with a medium paper to smooth out any bumps. with a litely damp sponge, wipe to remove any sanding residue.Prime and paint to finish. If you're not handy, a simple job like this can be hired out.

Answer 4

Just pick up from the taping and carry on as though you were finishing the job - which you are. No need to put up fresh drywall.

Answer 5

take off all the loose mud, use the "fiberglass tape" is is better when going over already finished walls....3 coats of mud, 24 hours between each coat, and widen by 4 inches with each coat....sand and paint...

lic. gn. contractor

Answer 6

as the other answer suggests...go with paper tape...hard to believe but once it's on it is actually stronger than fiberglass tape...painting and drywall contractor

Answer 7

sand it all and tape and bed