Fixing the crack in your ceiling will make you feel like a pro.
The ceiling may be the most overlooked part of a home -- until you spot a crack in it. And from that moment on, the ceiling becomes the thing that your eyes seem inevitably drawn to. Whether a minor, hairline crack or a gaping fissure, the steps to repairing the blemish vary little. The most difficult part is applying the patching material and feathering it out to blend with the untouched portion of the ceiling. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Examine the ceiling crack to determine its possible cause and the extent of the problem. Press gently on the cracked area to see if it feels soft; spongy surfaces indicate moisture damage, which might cover an even bigger problem, such as mold. If this is the case, you must cut away the soft area, repair the moisture leak and remove any mold. Only then can you replace the damaged area with new drywall and treat the seams as you would patching a crack.
2. Look at where the crack is located and how deep it is. Most ceiling cracks result from the movement and settling of the house and require no special surface preparation. If the crack is at the joint of the wall and ceiling, this may indicate metal flashing, wood trim or drywall tape is lifting from the surface instead. Nail metal flashing in place before proceeding with the crack repair or tack the trim down and cover any gaps with paintable acrylic caulk. Cut any sections of loose tape free and peel them away carefully.
3. Clean the crack out if it is large -- one that is deeper and wider; length is not the issue. Depending on the type and depth of the original finishing compound, you may have to work either carefully or aggressively. Use anything, from a soft-bristled brush to sweep debris out of the crack, to a screwdriver or other tool to dig out the material.
4. Sand over the cracked area. Smooth, as you sand, to prepare a clean, even surface which allows the new finish to better adhere. Any blemishes or ridges that remain in the surface will transfer to the final finish appearance.
5. Mist the crack and the area that extends out from the patch for about 6 inches with water. A light misting keeps the finishing compound from drying too quickly and prevents the old surface from leaching water out of the finishing compound as readily.
6. Prepare the finishing compound for use. Mix the compound, if necessary, or open and stir then pour as directed. There are a variety of finishing compound choices, from joint compound, drywall mud or spackling compound, to specialty products and filler compounds. Procedures and drying times will vary by product so follow the packaging directions carefully.
7. Apply a scoop of finishing compound with a wide putty knife, slapping it on the ceiling then spreading it across the crack in a smooth, thin coat. Press the compound into the crack, filling it as much as possible. Alternatively, squirt a paintable acrylic caulk into the crack, smooth it flush to the surrounding surface with your finger then proceed with the thin coat of finishing compound once the caulk is dry.
8. Feather the edges of the first coat and each future coat, if applied. To feather the coat, work it back and forth across the crack, into the area surrounding the crack, with strokes at opposite angles -- similar to creating "Vs" with paint. Go back over the area, skimming off the excess coating while dragging it outward from the crack into an ever-thinner layer. Imagine it as buttering bread then taking off the extra butter toward the edges of the slice while leaving a thicker layer in the middle. Feathering the edges prevents a ridge where the patch ends.
9. Sand the first coat smooth, once it dries, if you are patching a fine crack that requires no extra filling. If the crack is deep and filled with compound or caulk, cut a piece of drywall tape slightly longer than the body of the crack. Smooth the tape over the crack, lengthwise, while the compound is moist, working any air bubbles out with a putty knife.
10. Apply another thin layer of finishing compound on top of the tape while the surface is still fresh. Feather the edges again, gradually blending the depth of the finish flush with the original surface. Allow the application to dry before sanding it smooth. Repeat the layers of finishing compound, sanding between each, until the patch looks good. As long as each layer is thin, you can apply several coats.
11. Seal the patched area once it has dried completely. Finish it with a suitable paint.
Tags: finishing compound, across crack, acrylic caulk, crack into, crack smooth