How To Repair Cracked Sheetrock Ceiling

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If a drywall ceiling in your home has developed a crack, you lot can prepare it relatively easily. Begin past laying downwardly plastic and scraping away any loose paper or debris from the drywall, then apply a unmarried piece of mesh drywall record over the scissure. Cover the tape with 2 layers of 5-minute mud, sanding after each layer, and so paint the patched crack. This project should take about 30 minutes (not including ane hour of drying fourth dimension).

1. 1

   Put a sheet of plastic downwardly under the crack. Since you'll be loosening debris, applying mud, and generally making a mess while yous're repairing your ceiling crack, it's smart to put down a big sheet of plastic beforehand. This way, in one case you're done fixing the crack, you can just throw abroad the sheet of plastic and not have to worry almost cleaning your floors.

   • You tin as well remove textile or fabric-covered article of furniture from the room since it will be difficult to make clean pigment and dust off of information technology.

2. 2

   Ready an A-frame ladder. An A-frame will provide stability as yous stand up on it to reach your ceiling. Make sure that all four legs are stable and flat on the floor before you climb up, and avoid making sudden movements while you're on the ladder. If your ladder has a fold-out section across from the top rung, you can apply this to concord your record, mud, and other repair supplies.^[1]

   • A-frame ladders should exist available for purchase at a local hardware store or home-supply store. A 6- or 8-foot (i.viii-2.4 grand) ladder will be most useful.
   • If yous have a low ceiling, y'all could feasibly utilize a pace-ladder to ready the crack. The disadvantage, though, would be that you'll be more precariously balanced on elevation of the step-ladder, and won't take a manner to set your patching materials within reach.

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3. iii

   Scrape away loose fabric with a drywall knife. Position your six-inch (fifteen cm) drywall pocketknife at nigh a 15° bending against the ceiling near the fissure. Slide it up under any loose, unattached pieces of drywall paper that are torn virtually the crack. Use the knife to slice these off, being conscientious non to impairment the drywall beneath.^[ii]

   • Drywall knives will exist available at whatever hardware shop, paint shop, or dwelling house-supply store. Many sizes will be available, although the six-inch (15 cm) is typically most effective.

4. 4

   Utilize mesh drywall tape directly over the crack. This tape volition be adhesive, so it will stick firmly to your ceiling. Use long strips of record to cover the unabridged scissure. In fact, depending on the length of the crack, you lot may exist able to cover the unabridged thing using one strip of tape. Position the tape so information technology's centered directly over the crack, and printing it firmly onto the ceiling.^[3] Practise not apply more than than a single layer of record.

   • Get over the tape a few times with a rolling pin or can to polish it out.
   • This is the aforementioned tape you use to connect the seams when you're installing drywall in the outset place.^[iv] Information technology's available for purchase at a local hardware store or home-supply store.
   • If the store has a variety of tapes, make sure to purchase an adhesive version.

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1. 1

   Mix 5-minute mud powered with h2o. Milk shake out most i lb (0.45 kg) worth of dry mud into a big plastic container. Add lukewarm h2o from your kitchen tap. While holding the container over your kitchen sink, utilise your putty knife to thoroughly mix the 5-minute mud. Continue adding h2o and mixing until the mud is roughly the consistency of mayonnaise.^[v]

   • You can besides secure the ceiling crack with joint compound. Even so, 5-minute mud will set more than firmly than joint compound, and bolster the structural integrity of ceiling drywall.
   • V-infinitesimal mud volition be available for purchase at your local hardware or home-supply store. You should merely need a 3-lb (i.4 kg) bag of the sand. This should sell for betwixt $5 USD and $vii USD.
   • Yous tin also use mud with a longer drying time, like 20-infinitesimal mud. Using mud with a longer drying time will requite you lot more fourth dimension to do the repair. As long as you exercise non mix the mud too watery, it will not fall on you, but yous will need more time at the get-go to go the hang of plastering a ceiling.
   • Spray the ceiling with a spray water bottle to assist the mud adhere to the existing plaster. Mud does not stick to dust, oil, mold, as well flat or loose surfaces.

2. two

   Use a layer of the mud to your ceiling crack. Using the broad edge of your putty knife, apply a single, smooth layer of mud. Make certain to completely embrace the mesh record with mud. If you can, employ the mud in a single direction, parallel with the crack. Work quickly, since the mud will be dry in 5 minutes.^[half-dozen]

   • Once you've practical the first layer, expect 30 minutes for the mud to fully dry.
   • If the layer of mud looks uneven, use a moisture sponge to smooth it out before information technology dries.

3. 3

   Add texture to the mud if your ceiling is texturized. Texturizing the mud will assist it blend in with the residuum of the ceiling. The best way to add texture to the mud depends on what kind of ceiling you have.

   • If your ceiling has a swirl texture, use a soft paintbrush to recreate the pattern in the mud.
   • If your ceiling has a knock-down texture, printing a firm, wet piece of paper into the mud to replicate the texture.
   • If your ceiling has a popcorn texture, spray over the mud with a popcorn ceiling patch spray.

4. 4

   Sand the outset layer of mud once it'southward dried. Sanding the mud in between layers volition help make the terminal effect look smoother and more than professional. Employ a sanding sponge to gently sand any crude patches on the mud, working in a back-and-along motion.

5. 5

   Mix a second batch of five-minute mud. The second coat should be thinner than the first, so exist sure to add more than h2o from your kitchen tap to the aforementioned amount of sand. The thinner coat will encompass any cracks or lumps present in the first glaze of mud. Mix this batch until it'due south roughly the consistency of sour cream.^[7]

   • Use the corners and edge of your putty knife to scrape out any pockets of dry sand from the corners or edges of the plastic mixing container.

6. 6

   Apply a 2nd glaze of the mud. Utilize the same technique that you used for the showtime coat. Fully cover the mesh tape with the mud. This layer should embrace up the tape's grid design, and so it won't be visible after you've sanded and painted the ceiling.^[8]

   • Every bit with the first coat of mud, you'll need to wait 30 minutes for this layer to fully dry. It should be dry in 5 minutes, simply information technology'southward best to give information technology extra fourth dimension to ensure information technology is fully dry and ready for pigment.

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1. i

   Sand the layers of mud with a sanding sponge. Now that the scissure is structurally repaired, you'll need to smooth out the rough patches. Have the sanding sponge and run it over the area you've covered with mud. Sand using a back-and-forth motility until the dried mud covering the former croaky area is shine and affluent with the residual of your ceiling.^[9]

   • Sanding sponges can be purchased at your local hardware store. If they come in a range of grits, opt for a fine-grit sanding sponge.
   • Depending on how much stale mud you sand off, it may brand quite a mess. Endeavour to ensure that the majority falls on the plastic sheet that you've laid down. If you lot still accept cloth-covered article of furniture in the room, consider putting drib cloths over them to avoid permanent impairment.
   • If you are trying to match a very flat surface, mix the terminal glaze of mud a little more watery than the first 2 coats and use information technology to the ceiling with a fourteen or 18 inch trowel. The longer trowel will make full in the low spots making a flatter surface.

2. 2

   Discover a paint color that matches your ceiling. The portion of ceiling that you've patched and sanded volition need to exist painted to match the rest of the ceiling. If you accept some paint leftover from when you (or contractors) painted your ceiling initially, you tin use this to paint over the repaired fissure.

   • If you don't have leftover paint, you'll need to visit a paint store or home-supply store to find a matching coat of paint. Larger hardware stores may stock and mix paint, besides.
   • Pick upwards several paint-color strips, and compare each color against your ceiling to find the closest lucifer.^[10]
   • You can also bring a sample of the paint to your local dwelling improvement heart or paint store and have them friction match the colour for you using a computer.

3. iii

   Paint the portion of the ceiling that you've sanded. Once you have your pigment, pour about ½ cup (113 grams) into a metal painter'south tray. Scroll your roller castor up and downwardly through the paint until the entire surface of the brush is coated with paint. Then, working from one end of the patched crack to the other, employ the brush to use paint a layer of paint to your ceiling.^[11]

   • After yous've finished painting and the paint has stale, your ceiling should be a single color and texture.

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• Question

  How do I ready a crevice in the ceiling?

  

  Andrew Peters is an Architecture and Construction Specialist and a Chief at Peters Design-Build, a full service architecture and construction firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 20 years of experience, Andrew specializes in sustainable and holistic design and edifice practices. Andrew holds a Available of Compages and a Projection Management Professional (PMP) certification and is a Leadership in Energy and Ecology Design (LEED)-Accredited Professional person. He served equally Project Manager for the international-honor-winning "Refract House," Squad California's entry in the 2009 U.S. Section of Energy Solar Decathlon, a project featured in over 600 online and print articles.

  

  Architecture & Construction Specialist

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  Support wikiHow past unlocking this good answer.

  Cover the scissure with fiberglass mesh tape—the same drywall tape yous employ to connect the seams when you install drywall. So, mud over that with drywall mud and finish it out similar a typical drywall seam.

• Question

  What causes cracks in a ceiling?

  

  Andrew Peters is an Architecture and Construction Specialist and a Principal at Peters Design-Build, a full service compages and construction firm in the San Francisco Bay Surface area. With over 20 years of feel, Andrew specializes in sustainable and holistic pattern and building practices. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Compages and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Blueprint (LEED)-Accredited Professional. He served as Project Manager for the international-laurels-winning "Refract House," Team California's entry in the 2009 U.South. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, a projection featured in over 600 online and print manufactures.

  

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• Although it'southward tempting, exercise not only apply spackling or joint compound over a crack in ceiling drywall. This cosmetic fix may concur for a while, but after a couple months, the scissure will re-emerge, likely bigger than before.^[12]

• Go along in mind that cracks in drywall typically appear due to movement in the house over fourth dimension. Even if you lot fix it, chances are that the cracks will reappear eventually.^[13]

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• If you're concerned most getting dust in your eyes or inhaling it while you're sanding abroad the dried mud, wearable a pair of protective eye goggles. You can too wear a surgery mask, or tie a bandana over your mouth.^[14] Both of these materials volition be available at a local hardware shop.

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Things You lot'll Need

• A-frame ladder
• Self- adhesive mesh drywall tape
• half-dozen-inch (15 cm) drywall knife
• Easy Sand 5-minute mud
• Plastic bucket or mixing container
• Sanding sponge
• Surgery mask (optional)
• Protective eyewear (optional)
• Paint that matches the color of your ceiling
• Roller brush

About This Article

Article Summary X

To set up a ceiling crack, start by scraping abroad any loose cloth from the fissure with a drywall knife. Adjacent, put mesh drywall tape over the crack and press it firmly onto the ceiling. And then, ready 5-minute mud past mixing the mud pulverisation with lukewarm h2o. One time the mud is mixed, apply a layer of it to the ceiling using a putty knife, making sure to completely cover the drywall tape. Finally, allow the mud 30 minutes to dry out before sanding it down and applying a second coat of mud. For tips from our Handyman reviewer on how to paint over your repair and then it matches the rest of the ceiling, read on!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Ceiling-Cracks

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