How To Repair Wall Corners

If the interior walls of your home are surfaced with drywall, chances are at least one exterior corner has been bedridden by a vacuum cleaner, burrow, or runaway Radio Flyer wagon. A coat of spackle and paint won't hibernate the resulting cracks and disfiguring dents. The only solution is to cutting out the damaged corner and rebuild information technology with a new metal corner bead and fresh joint compound.

The actual repair takes only a couple of hours, but you volition have to await overnight for the joint compound to dry before applying the final pigment glaze.

Step ane - Uncover Sometime Metal Dewdrop

Start by using the utility knife to make a vertical slice on each side of the damaged metal corner bead (photo 1). Position each cut about two inches away from the corner and make both of them long enough to encompass any hairline cracks visible above or beneath the signal of impact. With the repair surface area outlined, use the hammer and common cold chisel to chip off the old articulation compound and expose the metal corner bead beneath.

Step two - Cut Out Damaged Section

Use the hacksaw to cut through the dewdrop (photo 2); remove a section at least six inches long around the damage. If the bead is screwed in place, remove the screws and pull it out with pliers. If it's nailed, gently pry it off without crushing surrounding surfaces. If y'all can't pry out the nails without further damaging the wall, use the snips to cutting the bead from around the nailheads. Then pull off the damaged department and tap the nails below the surface with the hammer.

Step 3 - Measure and Cut a New Metallic Bead Section

Use the snips to cut a new piece of bead to fit into the space where the sometime section was removed. A tight fit is important, then measure carefully to make sure the new piece doesn't overlap the existing one.

To snip through the L-shaped bead, cut in from each border, then bend the piece dorsum and forth until it breaks off. Metal corner bead is sold in viii-human foot lengths that cost about two dollars each.

Step iv - Attach New Bead Section

Yous can adhere the new bead section with 1 5/8-inch drywall screws or two-inch drywall nails. Nailheads prevarication flatter and are easier to spackle over, though hammering them in tin can crack the old articulation compound. Screws hold ameliorate, only their thicker heads are a footling harder to conceal, especially if the existing corner dewdrop is covered by a thin glaze of joint chemical compound. Our corner was finished with a thick layer, so we fastened the new piece with i 5/viii-inch-long drywall screws (photo 3).

Be sure the new bead'southward edges align with the existing corner. If you've secured the patch and the edges are misaligned, try tapping them directly with a hammer. If that doesn't work, you'll have to remove the replacement slice and put in a new one.

Stride 5 - Utilize a Thick Coat of Joint Compound

In one case the new department of corner bead is securely attached, the next step is to cover it up with articulation compound. Thoroughly stir the fabric until it'southward smooth and lump-gratis. Then utilize the four-inch drywall pocketknife to spread chemical compound over both sides of the corner (photo 4). Don't fuss over this showtime, thick coat of compound—it will shrink, and you'll need to apply at least two more thinner coats. Only lay it on and wipe it smoothen.

Step 6 - Add together More Compound and Paint Over It

Wait for the first glaze to dry (10 to 12 hours). Then, use a sanding block and 80-dust sandpaper to knock down the high spots (photograph five). Switch to the viii-inch drywall knife and spread on a thinner, wider glaze of joint chemical compound with more than intendance. Use pressure on the outer edge of the knife equally you describe the tool across the surface to form a thin, "feather edge" of chemical compound. After the second coat dries (near ii hours) lightly sand it with 120-grit sandpaper. If needed, apply a sparse skim coat of compound to fill airholes, scratches, and other flaws. Await two more hours or so, then wipe down the repair with a clammy sponge and apply 2 coats of paint.