How to Repair Gyprock Ceiling Cracks | Master Tips With Suggested Tools
Articles, products, and services offered on this site are for informational purposes only. We recommend using caution and seeking professional advice. This site provides general information. We are part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Amazon.com is compensated for sales resulting from links on our website.
Please review our disclaimer before taking action based on anything you read or see.
Over time, houses get older and experience many environmental effects like earthquakes, storms, and many other factors involved in this matter. These ecological changes result in cracks in the ceiling. The other cause of ceiling cracks is plaster tapes used to combine the ceiling as it gets older and dry, so it’s very easy for ceiling to left bonding. But do you know how to repair gyprock ceiling cracks? In this topic, I will guide you with the whole procedure on how to fix this gyprock ceiling crack or how you can fill it for a longer time.
Before starting, you must be familiar with the properties of Gyprock. Gyprock is made of gypsum, paper, and a small amount of addictive. When gypsum is semi-dehydrated, it forms plaster of Paris. It has many uses, but nowadays everybody uses it as a ceiling in their home. Do you know which gyprock ceiling is best for houses? Gypsum is a evaporate mineral available in the form of sulfate of calcium. It has the following properties:
- Thermal insulation
- Sound insulation
- Lightweight
- Fire resistance
- Soft material
Plaster ceilings in the older house often crack with age. The plaster starts bulge when it begins to break away. If only a small line is affected, it can be repaired with a plasterboard patch using dry lining techniques. This process doesn’t need any skills to complete. Smaller cracks are not more noticeable, but the wider gaps, especially more than 1/8 inch, sign structural damage.
Read More: How To Remove Water Stains From Ceiling
Examine the following things will let you know about the exact issue:
- Shape
- Size
- Location of the crevice
Examine these things will give you insight into possible causes and their solutions. You must sort out these cracks on time to prevent any severe damage.
Where the cracks can Occur
Cracks can occur on your ceiling anywhere. Some significant places are:
- In the center
- Near load-bearing walls
- At corner
- The junction where the ceiling meets with the wall
- At the joints between drywall sheets
- Randomly distributed
If you observe cracks near the ceiling’s edges, then it is caused by the aging effect. If the crack is in the center part of the ceiling, it consists of multiple wide and long cracks, representing structural fault. If the cracks are random, spreading in different positions, there is nothing to worry about because its cause is minor.
How to Repair Minor Cracks
Now, I will explain in steps on how to repair minor cracks.
Tools Need to to Repair Minor Cracks
Goggles for Safety
- One-Piece Polycarbonate Lens Fits Over Most Prescription Glasses
- Lightweight Design, With Adjustable Length Temples For A Customized Fit
- Flexible Temple Tips Minimize Pinching Behind The Head
Dust mask
- ENHANCED COMFORT: Lightweight, well-balanced, full face respirator design and silicone face seal for enhanced comfort and durability.
- BREATHE EASIER: 3M Cool Flow Valve helps provide cool, dry comfort.
- DIRECTS EXHALED BREATH DOWNWARD: Unique center adapter directs exhaled breath and moisture downward.
Paper tape
- Multipurpose Paper Kraft Tape – This versatile kraft masking tape has a high-tensile strength which means it can be used for sealing carboard and heavy-duty packaging for moving, shipping, or long-term indoor storage.
- Writable, Non-Coated Surface – Ideal for labeling boxes or staying more organized during a move our carton sealing tape provides a cleaning writing surface for pencils, pens, water-based marker pens, oily markers, and more.
- Strong Adhesive Backing – Our eco-friendly material is made with 100% kraft paper, hotmelt glue, and water-soluble ink which makes it stronger, more durable, and able to create a solid seal to ensure a lasting hold.
Utility knife
- Heavy Duty utility knife: Metal, durable design with rubber grip allows for a long lasting, extremely durable cuts and slices on boxes, plastic packaging, and straps. Includes 2 premium utility knives. Perfect box cutter knife
- Retractable & Adjustable Blade : Razor simply slides open for exact cuts. Blade easily retracts to lock safely within metal frame when finished using
- Quick Release: When razor needs to be replaced, simply extend the razor blade all the way, press the red button and remove the razor blade. Insert the new razor while pressing down the red button until secure
Damp cloth
- HEAVY DUTY DROP CLOTH: The ingenious CoverGrip Safety Drop Cloth simply and elegantly provides protection, not just to the surfaces in our homes, but also for the people who work and live in them.
- DESIGNED FOR SAFETY: Features thousands of tiny, rubberized slip-resistant dots firmly attached to the bottom. Once pressure is applied, the rubber dots grab and hold firm.
- SAFE ZONE: Folds perfectly and conforms to surfaces. Fits snugly on stairs, into corners or anywhere it’s needed. Once positioned, the cloth holds its fold to stay in place.
Drywall jointing compound
- Adhesives & Sealants
- Country of manufacture: United States
- Manufacturer: Dap
Fiberglass mesh tape
- SELF ADHESIVE: Simply peel and stick over the repair area
- CUT TO SIZE VERSATILITY: Can be easily cut to any size needed
- REPAIRS & REINFORCES: Eliminates reoccuring cracks
Drywall screws
- Drywall screw gun has greater speed than DW272 corded screwgun with up to 4,400 RPM
- DEWALT built brushless motor is made for efficient performance and runtime of DEWALT drywall screw gun
- Nosecone of the drywall gun locks on securely and is easily removed while maintaining consistent screw depth
Most cracks in the ceiling caused by settlement, expansion, and contraction of the building material during setting. These cracks can be easily repaired by using the above tools and material. Repairing steps are down:
- Widen the crack with the utility knife.
- Send the crack to rough up the paintwork.
- Wipe the crack area with a damp cloth to remove all dust.
- Apply a layer of drywall jointing compound on the crack.
- Use fibreglass mesh tape to cover the crack.
- If the crack is between drywall sheets and the ceiling, use two drywall screws to level with each other.
- Now lay jointing compound on the tape.
- When the jointing compound gets dry, then smooth the surface.
- Now paint with primer to match with the existing surface.
How to Repair Wide Cracks
When a ceiling bows, it needs proper attention. Sometimes when you install a water tub, a hot tub, a water table, or a pool table, the ceiling joists may sag under the excessive weight. A ceiling may also crack if it got damage to any of its support member.
Tools Need to Repair Wide Cracks
Pad Saw
- Two replacement pad saw blades
- Will fit most types of Pad saws
- Medium Blade with 9 teeth per inch (tpi)
Claw Hammer
- Forged steel head for superior durability
- ProTouch grip for maximum comfort even after prolonged use
- Smooth face leaves fewer marks on surfaces
- Plaster Board
- Goggles
- Mask
- Marker
Repairing Method
- 1st of all, mark the line with a marker around the wider crack
- Cutaway the plaster or seam to make it levelled with a pad saw, and remove any protruding nail with a claw hammer.
- Now cust two noggins from 100mm to 50mm of sawn softwood to fit into the joists, then it will form 2 sides of the opening.
- After the above step, the next step is to drive nails into noggins at such angles to secure the joists.
- Now take plasterboard, cut it according to the crack size. It must be thinner than the depth of your ceiling. Next, fix it in place with plasterboard nails along the joists and noggins.
- Now fill it with bonding undercoat plaster when it gets dry, multi-coat the undercoat plaster to bring it in level. When it dry, take a paint scrubber to remove the extra plaster of Paris, then again coat and use a scrubber.
- One tip, you can put two coats on the patch rather than one single thick coat.
Costs
Factors that are affecting the cost are:
The ceilings condition: The repairing of a wall depends on its types.
Plaster ceiling: If the ceiling is made from plaster, then repairing will create too much mess.
Drywall ceiling: If the ceiling is made from drywall, then even you have cracks, you have to replace it.
Before you do any of these steps, it’s better to remove all the accessories and furniture to avoid any big mess or avoid any loss.
Read More: How To Remove Ceiling Tile
Internal and External corners: If the work is only to remove the drywall ceiling, then cut the drywall sheets to fit according to the room walls. But if the work is just crack repairing, they will be clustered along with the ceiling’s wall.
Size of the room: According to observation, it found that larger ceiling areas have more cracks. It is caused due to the verticle movement of joists when they reach their maximum unsupported span.
Quality Product: There are two types of product available in the market for fixing a crack:
Quick Fix DiyGood Quality Professional
Its either depends on you which quality product you use to finish your work.
Contractors: The other factor is contractors as:
- A handyman is less expensive than a carpenter and drywall contractors
- The contractor’s cost also varies according to the length of work and time.
- They mostly prefer to work outside during summer days and inside during colder days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you repair a crack in a plasterboard ceiling?
Most cracks in the ceiling caused by settlement, expansion, and contraction of the building material during setting. These cracks can be easily repaired by using the above tools and material. Repairing steps are down:
- Widen the crack with the utility knife.
- Send the crack to rough up the paintwork.
- Wipe the crack area with a damp cloth to remove all dust.
- Apply a layer of drywall jointing compound on the crack.
- Use fibreglass mesh tape to cover the crack.
- If the crack is between drywall sheets and the ceiling, use two drywall screws to level with each other.
- Now lay jointing compound on the tape.
- When the jointing compound gets dry, then smooth the surface.
- Now paint with primer to match with the existing surface.
How do I fix cracks in my ceiling?
The repairing of a wall depends on its types.
Plaster ceiling: If the ceiling is made from plaster, then repairing will create too much mess.
Drywall ceiling: If the ceiling is made from drywall, then even you have cracks, you have to replace it.
Before you do any of these steps, it’s better to remove all the accessories and furniture to avoid any big mess or avoid any loss.
Now observe what kind of your wall is simple to repair a crack in the ceiling is to point out the area. Level it and put tape and jointing compound. Now scrub it and apply multiple coats of the jointing compounds.
How do you fix a crack in Gyprock?
Fixing a crack in Gyprock depends on the crack. If its minor crack, then scratches it with a pad saw, now put mesh tape, now take gypsum compound to level up the taped area. Now apply 2 or 3 coats, on end apply primer and matching paint.
How do you repair a plaster ceiling?
There are different methods of use to repair a plaster ceiling. If there is a simple crack, it can be covered with a mesh tape, while if it’s wider, then fix it with a jointing compound or use a sealing fixer. Otherwise, the last option is to replace your ceiling.
How do you fix a large hole in Gyprock?
If your ceiling has a large hole, then use the following method:
- 1st of all, mark the line with a marker around the wider crack
- Cutaway the plaster or seam to make it levelled with a pad saw, and remove any protruding nail with a claw hammer.
- Now cust two noggins from 100mm to 50mm of sawn softwood to fit into the joists, then it will form 2 sides of the opening.
- After the above step, the next step is to drive nails into noggins at such angles to secure the joists.
- Now take plasterboard, cut it according to the crack size. It must be thinner than the depth of your ceiling. Next, fix it in place with plasterboard nails along the joists and noggins.
- Now fill it with bonding undercoat plaster when it gets dry, multi-coat the undercoat plaster to bring it in level. When it dry, take a paint scrubber to remove the extra plaster of Paris, then again coat and use a scrubber.
- One tip, you can put two coats on the patch rather than one single thick coat.
Article Summary
To sum up this topic, it’s better to know the density of a crack to avoid any further mess. Then observe which method is useful for resolving a crack. If the crack is minor, then it can be repaired with tape. On the other hand, you have to either change the ceiling or fill it with ceiling compounds.
I hope my topic can resolve your problem.
Comments are closed.