When cracks appear in the walls of your home, chances are that you would rather ignore the problem as opposed to calculating drywall repair costs. Ignoring the problem will cost you more money in the long run as the problem could get worse. Fixing cracks in drywall are actually easier and more affordable than you think if you are able to follow a few hints and do the work yourself. After all, the cost of drywall installation can be expensive as opposed to taking a little time to fix a crack yourself.
Allowing cracks in drywall to remain can cause as much damage as allowing a crack a windshield to go unrepaired. Once the crack starts, it will continue to grow based on weather conditions and vibration. A simple crack can result in numerous cracks. As opposed to fixing one little crack, you will end up replacing entire panels or walls that could have been fixed in the beginning. Taking into consideration that the cost of drywall installation will run you approximately $1-$2 per square foot; you can end up paying thousands of dollars to replace drywall in an entire room.
Many people are intimidated when it comes to fixing a crack in drywall; however, the process is quite simple. First, you will need to make sure that you have all of the correct supplies. The three things that you will need are joint compound (also referred to as drywall mud), a putty knife, and some fine grit sandpaper. All three can be found in the same section of your local hardware store. Just go in and tell them you are fixing a crack in your drywall and they will know exactly what you are looking for. Keep in mind that joint compound comes in 5-gallon buckets and small touch up size containers. Purchase the smallest size to take care of the job as it will go bad if left unused. The items that you buy at the hardware store are the only drywall repair costs that you will have for this project.
Once you have all of the supplies, make sure that the area you are working with has nothing under it. For example, do not try to fix a crack in the wall that is just above your couch or a picture. Remove these things and place a towel or blanket on the floor. Inevitably, you will end up getting compound on these items regardless of how careful you think you are. Next, clean the area around the crack. You can start by blowing out the crack or using a vacuum to clean out any dirt or dust. After that, take a clean and wet rag and wipe the area around the crack free from dust and debris.
Now that the area around the crack is clean, it is now time to fill in the crack. Make sure to read the directions on the joint compound carefully. Some require that you mix the compound with water while others are ready to use upon opening. Now, place a small amount of the compound on the crack and push down. This will ensure that the compound is filling in the crack as opposed to staying on the surface. After you have completely filled in the crack, use the putty knife to smooth the compound and make it even with the wall. Once the compound dries, use the sandpaper to sand the repair level with the wall.
If you do not see the results you are looking for, you can repeat the process. Most drywall takes three coats when first installing so having to do it two or three times to complete a repair is not uncommon.
