Hi, I'm new to the site and hoping I can get some advice. Our home has been family owned since being built 60 years ago, and I'm 4th generation learning as I go. There has been a patched crack in a wall for many years. Unsure of the terminology, it's a wall that begins on the landing of the second floor next to one bedroom door and ends at the wall of the stairs leading to the main floor. I'd like to repair it as best I can in order to paint the upstairs and work on finishing the stairs. There's no dust or debris that has fallen. I attached several photos, and I appreciate any advice or tips. :thumbsup::thumbsup:
Protruding crack in 60 year old wall
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That's a typical spot for cracks to appear. Any place in a home where there is a SPAN is considered a weak spot that needs beefy framing. There is likely a framing issue where that span over the stairwell is or some settling over the years has caused that crack.
In any event, if you feel that it's not settling and you're comfortable with the framing that's underneath, you could take a stab at fixing it. It's a process. Use a putty knife to "V" out the crack. Mix up some quick-setting joint compound. It comes in powdered form in a bag and is readily available at the big box stores. After mixing with water, apply it to the wall with a 4 or 6 inch wallboard blade. Push it into the crack. Then apply paper drywall tape over top of the mud and the crack. Use your blade to push the tape into the mud. Let dry. Then you can use regular joint compound for successive coats. It may take 2 or 3 coats to get it feathered out enough to properly hide the crack.
Once the final coat of mud is dry, sand with a sanding sponge or drywall screen, clean up the dust, apply primer, and repaint.
Also, there's lots of videos on YouTube etc. detailing the process. Here's some from Bing.com that were in a recent thread on here:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=drywall+repair&qpvt=drywall+repair&FORM=VDRE
In any event, if you feel that it's not settling and you're comfortable with the framing that's underneath, you could take a stab at fixing it. It's a process. Use a putty knife to "V" out the crack. Mix up some quick-setting joint compound. It comes in powdered form in a bag and is readily available at the big box stores. After mixing with water, apply it to the wall with a 4 or 6 inch wallboard blade. Push it into the crack. Then apply paper drywall tape over top of the mud and the crack. Use your blade to push the tape into the mud. Let dry. Then you can use regular joint compound for successive coats. It may take 2 or 3 coats to get it feathered out enough to properly hide the crack.
Once the final coat of mud is dry, sand with a sanding sponge or drywall screen, clean up the dust, apply primer, and repaint.
Also, there's lots of videos on YouTube etc. detailing the process. Here's some from Bing.com that were in a recent thread on here:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=drywall+repair&qpvt=drywall+repair&FORM=VDRE
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Before you do any mud work. I'd try and get a couple drywall screws in a framing member or two on each side of the crack to maybe help prevent some cracking. :thumbsup:
And if you're feeling froggy? :thumbup:
You could add some furring strips behind the recurring crack like I did on the ceiling repair in this video:
And if you're feeling froggy? :thumbup:
You could add some furring strips behind the recurring crack like I did on the ceiling repair in this video:
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