Basic HOME interior painting question

[T56 Impala]

I'm hoping someone can answer this for me.

My house was built about 15 years ago. It has high ceilings and a LOT of 45* angles on the ceilings. Every one of the 45* joints is cracked. I know it is a combination of things causing this. Rushed/improper building techniques and settling of the structure.

The house has never been repainted. It has the custom colours chosen by the original owners. Thankfully, they didn't have bad or trendy taste when it came to colours! The house is starting to show some age now though and with spring just around the corner, its a good time to start sprucing it up a bit.

My question is:

What is the best/proper way to repair these tape line cracks? Some I will do and some will be done by a professional painter. (I have no desire to try to paint and repair a 20' ceiling! I ain't as good as I once was!)

 

[whowutwut]

I'm actually in the same boat, just bought a home that's 40 years old and I have some of those cracks on the ceiling, mostly on the inside corners. In 2 rooms the tape was peeling off so badly that it didn't make sense to try and patch it up. For those I just pulled off the old tape and re-taped it. The tape came off very easy but it was a lot of sanding work.

For the hairline cracks, I'm also not sure what the best way is .. If i just patch it up with spackle will it just crack again ?

 

[georgiadave]

I would retape the corners and re mud them.

 

[sammerdog]

For hairline cracks up to approx 1/8", there is a product out called "painter's caulk". Comes in a standard sized caulk tube, white in colour, blue print on tube. It is a latex based product with silicone in it that remains flexible and therefore has a little "give" to it. Just like for a tub or surround, you remove anything loose, clean the surface, run a bead, then smooth with a wet finger or rag. It does need a few hours to set up a little, but then you can paint right over it. It does NOT like blue and/or masking tape though, and will pull off accordingly. So if you're transitioning colours at the 45, you'll have to free hand the edge. Menard's, ACE, & Lowe's carry Painter's Caulk, not sure on HD (the HD by me is all decal'ed up with spanish signage, so I don't go in there anymore).

Try it - you'll like it.

ps - I've only used it under latex paints. Not sure how oil-based will cover.....

 

[KMR Construction]

Use fiberglass tape and some Durabond 90. Durabond hardends like plaster unlike joint compound that stays soft

 

[mulepackin]

Use fiberglass tape and some Durabond 90. Durabond hardends like plaster unlike joint compound that stays soft

The guy I learned to tape from disliked fiberglass tape for average joints, but did use it for this application with Durabond. He used a mesh tape with a much tighter mesh than the standard drywall glass tape. Durabond sets up much harder than standard joint compounds, nearly impossible to sand. It is a "setting" type compound and only comes in powder form. The 90 refers to the approximate set time, and also comes in 20, 45 and 210, so bear that in mind when mixing it up.

 

[larry4406]

As stated, Durabond is harder to sand. It also sometimes results in pin holes. Skimming with regular mud is helpful to rid the pin holes.

 

[sammerdog]

On a really sturdy, completely settled wall, Durabond is okay. If there's any movement though, the Durabond will crack, and you're right back to square one.

I'm picturing your 45 degree angles along the lines of what you'd see in a Cape Cod's upstair's dormers. Those joints will flex a little due to the expansion/contraction of the roof (angled ceiling portion) due to changes in outside temps vs the walls and flat ceiling which are not as suceptable to temp changes. You want something with some flex to give you a little wiggle room - Painter's Caulk, no Durabond, it'll crack within two weeks in a roof backed cathedral ceiling.

 

[T56 Impala]

Thanks guys! I knew I would find the answer here.

 

[Scotto]

My house is about the same age and had similar hairline cracks in the angled ceiling areas. I first just filled in the cracks with joint compound, sanded, and painted . Less then a year later though and it's cracked again. This time I'm going to use some Dap Alex acrylic latex caulk and paint that. That should have some more "give" to it.

 

[fotoflojoe]

For hairline cracks up to approx 1/8", there is a product out called "painter's caulk". Comes in a standard sized caulk tube, white in colour, blue print on tube. It is a latex based product with silicone in it that remains flexible and therefore has a little "give" to it. Just like for a tub or surround, you remove anything loose, clean the surface, run a bead, then smooth with a wet finger or rag. It does need a few hours to set up a little, but then you can paint right over it. It does NOT like blue and/or masking tape though, and will pull off accordingly. So if you're transitioning colours at the 45, you'll have to free hand the edge. Menard's, ACE, & Lowe's carry Painter's Caulk, not sure on HD (the HD by me is all decal'ed up with spanish signage, so I don't go in there anymore).

Try it - you'll like it.

ps - I've only used it under latex paints. Not sure how oil-based will cover.....

+1

When we repainted the rooms of our old house, there were lots of settling cracks in walls, corners, ceilings, etc.

My BIL, who is a painter by trade, recommended DAP Alex Plus. It worked out great.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I used 1-1/4 x 1/4 paint grade moulding, nailed to the wall surface first. Then nail same to the ceiling. No one makes an inexpensive 45 deg. moulding. I then used the DAP Alex plus caulk as mentioned above. I have stomp textured ceilings impossible to match. This repair has held up well for several years and did not draw attention that it was a repair.

 

[sammerdog]

+1

My BIL, who is a painter by trade, recommended DAP Alex Plus. It worked out great.

I've used that also - works great!

 

[russlaferrera]

+1

When we repainted the rooms of our old house, there were lots of settling cracks in walls, corners, ceilings, etc.

My BIL, who is a painter by trade, recommended DAP Alex Plus. It worked out great.

Worked for me also.

 

[e-tek]

A friend of mine had a similar design in his bedroom. He lived there for many years and never noticed any cracks. Then he married a beautiful Jewish gal. One night they where making love and he said: "I long to know what you're thinking about - tell me the first thing that comes to mind". Her reply: "Sammy, the ceiling is cracked!"