How To Repair Cracks In Drywall Outside Corners

If the interior walls of your home are surfaced with drywall, chances are at to the lowest degree one outside corner has been bedridden past a vacuum cleaner, couch, or delinquent Radio Flyer wagon. A coat of spackle and paint won't hide the resulting cracks and disfiguring dents. The only solution is to cut out the damaged corner and rebuild it with a new metal corner bead and fresh joint compound.

The actual repair takes only a couple of hours, only you will take to wait overnight for the joint compound to dry before applying the final pigment coat.

Step ane - Uncover Onetime Metal Dewdrop

Commencement by using the utility knife to make a vertical slice on each side of the damaged metal corner bead (photo 1). Position each cutting about ii inches away from the corner and make both of them long plenty to encompass any hairline cracks visible in a higher place or below the indicate of impact. With the repair area outlined, utilize the hammer and cold chisel to chip off the old joint compound and expose the metal corner bead beneath.

Stride two - Cut Out Damaged Department

Use the hacksaw to cut through the bead (photo 2); remove a department at least vi inches long around the impairment. If the dewdrop is screwed in identify, remove the screws and pull it out with pliers. If it's nailed, gently pry information technology off without crushing surrounding surfaces. If you lot can't pry out the nails without further dissentious the wall, use the snips to cutting the dewdrop from around the nailheads. And so pull off the damaged section and tap the nails below the surface with the hammer.

Pace iii - Measure and Cutting a New Metallic Bead Section

Use the snips to cutting a new slice of bead to fit into the space where the old section was removed. A tight fit is important, so mensurate carefully to brand sure the new piece doesn't overlap the existing one.

To snip through the L-shaped dewdrop, cutting in from each edge, then bend the piece dorsum and along until information technology breaks off. Metal corner bead is sold in eight-foot lengths that price about ii dollars each.

Step iv - Adhere New Bead Section

You tin attach the new bead section with i 5/8-inch drywall screws or two-inch drywall nails. Nailheads lie flatter and are easier to spackle over, though hammering them in can crack the old articulation chemical compound. Screws hold better, merely their thicker heads are a fiddling harder to conceal, especially if the existing corner bead is covered by a sparse coat of joint compound. Our corner was finished with a thick layer, so nosotros attached the new piece with 1 five/eight-inch-long drywall screws (photo iii).

Be sure the new dewdrop's edges marshal with the existing corner. If you've secured the patch and the edges are misaligned, try tapping them straight with a hammer. If that doesn't work, you'll have to remove the replacement piece and put in a new one.

Step 5 - Utilize a Thick Coat of Articulation Compound

Once the new section of corner dewdrop is deeply fastened, the next step is to cover it up with joint compound. Thoroughly stir the material until information technology's smoothen and lump-free. Then apply the 4-inch drywall knife to spread compound over both sides of the corner (photo 4). Don't fuss over this kickoff, thick glaze of compound—information technology will shrink, and you lot'll need to employ at least two more than thinner coats. Just lay information technology on and wipe it smooth.

Footstep 6 - Add More Compound and Paint Over It

Wait for the kickoff coat to dry (10 to 12 hours). Then, utilise a sanding block and 80-grit sandpaper to knock down the high spots (photo five). Switch to the eight-inch drywall knife and spread on a thinner, wider coat of articulation compound with more care. Apply pressure level on the outer edge of the knife as y'all draw the tool across the surface to class a sparse, "plumage edge" of compound. Later the 2nd coat dries (about ii hours) lightly sand it with 120-grit sandpaper. If needed, apply a thin skim glaze of compound to make full airholes, scratches, and other flaws. Wait ii more than hours or so, so wipe downwards the repair with a clammy sponge and use two coats of paint.