The corners formed between two panels of drywall are one of the most common places for cracking and bubbling to occur. Sometimes this is caused by the shifting of the house's frame because of seasonal temperature changes. Other times, the cracking or bubbling is due to improper drywall hanging or finishing.
Removal and Repair
Occasionally, the two sides of the corner have separated from each other significantly. In these situations, you may have to re-attach the drywall to the wood studs in order to make the corner strong. Use drywall screws and a drywall screw gun, if possible, so that you can adjust the depth of the screws. Once the drywall is re-screwed, cut away all broken or loose pieces of drywall tape.
Examine the length of the corner and look for cracks and bubbles. Remove bubbles by cutting around them with a utility knife and then prying them out. For cracks, gouge them slightly with your utility knife to allow the joint compound you will be applying to penetrate.
Replacement
Having removed all loose material, it is now time to replace the tape. Use paper drywall tape. Although mesh drywall tape is sometimes quicker, it does not work well with inside corners. The joint compound you use should have a toothpaste consistency. If it is too thick, your corner will not be sharp. If it is too thin, the joint compound will be runny and difficult to work with.
First, using a 6-inch drywall knife, lay a thick coat of joint compound over the inside corner, making sure there are no bare areas. Second, fold the paper tape in half, forming a crease, and lay the tape over the joint compound. Finally, wipe the tape with your drywall knife so that you remove as much of the joint compound as possible. Be careful not to push too hard with your knife. It is easy to accidentally cut the paper tape. If you do cut the tape, remove it, add a fresh coat of joint compound to the corner and replace the tape with a new piece.
After the first coat has dried, you can now apply a second coat. The goal of the second coat is to hide the tape. Using the 6-inch drywall knife, lay a thick coat of joint compound over the tape. Feather the edges so that the majority of the compound is covering the tape. Try to leave the corner as smooth as possible. After it dries, sand the corner with an angled drywall sanding sponge (available at most hardware stores). If necessary, repeat the coating and sanding process until the corner is sharp and blemish-free. At this point, it is ready for primer and paint.
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