How to Cover a Crack in Drywall

Scrape the crack, beginning at the top of the crack working to the bottom, to eliminate any loose dust particles and pieces of drywall. Do not scrape too hard, as you can cause the crack to become larger than it already is.

Pour a small amount of joint compound into the mud pan. Use the taping knife to apply a thin coat of joint compound into the crack. Begin applying the compound at the top of the crack and slowly work down to the bottom of the crack, filling all of the cracked area. Remove any access compound with the taping knife.

Place a piece of drywall tape over the compound-filled crack. Press the tape into the compound using the flat side of the taping knife. Start at the top of the crack and scrape the paper drywall tape to remove any leftover joint compound.

Apply another thin coating of joint compound directly over the tape with the taping knife. Ensure that there are no thick spots of compound left on the wall and that you scrape the areas above and below the tape completely. Left over smudges or clumps of compound will be visible after painting. Allow this coating of compound to dry for several hours or overnight, as you will be applying a second coat of compound, which can only be applied once the first coat has dried.

Apply joint compound with a wider taping knife than you previously used. This will allow you to cover a slightly larger area, which will help conceal the repair. Scrape any remaining compound from the area and allow the compound to dry.

Sand the entire surface of the repair with fine-grit sandpaper. When you have finished, the surface will be smooth and there will be no raised areas between the repair area and the wall.

Apply a coat of wall primer to the repair area and allow the primer to dry. This will help in making the repaired crack area less visible. After the primer has had time to dry, apply a coat of paint to the area. You may need to apply more than one coat, depending on the paint.