When you have a long crack that ranges from 2 to 5 feet, it is advisable to apply the patch plus primer onto the tape by using a 6-inch drywall knife. To be able to use the 6-inch drywall knife, you have to scoop a small amount of Patch plus primer into a mud pan to ease the exercise.

When applying the spackling, start at the center of the tape. Spread it onto the tape following a downward motion from the middle of the tape. Add the remaining spackling by moving in an upward manner from the tape’s central part. This procedure prevents the Fiberglass Mesh drywall Tape from wrinkling by stretching it along the crack. Give this coat some time to dry, preferably 30 to 40 minutes before moving on to the next step.

1. Add the second Patch plus liner coat
   The light coat in the previous step was to avoid having a large hump on the wall where you stuck the Mesh tape. Use the 6-inch drywall knife to apply the second patch plus primer coat. Apply the layer such that it is two inches to the left and two inches to the right of the central part of the tape. After this, smooth out your spackling with the drywall knife by beginning in the middle and moving towards the ends. To attain the best results, use slightly more pressure on the sides of your blade that are in contact with the wall. The change in force applied is meant to feather the Patch Plus Primer and makes it blend into the already existing drywall. You can apply up to 3 coats on the wall depending on how perfect you want the wall to look in the end.
2. Lightly Sand the Patch Plus Primer
   When working on small drywall repair jobs, a fine grit sanding sponge can be used to feather the edges of a joint compound or to spackle. This is done by lightly moving the sanding sponge in circles on the patched area. The circular motion that is made helps in blending the patch into the drywall. If the repair is done right, it should be impossible for the naked eye to note the difference on the patched area from the rest of the wall when you are done.
3. Paint your wall
   The 3M patch plus primer works to your advantage since you do not have to prime the wall again before applying paint. The piece plus primer will be ready to be painted over after 30 minutes or so. To achieve the best results use a high quality and reliable roller or paintbrush. An example of a suitable quality paint brush is a Purdy 2 inch brush whose bristles are durable and stay in good shape even after two years of use. The paintbrush should be well maintained if you want it to last long. This can be achieved by rinsing it in warm water after every use and wrapping it in Glad Press N Seal.

I hope this post serves to make you an expert DIY drywall crack guru. Keep in mind the skill will take some practice and an excellent eye to perfect. I have included some affiliate links in this post for you to visit from which I do earn a cut for any purchase derived from these links.

Post was created by the Drywall Vancouver blog – Vancouver Drywall Contractors

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