Smooth drywall requires attention to detail.
Drywall, also known as wallboard or gypsum board, is a common material for building interior walls. It's made from crushed, powdered rock, or gypsum, formed into solid panels. Drywall panels are nailed over top wall framing, then finished by taping seams and applying layers of mud over the entire surface. Various finishing processes include sanding dried mud and applying different compounds. Creating a smooth, finished mudded surface is both an art and a craft that is achieved with skill and patience.
Hanging Drywall
Secure drywall panels to wall framing by nailing them into studs. Position panels together tightly, abutting all edges without leaving any gaps. The tighter the positioning, the better results you'll get when taping seams. Gaps, rough edges and poorly positioned panels result in uneven surfaces and wall imperfections that are difficult to correct when mudding the drywall.
The Right Tools
Use professional, high-quality drywall and carpentry tools when installing and finishing drywall for the best results and smooth wall surfaces. Use stainless steel mud pans and broad knives instead of plastic. Use a power drill with a mixing attachment to whip joint compound with a small amount of water into a creamy consistency that is not lumpy or runny. Use drywall handling tools such as a deadman, which is a temporary brace made from lumber to form a T to wedge under drywall panels for the ceiling while nailing. Other handy tools and equipment include a panel lifter to raise panels off the floor hands-free, a panel jack to easily lift panels to the ceiling for nailing, and scaffolding to install drywall on walls over 8 feet high.
Taping and Finishing
Cover seams and nail heads of installed drywall panels with drywall tape in as long a strip over seams as possible, avoiding air bubbles and torn edges. Cover taped seams with wet joint compound and smooth the compound with a broad knife. When all seams are covered, or mudded, cover the rest of the drywall surface with the first thin layer of mudding compound, working quickly and applying the material evenly. Let the first layer dry at least half a day and apply another layer. Using a creamy, silky, well-mixed compound without lumps or excess liquid is the key to successful finishing.
Sanding and Skim-Coating
After taping and finishing, the walls are ready for sanding. Work to just lightly sand the very top rough particles; any harder can leave uneven spots and thin out the layers. Sanding with gentle, even pressure in light motions produces the best results. When three layers have been applied, allowed to dry thoroughly between applications and lightly sanded, the walls are ready for skim-coating. Skim-coating is a finishing process used on wall surfaces that will be painted versus papered or covered with some other material. Mix mud compound to a thinner consistency than the creamy preparation used to cover taping and unfinished drywall surfaces. Apply this thinner compound over all wall surfaces with a paint roller or paint sprayer in a light, even coat.
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