How to Tape Drywall Inside Corners
A standard room has four inside corners where the drywall panels meet. Drywall panels are standard in interior wall construction, but the seams and corners require an application of mud to fill in the gaps. While taping inside corners isn't difficult, you'll need some basic drywall taping tools and supplies. When taped correctly, your corners can look straight and professional. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Joint compound
- 6-inch taping knife
- 10-inch taping knife
- Corner taping tool
- Drywall flex tape
- Utility knife or scissors
- Drywall sander
Instructions
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1
Cut a section of drywall flex tape 2 inches shorter than the height of your wall. Drywall flex tape comes in a long roll and features a seam in the middle.
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2
Fold the flex tape along the seam to form a corner.
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3
Scoop up approximately ½ cup of joint compound and smooth it into the corner, using a 6-inch taping knife. Run the knife along each adjacent wall, adding more compound as necessary to fill the crack.
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4
Position the section of flex tape over the wet joint compound in the corner, smoothing it in place by drawing the 6-inch taping knife from the center upward and then from the center downward on each edge of the tape. Once the flex tape is firmly in place, let the joint compound dry.
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5
Sand the walls that form the corner with a drywall sander when the compound is completely dry. A drywall sander is a rectangular pad with an attached screen.
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6
Apply a fresh coat of joint compound to the corner, using the 6-inch knife. Cover the flex tape on both sides.
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Switch to the corner taping tool, place the tool at the top of the corner and pull it downward in one smooth, even stroke. The corner taping tool shapes the wet joint compound into a perfect corner.
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8
Feather out the joint compound on the walls with a 10-inch taping knife. Place the edge of the wide blade approximately 2 inches from the corner, and use vertical strokes to smooth out any excess joint compound left behind by the corner tool.
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9
Allow the joint to dry. Sand it smooth before adding another coat of joint compound in the same manner you did before, using the corner taping tool and then the 10-inch knife.
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10
Sand the corner thoroughly after the final coat of joint compound dries. Your walls are now ready for paint.
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Tips & Warnings
If your hands are steady, you can tape out an inside corner without a corner taping tool, by using the 6-inch taping knife on one side and then on the other side.
Because joint compound shrinks up a little as it dries, you'll get better results by applying multiple thin coats instead of one thick coat.
Keep a bottle of lotion handy while you're taping. Joint compound quickly dries out your skin.
Wear protective eye wear to keep prevent eye irritation from joint compound splatters.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
