How to Fix Drywall Surface Bulges
- Start by sanding away as much of the affected area as possible with 150-grit paper.
- Apply new drywall tape to the seams that were bulging as needed.
- Feather out the affected area with joint compound to ensure new bulges don’t occur.
- Sandpaper over everything with 150-grit paper one more time to make sure the area is flat and uniform with your other walls.
- Prime the affected area.
- Paint the affected area to make it match the rest of your home.
How do you fix bulging drywall seams?
Fix bulging drywall seams by using a stud finder to identify loose, missing, or over-driven drywall screws. Cut into the wall with a utility knife, remove the problem screws, and replace them with new ones.
How do you fix a bulge in the wall?
If you can press the bulge in your wall and feel the drywall move, you may be able to fix your problem with just a few screws. When installers fail to drive screws completely into the wall, the drywall won't fit tight to the framing, resulting in bulges or bumps.
What is bulging drywall?
Bulging drywall usually appears to have a hump or a visibly swollen area. These imperfections usually occur along drywall seams and can make your walls and ceilings appear imperfect.
How do you fix a bulging ceiling with drywall tape?
Add new drywall tape to the seams, then use a wide knife to feather out joint compound to prevent new bulges. Once the seams are smooth and relatively flat, sand lightly, then prime and paint to restore the look of your wall. Multiple bulges along the ceiling are often caused by drywall that's too thin for ceiling use.
How do you hide bulging drywall seams?
How Do You Hide Drywall Seams After Painting?Use paper tape to cover drywall joints.Apply 2–3 coats of joint compound over your tape, using progressively bigger taping knives.Sand between coats of joint compound to smooth seams.Apply a final coat of topping compound over the joints.More items...
Why is my drywall bulging?
Bulges that appear where two drywall boards meet are usually caused by the boards pulling away from the studs. This usually happens when not enough fasteners and/or when the wrong type of fasteners are used. Fasteners should be applied at least every 12 inches to properly secure each panel.
How do you fix a bulging wall?
If you notice a bulge in your masonry wall, you should quickly put a safety perimeter in place and get in touch with a professional. At times, it'll be enough to simply solidify the existing structure, but often it'll be necessary to remove the bricks or stones and rebuild part of the wall.
How do you get rid of a bulge?
You can get rid of a belly bulge, but how you do it depends on the cause.Diet and exercise. Increasing your activity level and eating healthier foods and fewer calories can help you lose overall weight. ... Medications. Some medications may help with belly bulge, including:Reduce stress. ... Get more sleep. ... Surgery.
How serious is a bulging wall?
The dangers caused by bulging brick walls If your home is prone to bulging walls, then it must be repaired and quickly! This problem could lead to bricks or stones falling and endanger your family as well as your home.
Can a bowed wall be fixed?
A cracked or slightly bowing wall can be repaired with minimally invasive methods.
What does a bulge in a wall mean?
Bowing, leaning or bulging in external walls are a result of decreasing wall stability, these defects are often a symptom of: Prolonged vibrations from heavy traffic or plant machinery. An increase in the floor loads (for example where additional floors have been added to an existing building)
Step 1
Find the studs on each side of the bulge, and measure the distance. Cut your 1x4-inch board to the same distance with your skill saw. Insert a screw part way into both ends of the board with your drill. Hold the board over the bulge so that each end aligns with the studs, and use your drill to finish inserting the screws into the studs.
Step 2
Use your drywall screws and your drill to secure the drywall back to the studs. If the bulge is in a ceiling, you may also need to insert bracing between the studs to provide more anchoring for the drywall. Go into your attic, and locate the drywall bulge. Measure the distance between the floor joists over the bulge.
Step 3
Insert your drywall screws so that the heads of the screws are slightly imbedded into the drywall or what is known as "counter sunk." Cover the heads of the screws with drywall compound. Use your drywall tape to cover any cracks in the bulge, and spread a thin coat of drywall compound over the tape; allow it to dry, and apply another coat.
Step 1
Draw a square around the drywall bulge using your straight edge as a guide. Measure the square to ensure that the sides of the square are the same distance, and the top and bottom of the square are the same distance. Use your drywall saw to cut out the square, and cut a new section of drywall the same size.
Step 2
Cut 3-inch anchor blocks to place in each corner of the hole in the wall or ceiling. Place half of the block on the backside of the drywall, and secure it in place with a drywall screw. Allow approximately 1½ inches of the block to remain exposed to provide anchors for the new section of drywall.
Step 3
Set the new section of drywall into the hole, and insert a screw into each corner and into the blocks to hold the drywall into place. Cut a strip of mesh drywall tape for each side of the square. Spread a thin layer of drywall compound over the tape, and allow it to completely dry. Apply a second coat.
Why do drywall edges get butted together?
Here’s yet another possible cause: When drywall sheets with uncut edges are butted together, a depression forms along the line where they join. That depression is meant to accommodate joint compound and drywall tape. Trouble arises only when installers opt to use cut drywall.
Why does drywall disappear after painting?
The most likely culprit is the manner in which your drywall was installed. For the seam between drywall panels to disappear after painting, that joint between drywall panels must be covered with compound in a specific way —in a series of layers, with each layer wider than the last.
Why is my drywall bulging?
Temperature changes can cause bulges in the drywall. In summer relative humidity of air is high, and it affects the drywall bulging. In the Summer season, the foundation may degrade because of using expansive soil in the drywall, which causes bulging.
What happens if you drive a fastener in drywall?
When you drive a fastener in your drywall with the wrong equipment or overdrive it, or if you do not hold the drywall board in the drain wall properly, it may damage the drywall paper. And then moist join compound ravages the foundation of the drywall panel. You have to drill into the harmed area and wipe out the swallowed drywall paper. Then you need to sew up the area with the joining component and then repaint the area.
What tape to use for drywall?
If drywall tape is bulging, you have to attach the tape to the seams. You can use mesh tape or paper tape. Mesh drywall tape stuck to the wall nicely. Paper tape is good for its adhesive property, and you can use it too.
What happens if you screw a sheet of drywall?
Screws driven too deeply into a sheet of drywall tear the paper and damage the interior core of the drywall. When installers apply joint compound over this damage, it tends to swell, creating a bulge. To fix this problem, start by removing the offending screw, if possible.
Can drywall be smooth?
While properly installed drywall appears smooth and free of blemishes , everything from simple installation mistakes to natural settling of the house can create bumps or bulges in drywall finishes. Fortunately, many of these issues can be resolved by handy homeowners using only basic tools and equipment.
Why is my drywall bulging?
Start By Understanding Why Your Drywall is Bulging. Bulging drywall is often caused by mistakes made during the construction process. Whoever built your home could have: Overdriven the drywall fasteners. Failed to secure the drywall properly. Butted two sheets of drywall too closely together.
Why is my ceiling sagging?
Sagging ceilings are often caused when installers use drywall that’s too thin for ceiling use. To fix this, experts typically recommend ripping out and replacing the drywall altogether. However, this is messy, complex work. A better strategy is to support the affected drywall while leaving it intact.
What happens if you don't apply joint compound?
If the joint compound isn’t applied in an appropriate way, you will have bulging drywall seams. Fortunately, this is often something that can be easily repaired by a professional.
Can water stains be found in ceilings?
These issues are generally present in the ceiling. However, if a large amount of water has accumulated behind your drywall, they can also occur in the walls. Persistent leaks will be evident of discoloration on the walls like water stains. To fix this issue, you first need to locate the cause of the leak and repair it.
Can drywall be flat?
Although drywall that is properly installed will appear flat, smooth, and blemish-free, anything from basic installation mistakes and natural home settling to plumbing leaks can result in bulges and bumps in your drywall finish.
Improper Use of Joint Compound
Bulging drywall seams can be caused by a poor drywall installation. The joint between drywall panels must be covered with compound in a specific way in order for it to disappear after the drywall is painted. This joint must be covered in a series of layers, with each layer wider than the last.
Screws That Were Driven Too Deep
Screws that are driven too deep into a sheet of drywall can tear the paper and damage the interior core. Joint compound that’s applied over this damage can cause the drywall to swell. As a siding painting and interior painting expert, we can remove the offending screw and then drive new screws into the stud in the right locations.
Missing Screws
Missing screws can also cause drywall to bulge. We can fix this problem by just using a few screws. We’ll remove the offending screw and then drive a new drywall screw roughly 1 1/2 inches away on each side of the offending screw. We’ll make sure to insert the screws so that the head sinks a bit below the surface of the drywall, making a dimple.
Causes Of Bulging Of Drywall Seams
Bulging of drywall seams is a serious issue so do not take it lightly even if you are facing this problem for the first time but even then it is very important to inspect it completely and find out the reasons due to which it has happened.
How To Fix Bulging Drywall Seams
Now finding the causes of bulging of drywall seams is the step by step approach, which means that do not directly jump on the big issue, go step by step. First, check the easiest cause which you can do by yourself, and then go for difficult cause.
Tools And Materials You Will Require
For resolving these issues you will need some tools and materials, so here we are providing the list of the tools and materials will you require.
Small Dents and Dings
Scrape away loose debris from the hole. Cover the hole or dent with fast-drying spackle to bring the spackle level with the drywall surface and let it dry 24 hours -- or the time recommended by the manufacturer’s instructions. Sand smooth.
Popped Nail Heads
A popped nail isn't holding in the stud and backs out of the drywall, creating a popped nail head.
Small Holes
For small holes, like those created by a doorknob, a patch kit may be used.
Large Holes
For holes larger than 6 inches, you'll create a drywall patch with a different attachment method for the repair.
Corner Bead Patch
Corner bead is used where two pieces of drywall meet to form a corner. Corner bead is available in a variety of materials, including metal, paper and vinyl.
Finish the Repair
You're almost done. Here's where you make it look like nothing happened.
Repair Textured Drywall
Textured drywall is a bit more complicated, but still pretty simple to repair.
