Drywall cracks are a fact of life on the prairies. Dry winter air and furnace heat pull moisture out of the walls, and the seams and corners open up. Painting over a crack does not fix it, the crack comes back through the finish. Here is the repair that actually holds.
Why cracks come back
A crack is a movement in the wall. If you fill it with mud and paint over it, the wall keeps moving and the crack opens again through the new finish. The fix has to address the movement, not just the gap.
Mesh, mud, and feather
We widen the crack slightly, lay mesh tape over it, and skim coat with joint compound, feathering it out so the repair blends into the wall. The mesh gives the repair flex, so the normal seasonal movement does not reopen the crack. We sand it smooth, prime it, and the wall is ready for paint.
Nail pops need the screw
A nail pop is a fastener backing out. We drive a screw next to it, set the nail, fill, and sand. Just mudding over a nail pop leaves a bump that shows through the paint.
Prime before you paint
The repaired area is porous joint compound, which sucks moisture out of paint and leaves a dull patch. We prime the repair so the topcoat is even. Skipping the primer is why a repaired wall often looks patchy under the new paint.
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