Things You'll Need:
- Sharp 6-inch drywall knife
- Mesh drywall tape
- Drywall joint compound
- Hand drywall sander with sandpaper
- 12-inch drywall knife
- Paint
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Step 1
Scrape off the plaster on the seam with your 6-inch drywall knife. Run the flat edge of the knife into the seam from above and below it, holding the knife at a slight angle. When you expose the drywall tape, slowly pull it off. Scrape all the loose plaster off to expose the seam.
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Step 2
Lay a piece of mesh drywall tape along the seam, covering it completely. Tear the end of the tape off, using your 6-inch drywall knife as a straight-edge to tear it.
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Step 3
Spread a line of drywall joint compound over the tape with your 6-inch drywall knife. Make the line about 4 inches wide, so it completely covers the tape and extends over the top and bottom of it. Smooth out the layer, making it just thick enough to cover the tape. Let it dry overnight.
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Step 4
Sand the seam smooth with your drywall sander. Sand it until there are no more ridges or bumps and you can just make out the shape of the mesh tape beneath the compound.
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Step 5
Lay a second, wider coat of compound with your 12-inch drywall knife. Make it about 8 inches wide. Keep it thin and smooth it out as before. Let it dry for six to eight hours.
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Step 6
Sand the second coat as before, but don't expose the shape of the tape. Apply a third coat of compound with your 12-inch knife, making it about 10 inches wide and very thin and smooth. Let it dry for six to eight hours.
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Step 7
Sand the final coat very lightly, just enough to completely blend it to the wall. Brush off the dust and repaint the wall.
