How to fix 1" gaps in drywall seams?
We
recently bought our home (build in 1938). One of the rooms was added to the
house about 20 years ago and almost every drywall seam on the walls/ceiling is
showing cracks. We tried to re-tape and fix it, but every time we do, it’s
showing cracks again. So we eventually pulled all the tape off and discovered
huge gaps underneath running the length of each seem in all four corners of the
room. The gaps in the joints are even
worse where the wall meets the ceiling. It looks like the drywall was cut too
short (in some places the gap is 1” wide), and the previous homeowners and/or
contractor attempted to fill the gaps with mud but it didn’t work (we pulled
out 1” think mud pieces from the creases).
Has
anyone experienced anything like this? What are our options for filling the
gaps besides replacing the drywall? How do we cover this up? Obviously the mud
didn’t work as it kept cracking, any other solutions?
I
should also note that the room is the coldest in the house, and now seeing
those gaps, we know where the cold air is coming from.
Thanks.
P.S. I also posted this under This Old House forum.
Comments (14)
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9 years ago
graywings123
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoMy thinking is that you would not need to put anything behind the Ultraflex. It is designed to fill gaps. It is 4.5 inches wide with two strips of laminate. Here is a photo of a small piece of it backwards on a wall. The laminate part of it is what would cover the gap. It is very strong. The two pieces of laminate are each 1 and 10/16 inches wide. So you should be able to fill a pretty large gap with it.
I just watched a trim-tex video. If you have a problem with expansion and movement, I can see how it would be the product to use. But if not, the Ultraflex seems easier to apply - no stapling, no spraying adhesive. You use drywall mud to attach to the wall, then more mud on the outside edge. You only mud over the edge.
Bongo thanked graywings123Bongo
9 years agoBongo
9 years agoBongo
9 years agoBongo
9 years ago
drywall_diy_guy