Repair Ceiling Seam Crack
In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to repair drywall cracks in a ceiling. Climb into the attic and remove the insulation from between the ceiling joists directly above the damaged drywall. Drill a 3/16-inch-diameter hole down into the 1x3 strapping and through the drywall ceiling. Be sure to center the hole between two joists. Now go down into the room below and locate the hole in the ceiling.
Ask Your Question. Angie's List Answers. What causes drywall crack at ceiling tape joint? Entire length of joint. Hope you did not do some aggressive repair on. Cracks leading from windows and doors or along seams in the ceiling can signal more significant damage, so you may want to call in a contractor to take a look at your.
Make a screwing template by first cutting and screwing together two pieces of ⅝-inch plywood; make them slightly larger than the damaged area on the ceiling. Bore a series of 1-inch-diameter holes through the template, spacing the holes about 3 inches apart. Space the rows of holes 16 inches on center. Hold the screwing template against the ceiling, directly over the damage area. Use the 3/16-inch-diamter hole to align the rows of holes with the 1x3 strapping above.
Ceiling Seam Tape
Set a small square of plywood on the floor, then wedge a 2x4 brace into place between the plywood square and screwing template. Use a drill/driver fitted with a drywall tip to drive 1¼-inch drywall screws through the holes in the template, through the drywall ceiling, and into the strapping above. Cut ⅝-inch-plywood backer boards to fit between the ceiling joists and the 1x3 strapping. Climb back into the attic and apply construction adhesive to the top surface of the drywall ceiling. Press the plywood backer boards down into the adhesive. Slide shims beneath the ceiling joists to force down the backer boards.
Go back down into the room and run drywall screws up through the remaining holes in the template and into the plywood backer boards. If the ceiling crack extends beyond the template, drive in a few screws on each side of the crack. Tap out the temporary 2x4 brace and remove the screwing template. Use a hammer to lightly tap along the ceiling crack to break free any loose debris. Apply a strip of painter's tape to the very top of the wall to protect it from joint compound.
Cover the ceiling crack with adhesive-backed fiberglass mesh tape. Use a flat trowel to spread a thin layer of joint compound over the entire repaired area, including the mesh tape and all the screw heads. To create a skip-textured finish apply more joint compound with very light pressure, allowing the trowel to skip over the surface. Let the compound dry overnight, then apply a coat of primer, followed by two paint topcoats.
Depends on why its cracking. Were trusses used for the roof construction? Many problems are caused by wind and truss 'uplift' The solution for this problem is a special, movable joint. No nails or screws are used within 18' of interior wall's top plates. Special clips are used that allow movement.
Repair Drywall Ceiling Seam Cracks Video
The expense and hassle of retrofitting 'floating corners' might mean trying a number of fixes. First might be be using a lightweight elastomeric patch, such as Product Description: DAP® ElastoPatch® Flexible Patching Compound is a high performance, elastomeric spackling compound that eliminates recurring cracks by providing a permanently flexible fill. Will not crack, crumble or fall out as the joint expands and contracts over time. Superior paintability – won’t flash paint. Available in smooth grade and textured grade to provide the perfect finish. Interior and exterior use.
Suggested Uses: Ideal for filling and repairing recurring cracks and holes in:. Stucco. Brick Surface Preparation & Application:. Clean surface removing all loose particles, plaster, wax, dust, dirt, peeling paint, old caulk, grease and oil. Using a caulking gun, brush, putty knife or trowel, fill crack with patching compound. Tool patched surface to desired finish before product dries.
Product is not sandable. For some repairs, more than one application may be required. Use product to bridge gaps up to 1/4” wide and 1/2” deep. Fill small cracks and surface defects to a minimum depth of 1/8”. Can be painted after 30 minutes with latex-based paints. Allow to dry at least 2 hours (longer in cool or humid conditions) before painting with oil-based paints.
Wash tools immediately after use with water.