How to Fix Ceiling Cracks With a Slipped Foundation

Set a sturdy stepladder on the floor so you can easily access the cracked ceiling. Position the tip of a putty knife’s blade several inches away from the crack and extend it all the way around to score a square or rectangle through the ceiling’s texture. This allows you to mark the location of the crack on the ceiling. Repeat the process if there are more ceiling cracks. Avoid adding too much pressure on the knife because you don’t want to cut into the drywall’s paper.

Hold the blade of the putty knife at a 45-degree angle and scrape off the ceiling texture along the length of the crack. Also, remove 2 inches of texture along the sides of the crack.

Spread a 20-inch-long bead of caulk into the crack and press it lightly with a wet thumb to smooth its surface. Wipe away excess caulk from the ceiling surface with a damp sponge. Repeat this process to caulk the entire crack, working in small sections along the length. Allow the caulk to fully dry.

Position a can of aerosol drywall texture spray 10 to 12 inches away from the surface of the crack. Apply the spray-on ceiling texture over the patched area until it is completely covered. Ensure the spray-on texture matches the ceiling texture so the repaired patch blends with the surrounding. If required, adjust the can’s nozzle beforehand until the texture it sprays matches the surrounding ceiling surface texture. Allow the spray-on texture to dry according to the specified time on the manufacturer’s directions.

Apply aerosol primer over the repair patch to seal the texture’s pores. Apply a coat of ceiling paint over the repaired patch so it blends with the surrounding surface.