How to Fix Walls That Are Separating

Push the furniture away from where you will be working and cover it with a tarp. Remove any draperies from nearby windows and set them aside. Spread dropcloths on the floor to protect the surface from residue and position a stepladder against the wall if needed to access the crack.

Insert a putty knife into the crack in the drywall and pry out crumbling or loose pieces of plaster, allowing them to fall on the dropcloth below. Scrape off the plaster with the knife to expose the paper tape below. Pull the tape off to reveal the separation in the drywall.

Measure and cut self-adhesive drywall tape to match the length of the crack. Fold the tape lengthwise in half.

Center the tape over the crack, lower it to the surface and press it down until it covers the gap. Ensure that the entire problem area is covered with drywall tape, using more if required. Press the tape outward to remove trapped bubbles of air and help it adhere to the drywall.

Spread joint compound over the drywall tape with the putty knife. Extend the compound beyond the edges of the tape by several inches on each side. Smooth the compound so it is level and allow it to dry for the time specified on the label.

Rub a sanding screen over the dried compound to smooth its surface.

Apply a second coat of compound over the previous coat to fill any spots you might have missed. Keep this layer slightly wider than the previous layer so it blends with the surrounding drywall surface. Allow it to dry thoroughly.

Sand the second coat of drywall when it is dry. Use a small paintbrush to prime the surface in preparation for touch-up paint.

Paint the primed surface the same shade as the surrounding drywall so that the repaired patch blends in.