The column in this picture consists of four outside drywall corners.
One of the final steps in drywall installation is finishing the corners where two drywall panels meet. A well-applied finish to the corners leaves the joint between the boards looking seamless, as though the corner is part of a single surface. It is not complicated to create that impression, but it does require a bit of work to pull off successfully. Working in steps however, you can complete the corners in a matter of hours, creating both inside and outside corners that appear seamless in nature.
Instructions
Inside Corners
1. Measure the height of the inside corner with a tape measure and cut a strip of paper drywall tape with a utility knife about two inches longer than your measurement. Fold the tape along the crease in its center to create a 90-degree angle.
2. Spread a thick layer of ready-mix joint compound along the edges of both walls comprising the corner. Use a joint knife to spread the compound, making sure to cover the entire height of the corner far enough outward to contain the width of the drywall tape.
3. Press the folded tape into the corner over the applied joint compound. Use a spackle knife to apply pressure to the tape center, pushing it flush to the corner. Set the tape from the top of the wall downwards, pressing on both sides of the fold to make certain the tape bonds with both walls along the corner. Cut the excess tape at the wall bottom using the utility knife.
4. Remove the excess joint compound from the tape edges by skimming along the edges with a joint knife. Tilt the blade of the knife to a 30-degree angle and scrape it along the tape edge, scraping off the excess compound in the process. Repeat the process, applying a bit more force to push excess compound from beneath the tape and scrape it away as well. Allow the compound to dry for the manufacturer recommended drying time.
5. Spread a second thick coat of joint compound over the corner area, covering the tape and a three-inch section of wall adjacent to the tape edges. Skim the surface a second time to remove the excess mud and smooth the wall. Allow the second coat to dry.
6. Apply a finish coat of joint compound over the second coat to completely cover traces of the tape. Skim the finish coat with the joint knife to remove the excess compound. Allow the finish coat to dry.
7. Use medium-grit sandpaper to smooth the compound applied in the corner so that it blends into the rest of the drywall. Spread a small amount of the compound along the corner's length, using a finger to create a smooth finished looking corner line.
Outside Corners
8. Measure the height of the outside corner and use a pair of tin snips to cut a length of metal drywall corner bead to match. Make your cuts along both edges of the bead, meeting in the middle, and bend the bead at the meeting point to snap it apart.
9. Set the bead in place along the outside drywall corner and secure it to the walls by screwing it into place with 1 5/8-inch drywall screws through both bead edges into both meeting walls. Place a screw every 12 inches along the bead length, sinking the screw heads into the metal and forming small depressions. Stagger the screws along the two edges so that they zigzag along the bead length. Use an electric screwdriver for quick screw placement.
10. Apply a coating of setting-type drywall mud with a 6-inch drywall joint knife over the bead and onto the wall to cover the bead and bead edges. Skim along the bead and the wall using the knife blade to remove any excess mud on both sides and smoothing out the surface, working from the top of the wall to the bottom in a single stroke. Skim a second time, this time concentrating on removing the excess mud from the edges of the bead where it meets the walls. Go over the mud a final time at the peak of the corner, removing any built-up mud present, and allow the compound to dry.
11. Apply a coat of ready-mix joint compound along the bead using a larger 10-inch joint knife to overlap the placement of the first mud application. Skim away the excess mud, and switch to a 12-inch joint knife and feather the edges where the mud meets the drywall. Allow the compound 24 hours drying time.
12. Sand the edges of the joint compound with medium-grit sandpaper to further smooth the material along the length of the drywall for later finishing with paint or wallpaper.
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