- Home
- About
- Home Improvement
- Ask Danny Answers (288)
- Attics & Basements (73)
- Calculators (5)
- Carpentry (158)
- Concrete & Masonry (91)
- Decks & Patios (106)
- Design & Decor (205)
- DIY Projects (97)
- Doors & Windows (175)
- Electrical & Lighting (152)
- Fencing (25)
- Financial (44)
- Flooring (152)
- Garage & Storage (96)
- Green Home (345)
- Heating & Cooling (91)
- Insulation (70)
- Kitchens & Baths (347)
- Lawn & Garden (772)
- Painting & Finishing (219)
- Plumbing (122)
- Repairs & Installation (766)
- Roofing (57)
- Safety & Security (217)
- Tools & Hardware (262)
- Walls & Ceilings (144)
- Lawn & Garden
- Around the Yard (772)
- Ask Julie Answers (138)
- Julie's Blog (103)
- Animals & Wildlife (68)
- Cacti & Tropical Plants (19)
- Container Gardens (35)
- Diseases & Pests (97)
- Flowers (103)
- Fruits & Vegetables (73)
- Furniture & Accessories (33)
- Garden Sheds (10)
- Garden Tools (57)
- Gardening Basics (106)
- Herb Gardens (12)
- Houseplants (39)
- Irrigation & Watering (52)
- Landscaping & Design (129)
- Lawn Care (83)
- Lawn Mowers (19)
- Monthly To-Do Lists (12)
- Organic Gardening (42)
- Pools & Water Features (20)
- Soil & Fertilizer (82)
- Trees & Shrubs (107)
- Videos
- Top 50 Challenges (50)
- Ask Danny (70)
- Simple Solutions (274)
- Thinking Green (105)
- Full Episodes (119)
- Best New Products (115)
- Attics & Basements (31)
- Carpentry (105)
- Concrete & Masonry (50)
- Decks & Patios (65)
- Design & Decor (131)
- DIY Projects (56)
- Doors & Windows (104)
- Electrical & Lighting (91)
- Fencing (18)
- Financial (13)
- Flooring (75)
- Garage & Storage (76)
- Green Home (217)
- Heating & Cooling (44)
- Insulation (34)
- Kitchens & Baths (224)
- Lawn & Garden (290)
- Painting & Finishing (129)
- Plumbing (72)
- Repairs & Installation (448)
- Roofing (39)
- Safety & Security (110)
- Tools & Hardware (86)
- Walls & Ceilings (84)
- Special Episodes
- Contact
How to Repair Cracks in a Drywall Ceiling
By: Danny LipfordThe ceiling in my living room has a crack where two of the pieces of drywall meet. How should I go about repairing it? -Louise
Hi Louise,
Cracks in a drywall ceiling are caused by wood movement in the framing due to shrinkage of improperly dried lumber or seasonal changes in temperature and humidity. The common approach is to fill the crack with spackling then paint over it, but this is at best a temporary fix, since the crack will usually come back as the seasons change.
A better solution is to apply drywall compound and tape over the crack to keep it from telegraphing through. Here’s how to go about it:
- Start by roughing up the painted surface with sandpaper, then wipe it down with a damp rag to remove any dust.
- If the drywall isn’t firmly attached, drive drywall screws into the framing on both sides of the crack.
- Next, apply a thin coat of drywall joint compound to the crack, using a 4”- 5” wide drywall knife, and embed a strip of paper drywall tape in the wet compound to bridge the crack.
- When dry, apply several additional coats of joint compound with a 10”- 12” wide drywall knife, feathering them out over a 12”-18” wide area.
- Lightly sand or sponge the dried drywall compound smooth and clean the surface with a damp rag.
- Finally, prime the area with a drywall primer, and repaint the ceiling.
Good luck with your project,

Please Leave a Comment
We want to hear from you! In addition to posting comments on articles and videos, you can also send your comments and questions to us on our contact page or at (800) 946-4420. While we can't answer them all, we may use your question on our Homefront radio show, Today’s Homeowner TV show, or online at dannylipford.com.
You might also like
- How to Repair a Ceiling Crack
- How to Fill Cracks in Drywall
- Ceiling Enhancements for the Kuppersmith House
- Repairing a Drywall Nail Pop
- How to Reduce Dust When Drilling in a Drywall Ceiling
- Do Cracks in Walls Indicate a Structural Problem?
- How to Install a Solid Wood Ceiling in Your Home
- How to Repair Cracks in Plaster Walls
Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford® is brought to you by:
Press Room | Advertise with Danny | Air Our Show | TV Station Support | Radio Station Support | Video Production | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Sitemap
TODAY'S HOMEOWNER and the TODAY'S HOMEOWNER logo are registered Trademarks owned by Time4 Media, Inc. Used under license. | Past Episodes of Today's Homeowner | Remodeling Contractor in Mobile, Alabama (AL) | Video Production in Mobile, Alabama (AL) |














