Taping and texturing sheetrock is a basic building skill that can make or break the appearance of a room. These techniques are straightforward, but they take some time and practice to learn to do well. A very good idea would to be acquire the skill from an experienced finisher or take a class from a local adult education program. Nonetheless the process is described here in order to give the reader an idea of how it is done.
Instructions
Learn Drywall, Finishing & Texturing
1. Hang the sheetrock. Make sure each sheet is secured tight with sheetrock screws. Every joint should be tight without a gap between the two pieces of gypsum board or dry wall, as sheetrock is sometimes called. All joints should have the beveled edge of the sheetrock on each side of the joint. Most important is that not one screw should stick out past the surface of the sheetrock. All screws should be driven with a specially geared screw gun and not an electric drill. (You can use a hammer and sheetrock nails instead. This method is more time consuming, but still the results can be just as good.) The head should be installed to a depth that is just below the surface of the sheetrock, but the screw should never cause the paper covering to tear. If this happens pull the screw out immediately and install another one nearby. To check your workmanship run a wide sheetrock trowel (or knife as it is sometimes called) over the joint. When you do so, the trowel should pass over the tops of all the metal screws. If you feel the friction of metal against metal, use a hammer and tap lightly on the screw until it is driven beneath the path of the metal edge of the trowel.
2. Where the sheetrock is attached to the framing members of the room, there will be long vertical lines of the heads of all the screws or nails. Remove any loose screws that missed the wooden supports of the wall. Then run the sheetrock trowel over any head that looks like it might be protruding. If you feel metal on metal drive the screw a little bit further into the wall or remove it.
3. Fill all the indentations of the nail heads that are not in any seam with joint compound. You can use a 6-inch wide spackling knife to do the job. Make sure the joint compound, which is usually purchased ready-mixed in 5 gallon white plastic containers, is flush with the surface of the plaster board (another name for sheetrock).
4. Fill the seam with joint compound and then lay a piece of plastic sheetrock tape right on top of the compound, while it is still wet. Take a 6-inch knife and push the tape into the joint compound until it is completely submerged in the compound. Scrape off all excess compound with a 10 or 12-inch wide sheetrock knife. Now let everything dry. With the first application in the seams, the drying time could take a couple of days. Less time is required for the individual nail holes, but is best to wait and do the second step all at once.
5. The nail holes and seams will need a light sanding, before applying a second coat of joint compound. If the first coat is applied too heavily, then a heavy sanding is required. Be sure to wear a dusk mask while sanding. Use about 100 grit sandpaper and feather the dry joint compound so it is smooth with the surface of the sheetrock.
6. Apply a second coat of joint compound using a 10 or 12-inch knife. Covering the nail holes is simple, but a little more skill is required to properly add a second coat to the seams. Use a 10-inch knife and run the tool along the seam so that one edge of the tool runs down the center of the seam. This means you will have to make two passes on each seam. Now sand everything. Please note that some finishers will add texture after two coats, while others will wait until the third coat is dry. For the novice it is important to put on three coats, even if you are adding texture.
7. Repeat step 6.
8. If you want to add texture you will need a paint tray and roller. Use texture first on a small room, or just on one wall or the ceiling first, so that you can get the feel of the process. Take a paint roller, and dip it in the joint compound, and apply a nice even coat to the wall. This can be the texture or you can take a serrated trowel and make swirl marks all across the surface of the moist joint compound. Make sure the compound is completely dry before you paint.
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