How to Repair a Cracked Wall

Wall cracks can be caused by construction, accidents and settling of the house. It is unsightly to have a cracked wall and you should fix it as soon as possible. Fixing a crack in the wall is a simple undertaking that even the most inexperienced person can perform.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Putty knife
• Spackle
• Drywall tape
• Sander
• Paint

1. Clean out the crack. Use a knife to remove as much of the debris inside of the crack as you can. Vacuuming the crack can also help you remove the cracked pieces.

2. Fill the crack with spackle. You can use a putty knife to apply it, and remove any excess by hand.

3. Cover the crack with drywall tape. You need to cut the tape into strips long and wide enough to be placed over the entire area.

4. Put more spackle over the cracked wall. Once again, use a putty knife to place a thin layer over the wall. The knife should be wiped down throughout the application in order to keep the spackle from becoming lumpy.

5. Sand down the area. This gets rid of any lumps and makes the surface smooth and ready for paint. Repeat the process of spackling and sanding as necessary until the area is smooth.

6. Paint the area. Find the matching wall color and paint the crack, or the entire room.

Tips & Warnings

• For safety reasons, you should wear gloves and eye protection while fixing a crack in the wall. A dust mask is also a good idea.
• It is better to apply several coats of thin spackle instead of one thick coat; a thick coat is more likely to crack while it dries.

[Bodacious]

on 8/2/2007 You don't use spackle with drywall tape. Also, the note about safety is bass ackward. Wear the dust mask!