Fixing Hairline Cracks In Drywall With Caulk

Smaller cracks in drywall can actually be more difficult to repair then larger cracks that you can mud and tape but there is a way that you can get decent results that will last for years. The first thing you need to do is inspect the crack and note its location. If the crack in your drywall is over a doorway or over a window then you could have a structural problem with your house. If your house is new this could be due to settling of your wood framing and foundation. If you have an older home and the cracks appear after water damage to your foundation you may need to take closer notice. The size of the drywall crack is important.

Why do Drywall Seams Crack? You have just moved into your new house or reoccupied the rooms that you had renovated. The new drywall was painted and looked beautiful for the first six months and then after the winter thaw you start to see seams cracking and screws popping through the paint.

Cracks

Small cracks thinner then a dime that run a few feet are not that much of a problem and show the force that home settling can have on drywall by pulling it apart. If you have cracks that vary in size and at any point are larger then a half inch wide then you most likely have a structural problem that needs to be inspected.

Structural problems can be from a rotted sill plate at the base of a wall, foundation problems, even termite damage. They could also be from locating something too heavy in the area such as a safe or whirlpool bath. And remember that cracks can be caused from problems below or above the room you are in. Using Latex Caulk to Fill Small Drywall Cracks To fill small cracks you need something that is liquid enough to penetrate the crack but drys to a finish that can be painted.

The easiest material is a 100% latex caulk and this type of caulk just so happens to be the least expensive too. You will need to use a small rubber spatula to force the caulk into the crack. First apply a bead to the crack then using a crosshatch pattern work the caulk into the crack. You don’t want to run along the crack or straight against it or you will pull caulk out of the crack rather then force it in. After the caulk has had about 5 minutes to setup use a damp not wet paper towel and remove any excess caulk from around the crack without actually going over the crack its self. Painted surfaces especially ones that have paint applied by a roller have a texture so it is important to remove the extra caulk the best you can so the texture will remain. Painting the Wall Surface It it best to wait a full 24 hours before you paint your wall.

This will allow the caulk to cure. However if you are in the stage of preparation or trying to hide it before guests come you can probably go over it with a single coat of latex paint on a small roller. If you are prepping a whole room then try to do this the day before or at least 4 hours before you expect to apply a primer or top coat of paint.

Large Cracks In Drywall

Every couple of years, cracks in my drywall keep reappearing in more or less the same spot. I resurface them with drywall compound, repaint and sure enough, they come back. The cracks are very small(possibly due to a weak spot susceptible to freeze-thaw shifting of the house foundation).

Is there are more flexible product I could use to cover them up? Drywall compound is too brittle and does not do the trick. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. What a great forum!

Wish I would have discovered it years ago. Quoted Text Here I think the choice between elastic caulk and mesh tape depends on how bad the cracks are, how many they are, and how much work you want to do.

The caulk is proably more likely to have to be redone, but the mesh will be noticablly thick and noticeably meshy and will have to have a lot of stuff put over it to cover the mesh. And it might be easier to do the caulk 2 or 3 times than the mesh even once. There are caulk or spackle-type products, special for cracks, that are elastic. I forget the names but the paint store guy will know. Quoted Text Here.

Quoted Text Here There's a dozen of products - hard to say which will be best for your specific problem. However, it sounds like you need something a lot more flexible/elastic than what you've used in the past. Bear in mind, those products are likely not sandable! You'll need to apply it correctly, first time. Spend a few minutes playing with the gunk and an old bit of sheetrock, cardboard or whatever just to get the 'feel' of the stuff.

Fixing Hairline Cracks In Drywall With Caulk And Tape

You probably don't want to go for the ultimate in flexibility (i.e. Silcone) since that is neither sandable nor paintable. One problem I have found with many of the more flexible fillers is that they shrink during the cure.

Fixing Small Cracks In Drywall

That's only likely to be a problem if the cracks are large. Alternatively, you might consider applying a textured finish to the entire wall/room. This can be done using relatively flexible mixes that may absorb the movement well enough. Even if some minor cracking does come through, it will likely be a lot less visible. Hairline cracks are a hugely less obvious on textured versus flat/smooth finishes.