How to Fix Cracks in a Wall From a House Settling

Cracks in Drywall

• 1

  Cover the floor below the affected drywall with drop cloths. Put on work gloves.

• 2

  Widen the edges of the crack with a utility knife until the crack resembles a “V” shape. Wipe off any loose drywall fragments with a tack cloth.

• 3

  Scoop a golf ball-sized portion of joint compound onto a 6-inch wide drywall knife. Smoothly spread the compound over the V-shaped crack, thoroughly filling the gouge. Spread the compound 2 inches beyond the crack onto the surrounding drywall.

• 4

  Let the joint compound dry overnight.

• 5

  Cover the patched drywall with self-adhesive fiberglass joint tape. Coat the joint tape with a 1/8-inch thick bed of compound, using the drywall knife. Spread the compound 4 inches beyond the crack onto the surrounding drywall.

• 6

  Let the joint compound dry overnight.

• 7

  Rub the cured joint compound with fine-grit sandpaper until the patched portion of the wall is completely smooth and level with the encompassing drywall. Wipe all sandpaper dust off the drywall with a clean tack cloth.

• 8

  Paint the patched drywall the color of the surrounding drywall. Apply the paint to the patched area with a roller brush, following the paint manufacturer's instructions.

Cracks in Plaster

• 9

  Cover the floor below the affected drywall with drop cloths. Put on work gloves.

• 10

  Shave off the edges of the crack with a utility knife until the crack becomes 1/8-inch wide. Disregard this step if the crack is already at least 1/8-inch wide.

• 11

  Wipe the plaster dust off the crack using a tack cloth.

• 12

  Scoop spackling compound out of its container with a putty knife and pack the material into the crack, completely filling the crack. Spread a 1/8-inch thick layer of the spackling compound over the crack's surface, extending the compound 2 inches beyond both sides of the crack onto the surrounding wall.

• 13

  Let the spackling compound dry for 24 hours.

• 14

  Rub the cured spackling compound with fine-grit sandpaper until the patched portion of the wall is completely smooth and level with the encompassing plaster. Wipe all sandpaper dust off the plaster with a clean tack cloth.

• 15

  Paint the patched plaster the color of the surrounding wall. Apply the paint to the patched area with a roller brush, following the paint manufacturer's instructions.

Cracks in Concrete

• 16

  Cover the floor below the affected concrete with drop cloths. Put on goggles and work gloves.

• 17

  Scrub the crack vigorously with a wire brush to eradicate loose debris. Thoroughly clean the cracked concrete.

• 18

  Combine three parts of dry hydraulic cement powder to one part of fresh water in a mixing vessel. Using a stirring utensil, mix the cement mixture until it becomes smooth, like the consistency of peanut butter. Only prepare as much cement mixture as you can use in three minutes.

• 19

  Scoop out the wet hydraulic cement with a trowel and pack the cement into the crack, completely filling the crack. Spread a 1/8-inch thick layer of the cement over the crack's surface, feathering the cement 2 inches beyond both sides of the crack onto the surrounding concrete wall.

• 20

  Let the hydraulic cement cure for 24 hours.