Asked on Jan 20, 2019

How do you repair chipped wall corners?

Dee B
by Dee B

Our large dogs have successfully ruined the outside corners of most of walls. Does the corner bead need to be replaced or can it be repaired to eliminate the cracked/chipped compound to make it smooth to paint?

  6 answers
  • Pamela Pamela on Jan 20, 2019

    If you are careful, it can easily be smoothed out b applying some new compound and sanding once dry. You might also consider clear plastic corner covers.

  • Jan Clark Jan Clark on Jan 20, 2019

    Ah, yes! Welcome to the world of big dogs. Gotta love 'em though! We have never replaced the bead. We've used compound fill, sanding that smooth, then paint/prime and now most of our corners have plastic covers on them to keep that problem from repeating. At least they didn't eat the wall. We've experienced that, too!

    • Dee B Dee B on Jan 20, 2019

      I've been putting off the repairs figuring "it's just gonna happen again" but now I'm sick of looking at it and the house is in desperate need of a paint job. Hopefully the plastic covers will solve the problem from happening again. Thanks for your input. Wish me luck!

  • Darla Darla on Jan 21, 2019

    There is a quick setting spackle out on the market that works really well. You can patch an area with it, smooth it and paint really quickly. I have used it many times and have always been pleased with the results.


    As for preventing it happening again, the plastic corner molding sounds like it would work and if you wanted to dress the area up a little bit you can buy it in white rather than just clear. Or even wood grain but if all the other trim is white I would stick to white.

  • Rebecca Rebecca on Jan 21, 2019

    I would imagine the best solution would be to use sheet rock mud (not official name of product). Spread it on moderately with a 4 inch scraper, let dry and sand as necessary. Repeat if not all the divits are filled in. Prime then paint.

    • Dee B Dee B on Jan 21, 2019

      Sounds good. Looks like it won't be a difficult job at all.

  • Debi53 Debi53 on Jan 23, 2019

    Go with the clear corner covers after repairing the wall. The clear is barely noticeable on the painted wall. (We have them.) If you go with white or wood, you will have a long strip of white/wood that will call attention to itself.