Drywall Finishing Techniques

A well-installed drywall helps make the interiors of your house look beautiful. Sometimes, the joints in the sheets are not aligned the way they should be, due to which the wall tends to look shabby or messy. To make the surfaces smooth before the interior painting begins, the joints need to be filled in properly. This filling in of the joints is known as drywall finishing. Given below are some tips that you will find helpful when you undertake this task.

Make sure that each panel is affixed properly to its support, by using nails and screws. To strengthen the sheets further, you can use two sets of nails instead of one. Insert the heads of the screws into the surface properly, so that there are no instances of protrusions on the surface, as they are difficult to conceal. A hole created by insertion can easily be filled up using a joint compound.

Fiberglass mesh tape and paper tape are two types of tapes used on the drywall. Fiberglass mesh tape can be put on directly as it has its own adhesive, but paper tape has to be fixed over a joint compound. Sometimes, people opt for the former to save time. However, it is recommended to use the later as it gives a much better finish.

There are two varieties of joint compound or mud available in the market - powdered and premixed. Between the two, premixed mud is preferred and recommended by many users. Mixing the compound is very crucial, and the consistency of it should neither be too stiff, nor too loose.Stiff cement will be tough to apply on the joints, whereas a loose mix cannot be scooped with a trowel. During the mixing process, do not whip it too much as it will catch air, causing bubbles to form when applied between the joints.

To obtain an even and smooth surface, the depressions between the two sheets of drywall installed need to be filled up. It can be done using a tape or joint compound. First, a thin layer of sealant is to be applied over the joint, followed with a strip of tape. Ensure that there is no overlapping, but the tape should be firm at the corners. Press it gently with a taping knife so that the extra compound is squeezed out from below the tape. The next step is to apply the first coat of joint compound over the tape to cover its surface. So that the edges of the tapes are not visible, you will have to make the surface as smooth as possible.

The same method is applicable to every joint and corner of the installed drywall. Once you have taped all the joints, put a little bit of the joint compound on the nail or screw heads, to hide all the ridges and small holes formed. The compound will take some time to get cured, after which you can sand the surface with a light hand, to take off the residue. Then, apply another coat of compound and let it to dry. This should be followed by one more round of sanding. In cases when the first coat is applied carefully and the sanding is done well, the final coat of mud does not require much effort. Just a thin layer will serve your purpose. Apply it using a broad knife or trowel.

When you work on the edges and corners, you need to be very careful. Do not apply too much or too less mud in these areas, and always let the coats dry completely before adding more.