DIY Alert - 3 Products to Help Repair Cracked Walls

Irwin Weiner ASID - I confess to the guilty pleasure of enjoying a do-it-yourself read now and then, and one of my DIY go-to guides is The Family Handyman. FH is loaded with great projects and what-works-for-me tips from their readers. I was recently impressed with their article on simplifying wall repair. Here are a few of their products and tips.

Good-Bye Cracks - imagine a spray can that works miracles on cracked walls, particularly those walls that keep getting hairline cracks! Try spraying it on both wide and hairline cracks, although it's primarily recommended for the little guys. Clean the loose material out of all cracks, filling them with joint compound. Then spray on two or three coats of G-BC (make sure you're spraying on a nice, even coat as this isn't a surface you can sand). When completely dry, prime and paint it.

Step Saver Stress Crack Tape - the directions say that you just stick this tape over the crack and you can paint over it, but experts advise that you skim over it with some joint compound so that you don't see the edges of the tape repair area.

Wall Liner - when your walls are so badly cracked that you don't know where to start and how to finish ... and you don't want to install new drywall ... many homeowners use heavy-duty wall liner; this extra-thick paintable wallpaper functions like a huge patch over the cracks. Look for the best solution for your wall texture as you can find rolls at home supply centers that are textured, patterned, and smooth. (You can also use wall liner to cover cinderblock and other wall surfaces so you have a completely different look when you're done.)

Now back to The Family Handyman; you might want to follow their advice on How to Repair a Drywall Crack - click on the link for an easy step-by-step guide.

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