How to Replace a Bullnose Wall Corner

Cover the floor below the corner with a plastic tarp and tape it to the baseboard with painter’s tape.

Examine the bullnose corner to see if there are any cracks or chips, which is the best location to begin removing it. If you don’t see any cracks, place the blade of a 1-1/2 inch putty knife on the wall at a 45-degree angle and tap it gently with a hammer until the drywall mud begins to flake away.

Work your way up or down the corner, scraping the drywall mud off of the corner until the entire plastic corner bead is exposed.

Slide a pry bar under the edge of the corner bead and tap it gently with the hammer to loosen the adhesive under it. If the corner bead has nails in it, perform the same process but use a little more force to pry up the nail shanks.

Work your way down to the bottom of the wall until one entire side of the corner bead is loose. Repeat the same process on the opposite side of the corner bead until it detaches fully from the wall.

Measure the entire length of the wall corner from the ceiling to the floor with a tape measure. Measure the same length on a new piece of bullnose corner bead and cut it off with tin snips.

Shake up a can of drywall adhesive and spray the entire backside of the corner bead with a thin layer. Then spray the corner of the wall with the adhesive spray until it extends out by 1 inch on both sides. Press the corner bead onto the wall in the corner with the rounded side facing outward. Hold it in place for 15 seconds then peel it away from the wall gently. Press it back into place immediately and rub the entire length with your fingers.

Wait 30 minutes until the adhesive dries then open a tub of drywall mud. Scoop out 1/4-cup with a drywall knife and spread it over the corner bead. Continue adding more mud until the entire plastic bead is covered by 1/4-inch.

Wait until the drywall mud hardens then sand it down with a piece of medium-grit sandpaper.

Paint the wall corner to complete the repair.