Drywall Crack Repair in South Philadelphia

Drywall Crack Repair Philadelphia

Clients: Heather and Ryan
Location: South Philadelphia, PA
Project Type: Drywall Crack Repair & Painting
Completed: May 2026

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Prefer to Text? Send Photos + Address here +1 (215) 964-6017

The Problem: Drywall Stress Cracks & Builders Grade Paint

Heather and Ryan had noticeable cracking running up a tall wall in their New South Philadelphia home. The cracks extended roughly 12–13 feet high and were concerning enough that they initially worried it could be a structural issue.

After evaluation, it became clear the problem was a poor taping job from new construction. The original installer had used pre-mixed joint compound and an automatic taping tool without properly pre-filling the joints with a setting-type compound. This is a common issue in production homes and often leads to cracking once the house settles and goes through normal expansion and contraction.

They were also dealing with low-quality new construction paint that scuffed easily and wiped off when cleaned. A common problem that became more obvious after moving in furniture and having a newborn in the house.

The Solution: Proper Drywall Crack Repair

We started by V-cutting the joints and completely removing the old tape so we could properly repair the wall. We re-fastened the drywall on both sides of the joints with screws every 3 inches on center to minimize future movement.

We then pre-filled the joints using a hardening-type setting compound, applied fiberglass-reinforced tape, and followed with two additional coats of setting-type compound. The repair was feathered out 36–42 inches from the original crack so the transition would blend smoothly and avoid the “speed bump” look common with lesser repairs.

After the setting compound cured, we applied a full skim coat with topping compound over the repaired area. The next day we sanded the wall, spot-primed the repaired sections, and performed a prime check using a high-lumen trouble light to identify and correct any remaining imperfections.

We color-matched the existing paint at Sherwin-Williams and applied two coats of Sherwin-Williams Duration. A durable, scuff-resistant, and washable paint. All cut-ins were back-rolled and the walls were rolled in a consistent direction to ensure a uniform finish with no roller marks or brush lines.

Throughout the project we maintained strong site protection. We masked off the work area, vacuumed and mopped between visits, and covered the HVAC return to prevent dust from circulating into their newborn’s bedroom on the second floor.

Results

The wall was restored to a Level 4 finish and now looks and feels significantly better than the original new construction work.

Heather and Ryan now have a much more durable, scuff-resistant paint finish that holds up to everyday life with a young child.

Job Duration: 2 days

Want to see more about how we handle drywall repairs? You can read about our full process here

Send Photos For Pricing

Prefer to Text? Send Photos + Address here +1 (215) 964-6017

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