Quick Fix for Walls Can Save Time and Money

(NAPSI)-Making your home presentable for company may be easier than you think-even if it involves fixing problem walls.

Often, small cracks and holes in plaster and wallboard can be repaired in a few hours using inexpensive materials. Here are a few helpful hints:

• Prep the area. Push against the crack to determine the softness of the area. Remove any loose material with a screwdriver, then clean the area with a slightly dampened paintbrush or sponge.

• Gather materials. You'll need a utility knife; a 4- to 6-inch-wide drywall knife; an 8- to 10-inch-wide drywall knife; joint tape for wider cracks; a ready-mixed or powdered joint compound product, such as Sheetrock® Brand Lightweight Setting-Type Joint Compound (Easy Sand™); safety goggles, a dust mask and fine sandpaper or a sponge.

• Fill with a first coat. Small drywall and plaster cracks require one application of joint compound. Deeper cracks need two or more coats. Using a 4- to 6-inch-wide drywall knife, apply compound over the crack. Force it into the crack, then smooth it out. Allow it to dry completely.

• Reinforce larger cracks with joint tape. Apply a thin coat of compound over the crack. Then insert a strip of joint tape to bridge the crack. Draw a knife over the crack to embed the tape. Let the coat dry completely.

• Apply joint compound over the tape to level the repair. Add compound with a drywall knife, then smooth and feather the compound out along the edges. Let it harden and add another coat, if necessary.

• Smooth the surface once the wall is dry. Then lightly sand the edges of the repaired area with fine sandpaper or a damp sponge.

• Prime and paint. To ensure a uniform finished surface, prime the patched area. Wait until it dries completely before applying a new coat of paint.

These tips come from United States Gypsum Company, a leading manufacturer of gypsum board and plaster products. A free step-by-step guide detailing how to install and repair drywall is available by writing to United States Gypsum Company, 125 S. Franklin St., Chicago, IL 60606-4678; calling 1-800-USG-4YOU; or visiting the company's Web site at www.usg.com.

This article is provided free by North American Precis Syndicate. Please e-mail Mark whenever you use this article in your publication or Web site so he can help NAPS track its distribution. (Type into the e-mail address field.) Thanks!