Sheetrock (another word for drywall) is compressed gypsum made into wide flat sheets and covered with paper. It can be used to form walls and ceilings. Unlike plaster, drywall doesn't crack. If cracks are showing up on your ceiling, it means the joint compound that was used to cover the seams between the sheets of drywall is cracking. For a consistent look, the entire taped seam should be replaced, not just the part that's cracked.
Instructions
1. Lay out a tarp under the affected part of the ceiling. Set up your ladder. Scrape along the seam where the cracks are, knocking off enough plaster to completely expose a few inches of the drywall tape underneath.
2. Grab hold of the tape and slowly pull it away from the ceiling, taking down the joint compound with it. Pull away the tape from the whole seam from end to end (not just the part that's cracked).
3. Scrape the exposed seam with your drywall knife to knock off any residual compound.
4. Lay a line of drywall tape along the whole seam from end to end. Press it firmly to the surface.
5. Apply joint compound over the line of tape with your drywall knife. Make the line of compound wide enough to cover the tape completely. Get it smooth and flat.
6. Let the compound dry for six hours. Scrape off any high spots with your drywall knife.
7. Spread a second layer of compound over the seam, extending about an inch wider along both edges than the first layer.
8. Allow the second layer to dry for six hours. Scrape it with the drywall knife. Spread on a third layer of compound, about an inch wider on both sides than the previous one. Make it flat and smooth.
9. Allow the compound to dry overnight. Sand it flat with a drywall sander. Repaint the ceiling.
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