How to Finish Drywalling a Ceiling

Finishing that drywall on the ceiling is a matter of taping and spreading joint compound. For most drywall installers and do-it-yourselfers this is the sweet spot, the time when all that hard work pays off and all that is left after this stage is paint. The finishing touches involve a great amount of finesse, a steady hand and copious amounts of joint compound and tape. They also involve a good amount of shoulder and neck strength as looking up for extended periods can be rather exhausting.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large bucket or mixing tray
• Drywall joint compound
• Ladder (6 feet tall)
• 6-inch drywall taping knife
• Drywall palette
• Drywall tape

1. Mix the joint compound in a large bucket or mixing tray as directed on the packaging.

2. Using a 6-inch taping knife, place a good amount of compound on your drywall palette. This should be approximate to an unbaked loaf of dough.

3. Scoop up an eighth of this amount with a drywall knife and ascend a ladder until you are in comfortable reaching distance to the ceiling.

4. Spread a smooth coat of joint compound between two panels of drywall, making sure both adjoining pieces get an equal amount of compound. The goal of taping and compounding is to cover every buttressed panel and every corner where the ceiling and wall meet.

5. Place a strip of drywall tape over the fresh compound, also making sure the tape covers both panels. Cut to size by tearing the tape with your hand or taping knife.

6. Place another smooth coat of joint compound over the freshly laid tape and continue until every exposed joint is covered.

Tips & Warnings

• Never step on the top-most step of a ladder.

Resources

• Installing Drywall on A Ceiling