Feathered joint compound extending from the sheetrock seams helps to keep the joints smooth and invisible.
Covering the joints between sheetrock panels requires a combination of drywall tape and joint compound. Done well, the joints are unnoticeable once painted; done badly, and you have a series of vertical lines extending along the length of your walls. The main difference between the two extremes is in the use of feather techniques in the application of the joint compound. Feathering is the art of thinning out the compound the further from seam you apply the mix. If you extend the compound up to 2 feet in either direction, feathering each layer further and further out, you'll have a very gradual rise centered at the seam that is difficult to see.
Instructions
1. Spread a thin layer of joint compound along the drywall tape covering your sheetrock joints. Keep the joint compound as even as possible when first applying the material.
2. Draw the drywall knife over the compound a second time while holding the knife flat against the wall. This should leave more compound on the tape than on the sheetrock.
3. Press the compound with the knife as you drag it down the tape, with more pressure on the outside edge of the joint compound than over the tape. This creates a constantly thinning edge from the tape's center to the edge of the compound, creating a feathered edge in the process.
4. Feather both sides of the drywall tape using the same process. When working with corners though, feather the outside edge of the tape, and then move to the inside corner edge.
5. Switch to the next larger drywall knife and repeat the joint compound application. Keep applying the compound, feathering each edge until you have a well tapered edge feather out about 1 1/2 to 2 feet from the joint.
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