Repair Drywall Tape That Is Separating from Your Walls

If you have drywall tape separating from your wall, it is best to take down the peeling tape and install new tape. You will need drywall tape and spackle (or equivalent paste) to do this.

Steps

  1. Use a razor knife to neatly cut the tape just beyond the edges of the "bad area", and remove failed tape from wall.
  2. Clean dust and crumbs from damaged area to promote better adhesion.
  3. Put a new piece of fiberglass mesh tape over the seam where the old tape was removed. Paper tape can be used as well, but it is not self adhesive and mud must be applied to the wall first, pressing the paper tape into the mud. Most 'beginners' find that the self-adhesive mesh tape is easier to use.
  4. Fill area where the tape was with a plentiful smooth layer of spackle or, better yet, pre-mixed drywall compound. Be sure that compound selected is "sandable", as some off the shelf repair compounds dry very hard (water putty etc).
  5. Let dry.
  6. Sand smooth between every coat to remove any putty knife marks and high-spots. If the mesh or paper tape begins to show, stop sanding. It's time for the next coat.
  7. Spackle over the tape with another layer of drywall compound, and make area smooth with surface of the wall. On a wall with little to no texture, feather mud out wide of the repair area to minimize the visibility of the patch.
  8. Note, If your walls have a texture, you will have to add the texture after the second (final) coat of compound has dried. Some textures can be added with more mud and a putty knife, others need to be sprayed on. For sprayed texture check your local home center or hardware store for a small can designed to match your texture (e.g. orange peel or knockdown textures).
  9. Paint wall with color to match; be sure to use primer first on area or the patch will show through. A can of spray paint primer (Zinsser or Bulls Eye) or other primer can be used if you don't have PVA primer (sheet rock primer)



Tips

  • Using color changing (pink to white when dry) spackle will help you to know when the spackle is dry, but wait five minutes after the spackle is white.
  • Have patience for spackle to dry.
  • If there is a very small separation of the tape from the wall, put a small amount of caulk or white glue behind the tape and press it back in place.
  • "Drywall" is also known as plasterboard in various countries AND AS, "SHEETROCK" IN THE U.S.
  • If tape is only loose on one side can slip a putty knife under it to loosen, then slip tape and joint compound under entire piece of loose tape, then press hard to wall. Can cover crack with mud or spackle.
  • "Spackle" is a powder mixture consisting of gypsum plaster and glue. Once this is mixed together with water, it forms a plastic-like paste. Spackle is a North American product; ask your local supplier or builder to recommend an appropriate wall crack and hole filler if you can't obtain this.
  • Also, you can use 'All Purpose' tape and joint compound henceforth called 'Mud' for larger problems, since spackle does not have much if any stick to it and actually would not advise except for small touch-up. See Fix a Hole in a Wall.
  • Tape and joint compound, All Purpose and or Topping can be either sanded or sponged when dry. Sanding does the best finish, but sponging is adequate under flat latex and where dust is a consideration. Primer is generally not needed unless a good hard skin is required, if a lot of paint is used like with a roller and or two coats are used.
  • If tape is bubbled, can puncture and slit with razor blade knife, and slip joint compound into the slit under the tape and press hard to wall. Cover the slit with mud or spackle. Use narrow one inch spackle blade. Always use paper tape as mesh often cracks. To repair cracked mesh tape, tape over with paper tape and mud.
  • Metal corner bead when edges are not taped may crack. Tape and mud cracks. Paper edged corner bead which is not screwed, but only mudded in, may crack and pull loose. Paper tape over.
  • If entire piece of tape is loose, can pull back what is loose without breaking it; put joint compound in track and press tape back to wall. Can cover with mud or not or use spackle.
  • When removing tape altogether, cut out and pull out loose tape. Apply mud compound and press in new piece of tape directly into the old track. Thoroughly wetted tape, even overnight will go in thinner. Cover with mud, one or two coats.

Warnings

  • Be cautious around the dust caused by sanding joint compound. Although newer joint compound is comparatively safe, some older joint compound mixes contained asbestos (which causes several forms of cancer). You should wear a dust mask anyway, as breathing in any sort of dust is not healthy for you.
  • Check for underlying causes of loose tape such as moisture intrusion or loose sheetrock. Moisture generally shows a stain but a moisture meter is more accurate. Loose sheetrock can rattle when you slap the wall firmly with an open hand. If either of these problems exist, fix them before bothering with the tape repair/replace.
  • Test paint on a small area of your wall to make sure the color will match. If you need new paint match a paint chip to your wall and bring it to your local paint store to have the color matched.
  • Wait for spackle to dry.

Related Articles

  • Patch Drywall Without Taping
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