Spackle Drywall Joints
Once the drywall is hung with seams and corners taped...the fun begins! Spackling drywall is learned 'art' but with a few spackling tools and a little practice, you can professionally finish almost any drywall project.
Instructions
1. Prep All Purpose Spackle
Before beginning, spackle must be mixed. With an electric drill and a mixing paddle mix your spackle to ensure a good consistency. Your spackle is properly mixed when it is the consistency of smooth peanut butter.
2. Fill Holes
Start with filling in all nail or screw holes. Use a 4-nch knife to 'swipe' a dab of spackle over nail/screw hole. The idea behind the spackle 'swipe' is to fill the hole AND at the same time swipe excess spackle - all in one pass. Sound tricky? With practice it becomes easier. It's best to fill nail/screw holes twice, allowing the first fill to dry thoroughly before applying the final coat.
3. Spackle Horizontal
Spackle horizontal joints next. Use an 8- or 10-inch broad knife for this. Begin with applying a heavy coat of spackle over the drywall tape, filling the joint space between the drywall pieces. Horizontal joints require three coats. The first coat is to fill and is the heaviest coat. Your second coat, levels the joint surface. The third/final coat feathers the edges of the joint rendering it invisible. For the third coat use a 12-inch-wide broad knife. Also note, you must allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next.
4. Spackle Outside Conrners
Spackle outside corners also in three coats. Use an 8-inch knife for the first coat. Run one edge of the knife on the corner bead as the other edge runs over the drywall. Repeat each coat like your horizontal coats, allowing proper dry time between each coat. And again, use the 12-inch knife for your third application.
5. Inside Corner Spackling
Inside corners are the most challenging to master. Begin by applying a heavy coat of spackle to the inside corner with an 8-inch spackle knife. Then using your corner tool press the spackle into the corner and square it up. Always use long strokes with the corner tool. This will help you create the perfect, square inside corner. Again, you will apply three coats. In corner spackling however your second and third coat will be used to feather out and finish edges.
6. After the third and lightest coat of spackle has dried, lightly sand all work as needed. Depending on your wall you may need to add spackle or repeat steps for perfection. The goal is to make all joints virtually undetectable! Bottom line, if you can see the edges of a joint, you are not finished spackling yet:).
7. After spackle is done and sanded your drywall is finished. Vacuum the area thoroughly. Now you're ready to add your drywall sealer/primer and paint or wallpaper as desired!
Related posts
Paper taping drywall requires finesse that can be learned as you work.Finishing your walls with paper tape and joint compound is a necessary step before painting or wallpapering your room. The tap...
As your house shifts and settles, cracks can appear along the joints where the drywall sheets meet. In addition, roofs constructed with manufactured trusses often expand and contract, resulting in...
Smooth taped joints with a drywall sander.Drywall panels, made from compressed gypsum particles, feature factory edges that are slightly mitered, giving a smooth wall surface after taping. However...
Drywall joints take a lot of joint compound and sanding, but done right, the results look flawless.Drywall, also called sheet rock, is used to create interior walls in a house. The drywall is scre...
Drywall compound needs time to dry before applying paint.When repairing walls with large gouges, holes or pits, a person has two options, spackle or drywall compound, commonly called joint compoun...
