How to Drywall Finish
Given enough time, anyone can finish drywall. Even if you have never attempted it before, so long as you move slowly, you will end up with walls and ceilings that look great. Do not rush. Take your time and leave each coat as smooth as possible. If the joint compound starts to dry while you are working, leave it alone. After it has fully dried, sand it down and try again. You can master all the skills necessary for drywall finishing if you carefully and methodically complete the basic steps of each coat. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Joint compound
- Drywall knives (6-, 8- and 12-inch)
- Paper drywall tape
- 100-grit sandpaper
- 150-grit sandpaper
- Angled drywall sanding sponge
Instructions
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1
Mix the joint compound, if necessary. Use thick joint compound on flat joints, corner beads (metal flanges on outside corners) and fastener heads. Use a thin consistency for inside corners.
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2
Cut out any damaged drywall and scrape away all loose debris. Fill any severely damaged areas with joint compound and allow them to dry before proceeding. Cover the joints with a coat of joint compound. Use a 6-inch knife. Make sure there are no bare areas.
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3
Lay a section of tape on each joint. Then, use your tools to wipe away as much joint compound as possible. An 8-inch knife works well for this. For inside corners, fold the tape before laying it on the joint, and then wipe them with a 6-inch knife.
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4
Use a 6-inch knife to cover all the fastener heads and corner beads with a coat of joint compound. Try not to leave thick edges, as they will be hard to remove once the compound has dried. Allow to dry. Ready-mixed joint compound will typically require 24 hours drying time, depending on the level of humidity. Setting-type joint compound will be dry within a few hours, depending on brand and type.
Second Coat
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5
Scrape away any tool marks or ridges left over from the first coat. Use a 12-inch knife to cover all the taped flat joints and corner beads. Feather the edges and leave them as smooth as possible. You should not be able to see any tapes after the second coat.
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Use a 6-inch knife to cover all the inside corners. Feather the edges, leaving the corners as sharp and crisp as possible.
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Use a 6-inch knife to coat all the fastener heads. Allow to dry. Ready-mixed joint compound is bone-white when dried. Setting-type joint compound remains gray, even when completely dry.
Third Coat
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8
Sand all flat joints and corner beads with 100-grit sandpaper, leaving them as smooth as possible. Stop sanding if you start to uncover the hidden tapes.
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9
Use a 12-inch knife to coat all flat joints and corner beads. Remove all the joint compound by wiping the surfaces immediately after it is applied. Use joint compound with a thin consistency. When completed, the surfaces of all the flat joints and corner beads should be smooth and polished.
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10
Use a 6-inch knife to coat all the fastener heads. Re-coat any areas that need extra attention. Allow to dry, and then sand all surfaces with 150-grit sandpaper. Use an angled drywall sanding sponge for inside corners. Leave them as sharp as possible.
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References
- Photo Credit The County Clerk, www.Flickr.com
