Drywall sometimes cracks and needs repairs.
Drywall is a sheet of gypsum layered between two layers of paper. Gypsum is soft and damages relatively easy. The main causes of drywall cracks are house settling or shifting and damage caused by something scratching the drywall like furniture. You have several options to patch drywall cracks. Patching drywall only requires basic carpentry skills.
Patching With Lightweight Surfacing Compound
For cracks that are shorter than one inch, use a lightweight surfacing compound to fill them. Lightweight surfacing compound is applied with a dampened finger and smoothed onto the damaged area. The cracks aren't difficult to sand, and the compound only takes about 15 minutes to dry, making it ideal for quick fixes.
Patching With Paintable Latex Caulk
Paintable latex caulk is the only filler that can control unstable cracks and cracks that seem to reopen over time. Latex caulk comes in a a tube and is applied with a caulking gun. The caulk cannot be sanded, so smooth with your fingers or a putty knife immediately after applying.
Patching With Spackling Paste
Spackling paste is used to patch large cracks and dents. You must build the paste up in 1/4-inch layers for it to set properly. Spackling paste usually dries between 10 to 40 minutes, and you can sand it once it is dry.
Patching With Joint Compound
Joint compound is used when taping drywall joints and is applied over fiberglass mesh tape to patch large cracks and holes. You must apply it in layers no thicker than 1/4 inch at a time. It isn't difficult to sand and comes in large 5-gallon containers.
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