Drywall Corner Bead Is Coming Loose

Types of Corner Bead

• Before attempting to repair the corner bead, it's important to know what type of corner bead is installed. Corner bead is usually made from either light-gauge galvanized steel or plastic. There is also metal-backed taped bead, which comes in a roll and has a thin layer of metal and drywall tape attached; this needs to be folded in half before it's installed. Galvanized steel or plastic corner bead must be attached to the wall with drywall screws while the tape version is embedded in a layer of mud along the edges of both walls.

Why Corner Bead Comes Loose

• Corner bead comes loose because it hasn't been properly secured to the wall. With metal or plastic corner bead, screws must be installed every 12 to 16 inches along both sides of the bead. If they're not or if some of those screws weren't driven all the way into the stud, it will come loose. If taped corner bead was used, it will come loose if not properly embedded into joint compound, which prevents it from getting an adequate bond with the wall. Signs of loose corner bead include hairline cracks close to the edge of the wall, and in extreme cases, the joint compound will fall completely off near the corner.

Repair

• Fixing the problem is relatively simple, and the first step is to remove any loose material around the corner bead. If you have metal or plastic corner bead, push on it to get it firmly up against the corner of the wall then secure it with either drywall screws or nails. Taped corner bead is a bit more tricky as you'll need to cut out the loose portion of corner bead, apply joint compound to the wall then embed new corner bead into it. Once the metal, plastic or taped corner bead is secured to the wall, you can patch the area with joint compound in thin, even layers then allow it to dry in between applications. Sand it down so it's smooth, then prime and paint the area.

Advantages of Different Types of Corner Bead

• Each different type of corner bead has its advantages. Metal corner bead is strong and will resist dents fairly well. Plastic corner bead is flexible and can be used around an arched corner, and unlike steel corner bead, it won't rust if it gets cracked. Taped corner bead is similar to metal and plastic corner bead, but the attached tape does provide some extra support and strength to the corner.