You can finish joints like a pro with mud and tape.
Mudding and taping drywall seams and corners is essential for protecting joints and creating a wall with a consistent surface. Applying mud and tape is a technique that, if not employed properly, can create unsightly cracks or ridge lines on the wall. With a bit of practice, novice drywallers can learn to apply mud and tape professionally. The craft of mudding and taping comes in handy when installing new walls, or when repairing or remodeling walls.
Instructions
1. Pick up a modest gob of joint compound on the end of a 4-inch putty knife.
2. Drag and spread the joint compound down and up vertical joints, and back and forth across horizontal joints. Hold the putty knife blade at a sharp angle and apply medium to firm pressure to force compound into the gaps while applying 4-inch stripes of joint compound over the seams. Stop and pick up more joint compound as needed.
3. Center and apply lengths of paper drywall tape over all joints, except outside corners. Prefold the tape down the center for inside corners. Smooth the tape into the wet joint compound and force out bubbles, using the putty knife.
4. Spread and smooth second layers of joint compound on top of the lengths of drywall tape.
5. Nail metal corner beads onto any outside corners. Spread and smooth joint compound over the flanges of the metal beads.
6. Allow the joint compound to fully dry.
7. Sand the dry joint compound with 100-grit sandpaper to smooth out all imperfections. Wipe away all sanding dust with a slightly dampened rag.
8. Thin some joint compound slightly by adding a few drops of water. Apply wider stripes over the previously sanded stripes, using the thinned joint compound and a wide-blade drywall knife. Allow the joint compound to dry then sand it smooth. Apply a second layer of thinned joint compound, if necessary, and sand again.
Related posts
Taping out corners requires a slightly different technique.Drywall panels give your walls a smooth look, suitable for painting or for hanging wallpaper. During installation, the panels are cut and...
Loose joint tapes are a common problem in recently constructed homes. Sometimes the cause is poor workmanship. Other times it is due to natural settling as the house adjusts to seasonal changes. W...
Attach Mid-Flex corner tape with joint compound.Your contractor installs drywall panels over wall studs to create a seamlessly smooth wall surface. But drywall panels are flat and the interior lay...
Apply "mud" with a drywall taping knife.A standard room has four inside corners where the drywall panels meet. Drywall panels are standard in interior wall construction, but the seams an...
Install drywall corner caps for a sharp and aesthetic appearance.An outside corner cap can hide unsightly gaps where two drywall sheets meet. Corner caps, in contrast to metal corner beading, are...
