- Q. I have to repair a drywalled vertical inside corner where a large masonry chimney meets a 2x4 wall. The side of the chimney is covered with drywall that was apparently attached with panel adhesive. Either because the masonry moves at a different rate than the wood frame wall or because it has settled, the paper tape in the corner has ripped and wrinkled. What's a good way to fix this? Is there such a thing as a control joint (to allow differential movement) for drywall, or should I just repair this area and hope for the best? The house is 10 years old.
A.Myron Ferguson, a drywall contractor in Galway, N.Y., responds: The best solution I've found for that sort of problem is a product called Trim-Tex's Magic Corner, which consists of two flanges joined by a rubbery, very flexible center section (trim-tex.com). I often use it for off-angle corners like those on Cape-style ceilings, and it should also work in the situation you describe (as long as the movement is not too extreme). The product attaches with a combination of spray adhesive and divergent-leg staples. The damage you see now may have been caused by lumber shrinkage as well as settling of the chimney. Given the age of the house, there's a good chance that future seasonal movement will be less pronounced.
