How to Tape & Apply Compound to Sheet Rock

To tape and apply joint compound to Sheetrock takes some practice.

Sheetrock is used in most new home construction, as well as remodeling jobs, as a way to form interior walls. Once the Sheetrock is hung, the screw holes and seams between the pieces of Sheetrock have to be taped and "mudded." Fiberglass tape smooths out the seams between the pieces. The mud refers to joint compound that is placed over the tape and smooths out the surface even more. The process is a bit of an art, but can be perfected with practice and time.

Things You'll Need

• Fiberglass tape
• Joint compound
• Drywall knives (6-inch, 8-inch and 12-inch)
• Mixing pail
• Sanding mesh

Instructions

1. Locate any screws that you have in the sheet rock. Dip the six-inch drywall knife into the joint compound and place it on the surface of the Sheetrock next to the screw head.

2. Hold the knife so that it is nearly parallel to the surface. Then, drag the knife over the screw head. Place the knife onto the Sheetrock again, only this time drag it across the surface at a 45-degree angle to the Sheetrock, removing excess joint compound in the process.

3. Locate any seams between pieces of Sheetrock. Apply joint compound to the seams using the six-inch drywall knife, holding the blade close to parallel to the surface. Immediately run a length of fiberglass tape across the joint compound, overlapping each piece of sheetrock with approximately 50 percent of the tape. Make sure to push the tape into the joint compound to help lock it into place.

4. Place joint compound onto the end of the six-inch blade. Drag the blade across the fiberglass tape, holding the knife so that the fiberglass tape is covered in the joint compound. Allow the joint compound to dry completely.

5. Apply a second coat of joint compound to surface with the eight-inch drywall knife, feathering out the edges of the second coat of joint compound so that it's approximately two to four inches outside of the previous layer of joint compound. Allow the joint compound to dry completely.

6. Thin some of the joint compound with water in a mixing pail so that the compound is approximately the viscosity of mayonnaise. Apply this mixed joint compound to the wall with the 12-inch knife, feathering this layer approximately two inches outside of the second layer. Allow the joint compound to dry.

7. Sand down the joint compound using the sanding mesh until the seams and screw holes are imperceptible.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a joint compound that starts off in one color (usually either pink or purple), and then dries to white. This aids in knowing when the joint compound is dry,

References

• "Home Improvement 1-2-3, 2nd Edition"; Jeff Day; 2003