How to Tape the Corner of a Drywall

For perfect inside and outside corners on drywall, you will need a tool for each, and an item called a corner bead. Taping and mudding corners is much easier with these!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Outside corner tool
• Inside corner tool
• Metal corner bead
• Tape
• Gypsom or drywall mud
• Joint knife
• Mesh or paper corner tape

1. 
   Outside corner tool

   Visit a home center store's drywall section to find these tools and supplies. The metal corner bead is available in several lengths, just like other wall building materials. If your wall is more than 96 inches, buy the longer ones and cut to length. It's then nailed or screwed to the sheetrock at an outside corner onto the tapered edges, and mudded over with a joint knife to level it with the face of the sheetrock. Once dry, it's sanded and finished. It makes a very stable and perfect corner, that will withstand some abuse.

2. 
   Inside corner tool

   For inside corners, apply a layer of joint compound to bed the paper tape into, or apply the mesh type directly to the wall board before applying compound. Add coats of joint compound until the level matches the plane of the sheet and then strike the excess starting at the top with the inside corner tool. Feather the edges and perfect the corner by twisting your wrist and applying pressure to the center of the tool. You'll get better with practice, and very little sanding will be required, once you get good at it.

3. 
   corner bead

   Using a very wide joint knife, feather the edges into the corner areas.
   Let the compound dry and recoat as needed. Sanding will remove ridges and knife marks, so don't obsess about every little flaw. Once the final sanding is done, prime the area and check for imperfections. Tiny air bubbles and minor flaws may be more visible after priming.

Tips & Warnings

• Corner tools come fixed or adjustable for different angles, and straight 90 or bullnosed.

Resources

• inside corner tool, outside corner tool

[Mitestarossa]

on 1/2/2009 Good details, thank you.