Proper Drywall Finishing
Greg K. Hansward
So, you have installed and fastened your drywall and you are
ready for the next step of taping and compounding. This is a
very critical step in the whole process because it will
determine how smooth your walls will look when you are done.
As with most jobs, being fully prepared is the most important
part of the job. Make sure you know exactly what you need to do
in getting ready to "mud" the walls. You will need to get joint
compound. This is available in a powder that you add water to,
or premixed. There are different textures of compound (also
called "mud"): taping compound to be used for the initial
taping is course, and topping compound which is used for
finishing, is thinner. You can also get all purpose compound,
which has a texture somewhat in the middle which can be used
for either purpose. Wear a mask and protect surfaces when
sanding.
Make sure all of your nails and screws are properly sunk by
running a taping knife over the seams and sink any that stick
out. Use taping knives to install apply the mud. Start with a
narrow one and use a slightly larger one to feather out the
edges.
No way around it, mudding a wall will take time, since you have
to allow 24 hours of drying time between each compound
application. First, there is the taping layer. Apply the
compound and place jointing tape over the seams and smooth more
compound over. Make sure all nail and screw holes are covered.
After this layer, all spaces should be filled in and level.
Next, you have to apply two layers of compound to smooth out
the surface. Using the taping knives of increasing size, ending
up with a taping knife of up to a foot wide. Apply the compound,
stroke each side, then a stroke down the middle.
Applying compound is not an easy task. You may have to use
different pressure in different spots, for example, more
pressure to the outside of the knife when you do the side
stroke, even pressure when you do the middle stroke.
The last coat is the finishing coat. This is where real care
will produce a superior appearance. Scrape a wide taping knife
over the joints to get rid of all bumps and ridges. Thin out
the compound or use topping compound and spread evenly.
For the best results in mudding drywall, you need two magic
ingredients: patience and consistency. You may be anxious to
finish up the job and get the wall painted, but allowing
sufficient time between coats of compound for proper drying and
sanding and smoothing after the last coat will give you
professional looking results.
About The Author: Greg Hansward frequently publishes news
stories on stories about finishing basements and drywall
techniques. You can have a look at his writings over at
http://www.insidewoodworking.com/drywall/hand_drywall_tools.html
and different sources for drywall finishing knowledge.
Back to Index of All Floors, Windows,
Walls
& Doors
Search our site for any Home, Lawn or Garden Info
