How To Fix Bulging Drywall Seams: 6 Best Causes & Solutions

How to fix bulging drywall seams is not the big issue but the main thing is to find out the root cause behind it. Why it is so important because if we do not find out the main root cause behind it, and we don’t solve it, it will keep happening frequently and it will waste your peace, time, and money.

That’s why it is very important to know the root cause of the bulging seam issue and resolve it on first priority and then fix the problem of the bulging seam.

So let’s see the causes of the bulging of the drywall seams,

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.

Generally, this problem comes due to water leakage, but it is not the only reason for bulging drywall seams, there are so many reasons that come across during the course of time. Now we are going to mention the same reasons here,

  • Improper use of joint compound
  • Two drywall panels are placed too closely together
  • Loose or missing screws
  • If screws are driven too deep
  • Any type of water leakage
  • Structural Damage
  • House settling

All these are the causes of bulging of drywall seams, from these any one of the causes could be the cause of your problem.

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.

So let’s see step by step, how to fix the bulging of drywall seams coming due to each cause,

1. Improper Use Of Joint Compound

Improper joint compounds always feel like bulging of drywall seams. But why does this happen, it is only due to the insufficient and excess of joint compound applied over the drywall seams.

Due to insufficient joint compound air bubbles are created below the drywall tape and because of this the drywall tape crumbles in some places after a few days and you feel as the drywall seam has bulged.

How To Fix Bulging Drywall Seams: 6 Best Causes & Solutions

If you applied the excess joint compound then the drywall tape won’t stick firmly to the drywall seams and after a course of time that joint compound will crack and because of this the drywall tape will crumbles in some places, and you will feel that as the drywall seam has bulged.

how to fix bulging drywall seams

How To Fix Bulging Drywall Seams Issue Through Improper Use Of Joint Compound

If such situations occurred then take out the drywall tape and check the drywall seams thoroughly. If there is no bulging on the drywall seams, and also your drywall is found in good condition then there is no need to change the drywall.

But if found any deformation on your drywall then should replace the affected area of the drywall, and for that, you can take the help of furring strips.

If you replace the affected area then apply primer over it on a priority so that it seals the area, and then lets them dry.

Apply a thin layer of joint compound over the seams as well as over the affected area also.

Then apply the drywall tape over the seams and the affected area, then again apply a thin layer of joint compound over it.

Remove the excess joint compound by using the trowel/knife over it and feather out the edges and let them dry.

Now smooth it with the help of a drywall sander.

Prime the affected area and let them dry.

Now apply the paint over the affected area so it matches your other walls.

2. Two Drywall Panels Are Placed Too Closely Together

How To Fix Bulging Drywall Seams: 6 Best Causes & Solutions

Two drywall panels are placed closely together is not the problem, but these are placed too tightly together this is the problem.

When two drywall panels are placed too tightly together then the chances of breaking them increase, it is due to the expansion and contraction of the panels which change according to the weather conditions, hope you will be understanding well.

So at the time of expansion of drywall panels, they do not get enough space to expand and they collide with each other and result in bulging drywall seams. So always keep at least a space of 2mm to 2.5mm in between the two drywall panels, this little space makes them safe. Hope you understood well.

How To Fix A Bulge Coming Through Two Drywall Panels Held Tightly Together

Take out the drywall tape and check the drywall seams thoroughly. If there is no bulging on the drywall seams, and also your drywall is found in good condition then there is no need to change the drywall.

But if your drywall is found bulge on the seam then you should replace the affected area of the drywall, and for that, you can take the help of furring strips.

If you replace the affected area then apply primer over it on a priority so that it seals the area, and then lets them dry.

Apply a thin layer of joint compound over the seams as well as over the affected area also.

Then apply the drywall tape over the seams and the affected area, then again apply a thin layer of joint compound over it.

Remove the excess joint compound by using the trowel/knife over it and feather out the edges and let them dry.

Now smooth it with the help of a drywall sander.

Prime the affected area and let them dry.

Now apply the paint over the affected area so it matches your other walls.

3. Loose Or Missing Screw

How To Fix Bulging Drywall Seams: 6 Best Causes & Solutions

This type of problem comes in two cases

  • If the screw is not screwed properly into the drywall.
  • If the screwed area of the drywall is damaged, but it happens when the screw is too tightly screwed into the drywall.

Both these cases happen at the time of installation of drywall so the proper tightening of the screw is very important.

If any screw is loose or missing then your drywall seams just slightly will come up from that place and you will feel like just bulging of drywall seams and if you press this, it goes down towards the stud. From this, it appears that some of the screws are missing there.

How To Fix Bulging Drywall Seams Through The Loose Or Missing Screw

Take out the drywall tape and check the drywall seams thoroughly. If there is no bulging on the drywall seams, and also your drywall is found in good condition then there is no need to change the drywall.

Check the loose or missing screw, if found then replace it with the new one. But remember one thing when you replace it with the new screw then always use a slightly larger size screw than earlier, which means that if you used an M4 thread size screw earlier then now use an M6 thread size screw. So that it tightens the drywall with the stud properly.

Or you can apply the new screw just beside the existing screw and tightens the drywall with the stud properly.

But if found the screw area of the drywall is damaged then replace the affected area with the new one, for that you can take the help of furring strips.

Apply primer over the affected area so that it seals the area properly, and then lets them dry.

Apply a thin layer of joint compound over the seams as well as over the affected area also.

Then apply the drywall tape over the seams and the affected area, then again apply a thin layer of joint compound over it.

Remove the excess joint compound by using the trowel/knife over it and feather out the edges and let them dry.

Now smooth it with the help of a drywall sander.

Prime the affected area and let them dry.

Now apply the paint over the affected area so it matches your other walls.

4. If Screws Are Driven Too Deep

How To Fix Bulging Drywall Seams: 6 Best Causes & Solutions

When the screw is driven too deep into the drywall then it breaks the paper and damages the internal core of the drywall and because of this, it loses its strength and it bulges on any small change of weather.

So do not tighten the screw too much deep into the drywall so that its internal core should not open to the atmosphere. If you tighten the screw then just tighten it to the level of the surface of the drywall.

That is, when you move the knife over the drywall, the screw shouldn’t touch the knife.

How To Fix A Bulge Of The Drywall Seam Coming Due To A Screw Being Driven Too Deep

Take out the drywall tape and check the drywall seams thoroughly. If the drywall seam found bulged then check if any screw has gone deep inside the drywall. If found then take out this screw with the help of a screwdriver and replace the affected area with a new one.

Apply primer over the affected area so that it seals the area properly, and then lets them dry.

Apply a thin layer of joint compound over the seams as well as over the affected area also.

Then apply the drywall tape over the seams and the affected area, then again apply a thin layer of joint compound over it.

Remove the excess joint compound by using the trowel/knife over it and feather out the edges and let them dry.

Now smooth it with the help of a drywall sander.

Prime the affected area and let them dry.

Now apply the paint over the affected area so it matches your other walls.

5. Any Type Of Water Leakage

It is a common but very serious problem so do not take it lightly especially when you are using drywall.

Any type of continuous water leakage whether it is plumbing leakage, sync leakage, washbasin leakage, or any type of water leakage may bulge your drywall. So always fix such water leakages on utmost priority.

How To Fix Bulging Drywall Seams Through Any Type Of Water Leakage

Take out the drywall tape and check the drywall seams thoroughly. If bulging is found on the drywall seams then check the complete drywall thoroughly and if the bulging is found on the drywall also then replace the complete drywall with a new one or otherwise replace the affected area only.

Apply primer over the new drywall or the affected area so that it seals the area properly, and then lets them dry.

Apply a thin layer of joint compound over the seams or the affected area.

Then apply the drywall tape over the seams or the affected area, then again apply a thin layer of joint compound over it.

Remove the excess joint compound by using the trowel/knife over it and feather out the edges and let them dry.

Now smooth it with the help of a drywall sander.

Prime the affected area and let them dry.

Now apply the paint over the affected area so it matches your other walls.

6. Structural Damage

How To Fix Bulging Drywall Seams: 6 Best Causes & Solutions

Structural damage is any type of damage that affects the core integrity of your home. It is the backbone of your home and if it is damaged then your whole house may be a collapse, but it rarely happens.

There are so many reasons for structural damage, we are listing out some of them here,

  • Termites
  • Structure deterioration due to the course of time
  • Any type of water leakage
  • Tree roots
  • Poor compaction of soil
  • House settling
  • Slagging of ceiling
  • Earthquake

These are all factors that can lead to structural damage.

Due to structural damage, some parts of your house will be stretched and some parts will remain under pressure.

The part of your house that will be stretched is prone to cracks and the part of the house on which the pressure will be is likely to have bulged or damaged on the wall of that side.

So if you found any signs of structural damage like water stains, cracks, termites, or slagging ceiling, etc then you should inspect them thoroughly with the help of a professional person and rectify them as soon as possible.

How To Fix Bulging Of Drywall Seams Coming Due To Structural Damage

Take out the drywall tape and check the drywall seams thoroughly. If bulging is found on the seams of the drywall then check the complete drywall and if you think the drywalls are under stress then call the professional person and inspect the drywall thoroughly and rectify the problem first.

Now replace the affected area of the drywall with the new one.

Apply primer over the affected area so that it seals the area properly, and then lets them dry.

Apply a thin layer of joint compound over the seams or the affected area.

Then apply the drywall tape over the seams or the affected area, then again apply a thin layer of joint compound over it.

Remove the excess joint compound by using the trowel/knife over it and feather out the edges and let them dry.

Now smooth it with the help of a drywall sander.

Prime the affected area and let them dry.

Now apply the paint over the affected area so it matches your other walls.

So these all are the causes due to which seam of the drywall bulges, hope you understood well.

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.

  • Taping Knife
  • Trowel
  • Stud finder
  • Screwdriver
  • Drywall sander
  • Sandpaper
  • Mud pan
  • Water
  • Drywall tape
  • Primer
  • All-purpose joint compound
  • Paint

These all are the essential lists of tools and materials you will require.

Hope this article “how to fix bulging drywall seams” will help you in the right direction

Leave a Comment