After installing drywall, this worker should feather the joint compound to disguise the seams.
Feathering joint compound refers to spreading compound over the seams of drywall. After drywall has been installed to the studs in the wall, the next step is to tape the seams and add joint compound over them. Multiple coats of joint compound must be added and each requires feathering to disguise the seams. This is a very important step in the drywall installation process. It creates a seamless and professional look to your drywall.
Instructions
1. Apply a skim coat of lightweight joint compound (LJC) over all of the seams in the drywall. Spread it out evenly with a 6 inch taping knife. Add drywall tape over all of the compound. Cut the ends of the tape with scissors and apply it directly over the seams.
2. Spread out a skim coat of LJC over the drywall tape with a 6 inch taping knife. Feather the edges of the drywall tape by applying smooth, long strokes. Run your knife straight down the seam, and then bring it back up the length of the tape. Wait two hours for the first coat to dry.
3. Apply a second coat of LJC with a 10 inch taping knife. Spread it out with long, smooth strokes and angle the blade of the knife so there is more joint compound in the center of the seam. To cover the tape, feather out the excess and build-up the area where the seam is. Wait 24 hours for the second coat to completely dry.
4. Chip off the ridges in the LJC with a 6 inch taping knife. Run the knife over the raised areas to smooth the surface.
5. Apply a third and final coat of LJC, just as the first two were applied. Feather out the seam slightly more than the previous step. Spread the compound with a 12 inch taping knife so it covers more of the drywall than the second coat. Feather it with the taping knife so it is heavy over the seam and spread it out past the second coat. Let the compound dry overnight.
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...
Joint compound is used to hide drywall seams.Covering a ceiling takes multiple drywall sheets. Some of the sheets are cut to fit smaller areas. A seam forms where each drywall sheet touches anothe...
Apply Joint Compound to Smooth Out WallsJoint compound is a type of plaster that's used to finish off the seams between sheets of drywall during construction. Applied correctly, it renders the sea...
Creating perfect sheetrock joints takes patience and practice.Sheetrock is a name brand for drywall that is common enough to be almost a synonym in some regions. It is made up of a layer of crushe...
Apply joint compound with a drywall knife.Painting over newly applied joint compound isn't difficult, but unless you follow the proper procedure, you may end up with a bumpy wall surface, flat spo...
