How to Combine Drywall at Corner Joints

Construction workers use special joining at drywall corners.

Sheets of drywall used on walls are not flush where they meet at a corner. Two sheets of drywall need to be combined at a corner joint with a drywall corner. Drywall corners are available at most hardware stores. They are long, metal strips that can be cut and attached to drywall to create a seamless corner.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Metal drywall corner
• Tin snips
• Hammer
• Finishing nails
• Joint compound
• Mud tray
• Putty knife
• Power sander

Instructions

1. Measure the height of the corner joint. Cut a metal drywall corner to that length using a pair of tin snips.

2. Press the metal drywall corner against the wall at the corner joint, and tap it gently with a hammer to bend it into place. Hammer finishing nails into the metal drywall corner's holes every 12 inches to secure the metal piece to the wall.

3. Place joint compound in a mud tray, and thin it with water until it is the consistency of pancake batter. Cover the metal drywall corner with the thinned joint compound by using a putty knife. Make the joint compound is smooth over the metal. Allow the joint compound to dry.

4. Sand the corner with a power sander if the dried joint compound is lumpy in places. Apply a second layer of joint compound to cover the metal drywall corner completely.

5. Sand the corner.

References

• Fine Home Building: Drywall -- Finishing an Outside Corner
• DrywallTips.org: How to Install Drywall Corner Bead