Fixing Damaged Drywall Corners and Edges

Corners take the most abuse. Furniture bumps them, kids crash into them, vacuums nick them. Here's how to fix the damage.

Types of Corner Damage

Dented corner bead: The metal strip protecting outside corners gets bent in. The drywall underneath might be fine.

Cracked or missing paper: The paper tape on inside corners can crack, bubble, or peel away.

Crumbling drywall: Severe impacts can crush the actual drywall, not just the corner protection.

Fixing Dented Metal Corner Bead

For small dents: 1. Use a hammer to gently tap the corner bead back into shape

1. Apply joint compound over the damaged area


2. Sand smooth when dry


3. Apply a second coat, sand, prime, paint

For severe damage: 1. Cut out the damaged section of corner bead with a hacksaw or rotary tool

1. Install a new piece of corner bead


2. Tape and mud the seams


3. Sand, prime, paint

Fixing Inside Corner Cracks

1. Cut away any loose or bubbling tape
2. Apply fresh paper tape or fiberglass mesh tape
3. Embed the tape in joint compound
4. Let dry, then apply 2-3 more thin coats, feathering outward
5. Sand carefully (inside corners are tricky)
6. Prime and paint

Fixing Crushed Drywall

If the drywall itself is damaged:

1. Cut out the damaged section to the nearest studs


2. Install a new piece of drywall


3. Install new corner bead if it's an outside corner


4. Tape, mud, and sand


5. Prime and paint

Pro Tips

• Inside corners: Use a corner knife for smoother application
• Outside corners: Vinyl corner bead is more dent-resistant than metal
• Take your time sanding - corners are the most visible spots
• Multiple thin coats beat one thick coat

Corners are some of the trickiest repairs to make invisible. If you're not confident, it's worth bringing in a pro - a bad corner repair is very obvious. For simpler repairs, see how to fix small holes in drywall.