How to Repair Cracks in Interior Drywall

Drywall cracks are the inevitable result of a house settling over time or minor temperature shifts in your home. While they are almost always superficial, they are a visual eyesore that disrupts the flow of a room. Fixing them correctly requires more than just filling the gap; it requires reinforcing the structure so the crack doesn't simply reappear six months down the road. Done well, this repair is invisible. The key is in the feathering technique—tapering the compound out wide enough so that the patch disappears into the surrounding wall. Take your time with the sanding process, as light is your best friend when checking for a smooth transition. Follow these steps, and your walls will look factory-fresh again.

1. Carve the Channel. Use a utility knife to carve a shallow 'V' groove along the length of the crack. This opens the space to allow the joint compound to penetrate deep into the wall.
2. Dust It Clean. Use a shop vacuum or a dry paintbrush to remove all loose debris and dust from the crack. If the area is dusty, the compound won't adhere properly.
3. Tape the Crack. Center a strip of self-adhesive fiberglass mesh tape over the crack. Ensure the tape is tight and flat against the wall, cutting it to length with scissors.
4. Coat One Goes Down. Apply a thin layer of lightweight joint compound over the tape using a 6-inch drywall knife. Press the compound through the mesh to ensure it fills the crack beneath.
5. Feather It Flat. Once the first coat is dry, apply a second, slightly wider coat. Extend the edges of this coat outward into the surrounding wall to 'feather' it, making the hump invisible.
6. Sand and Prime. Sand the dried compound with a fine-grit sanding sponge until it is perfectly flush with the wall. Wipe away dust and apply a coat of PVA primer before touching up with paint.