Rooms that have both drywall and wood paneling need to have some sort of transition between the two surfaces. Some people use joint compound and paper drywall tape to finish the seam between drywall boards and wood paneling. This leaves the two surfaces flush with one another. But glossy wood paneling may resist bonding with the joint compound. If this happens, the paper tape will eventually blister, peel or chip away. Fortunately, there is a simple method for repairing the unsightly seam.
Instructions
1. Cover the surrounding area with drop cloths, if necessary.
2. Use a utility knife to cut a circle around the bad tape and pry it out. Alternatively, soak the area with warm water and gently peel away the bad tape. Try to be gentle. Any damage you do now will require you to do more work later when you need to leave the area smooth.
3. Roughen the wood paneling using 80-grit sandpaper. This will allow the joint compound to work itself into the wood. If the wood paneling is too smooth, the joint compound will not be able to form a bond. Although it's not necessary, you can also paint the area with a wood sealer designed to bond with joint compound. Ask the staff at your local home-repair center for product recommendations.
4. Test the repair area for proper adhesion by coating it with a thick layer of joint compound. Allow it to dry for 24 hours. If the joint compound chips off easily after it dries, you will need to roughen the surface again.
5. Use a 6-inch drywall knife to cover the seam with a thick coat of joint compound.
6. Cut a piece of paper drywall tape to size and embed it in the joint compound by pressing it into the seam with your fingers.
7. Wipe the tape with your 6-inch drywall knife. Don't let the tape wrinkle. To ensure that your repairs will not be visible through paint, try to leave the area smooth by removing as much joint compound as possible. Allow the tape to dry for 24 hours.
8. Cover the tape with successive coats of joint compound until the area is flat and smooth. Allow the joint compound to dry fully between applications.
9. Sand the repair site with 150-grit sandpaper before priming and painting.
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