Should You Schedule a Drywall Repair?
As a Dayton homeowner, you may come across complications with your drywall. If you do, you can attempt to fix it yourself, or you can hire a reputable painting contractor for drywall repairs. Some drywall problems are easier to repair than others, so make sure to assess the situation thoroughly before you decide to buy the tools and products necessary to fix it yourself.
Tips for Repairing Drywall
- Drywall Cracks – Hairline cracks can form in the drywall at the tops of doors and windows, and these cracks develop as a result of moved or settled framing. You can repair the cracking by widening the crack in a V shape with a utility knife. Apply some joint compound, a white mud that is used to seal joints between drywall sheets and to prime before painting, to the widened crack, and allow it to dry. Place self-adhesive fiberglass joint tape over the area, and cover the tape with another smooth coat of joint compound that extends farther than the first layer. Once it has dried, sand the area with fine sandpaper, and touch up the paint.
- Popped Drywall Nails – When drywall nails pop, you can remove the loose drywall mud and insert drywall screws above and below the nail to anchor the drywall in place. Tap the original nail back in. If the popped nail damaged the drywall tape, cut the tape away and replace it. Apply joint compound over the nail and screws, and sand, prime, and paint it after it has dried.
- Electrical or Plumbing Damage – Sometimes the electrical or plumbing systems in homes can cause damage to drywall. Large holes created to access plumbing components require new drywall that is cut specifically for that repair. Holes made for new light fixtures and oversized outlet openings can be repaired or closed by applying mesh repair patches or drywall tape.
- Drywall Corners – The corners of the drywall in your home will probably get a little banged up over time, whether by regular household traffic or heavy impact. The corner bead, a lightweight metal strip within the drywall, can become dented. To fix this problem, your painting contractor will cut away the loose drywall to reshape the damaged corner bead. Once the corner bead is straightened out, it can be replaced, and the new joint compound can be applied.
When dealing with damaged drywall, the important thing to remember is that you can request help if the problem is too extensive to fix yourself. Hiring an experienced painting company like Mastercraft Painting & Decorating, Inc. to perform the drywall repairs in your Dayton home can save you a lot of time and effort.
