How to Fix Cracked Drywall Corners

Cracked Outside Corner

• 1

  Purchase a wide outside drywall flex corner bead. This corner bead is wider than standard corner bead. If the cracking on an outside corner is right along the edge of the old bead, a wide flex corner will cover the damage.

• 2

  Scrape off any loose drywall paper or crumbling joint compound with a putty knife. In many cases, you won’t have to pry off the old corner bead if only cracks are visible.

• 3

  Position the new outside flex corner bead over the old bead and attach with drywall nails about every 2 feet apart. Countersink the head of the the nails slightly by tapping them with the hammer again after they're flush with the wall to prevent a bulge on the finished corner.

• 4

  Apply a coat of premixed drywall compound with a 6-inch taping trowel, smoothing the wet compound on both sides of the corner until it’s flush with the wall. Let the edge of the trowel extend over the corner an inch or so. It’s all right if a little of the compound remains on the corner.

• 5

  Repeat with the other side of the corner and let the compound dry completely.

• 6

  Sand both sides of the corner with a drywall sander and apply another sheer coat of compound.

• 7

  Sand once more to smooth away any dry compound ridges and repaint the wall to cover the repaired corner.

Cracked Inside Corners

• 8

  Scrape away dust from a cracked inside corner. If the crack is less than 1/8 inch wide and runs vertically in the center of the corner, squeeze a 1/8-inch bead of paintable latex caulking down the center of the crack and smooth with a damp sponge or wet finger. Paint to match the wall.

• 9

  Coat the inside corner with a thin layer of wet joint compound if the crack is 1/8-inch wide or wider. Use an inside corner trowel to spread the compound evenly.

• 10

  Cut and fit an inside drywall flex corner over the joint compound while it’s still wet. The moisture in the compound will hold the corner piece in place. Apply more joint compound over the flex corner, using the corner trowel to form a sharp crease and smooth sidewalls. If necessary, touch up the edges using a 6-inch taping trowel.

• 11

  Sand the corner carefully with a drywall sander when the joint compound dries. Don’t push the sander tightly into the corner where it could leave scratches.

• 12

  Add another coat of joint compound in the same manner as before. Sand the corner smooth one more time before repainting to match the rest of the wall.