Patching and Plastering - Help with approach for patching large cracks

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nimalex
04-09-07, 03:18 PM
Hello,

I discovered a drywall crack at the left top angle of a door in my house. As I looked at it in order to determine on how to repair it, I enlarged the crack to remove the crumbly drywall. It appears that someone did a repair before (there was some mesh tape) but it did not last..

Anyhow, the area around the crack is clean but it is almost at large as 2 inches in one place with no drywall left (except the paper backing on the back of the drywall sheet) and the overall length of the crack is about 10 inches ( going from large&deep to small and shallow).

While I know I could replace the drywall or at least a piece of it, I would like to see if I could not just patch the crack using some lightweight joint compound and some repair kid from wal-board (it is some sort of metal mesh that you put over the hole). Is this a reasonable approach? Should I put some joint compound in the hole, then the mesh, then some joint compound on the mesh, sand, seal (using Zinsser Gardz), prime and paint


Thanks.

marksr
04-09-07, 04:12 PM
Prime first and use paper tape.
painter guy
04-09-07, 07:48 PM
I agree with marksr with paper tape. Dont bother with that mesh stuff, its doesnt work. I find sheetrock brand 20 or 45 to be excellent for a backing for tape. The numbers refer to the time it takes for the stuff to set up. You mix it with a little water and push it in place, make it thick so it will stay. After it has set then you apply your paper tape and finish skims. If you do it right it should never crack again.