Cover seams, screws and corners with drywall mud and tape.
Whether you are installing a wall in an existing home, or in a home that is currently under construction, you must decide what material is going to cover your walls. The most obvious choices include paneling, plaster and drywall. The common finishing material of these is drywall, which is attached to the wood stud beams with drywall screws. Once in place you need to cover up seams and screws with drywall compound, commonly called mud, and drywall tape.
Instructions
1. Spread a layer of drywall mud over seams where drywall boards are placed next to each other. Use a drywall knife, which is like a small trowel. You only want a thin coating that will fill the tiny gap between the boards as well as create a surface on which the drywall tape will stick.
2. Rip drywall tape off the roll and place it over the seams. Rub your hand over it after it is applied to the wall to ensure it sticks. Also place tape in the inside corners where drywall boards meet. Use the straight edge of the taping knife to press the tape into the corners.
3. Coat the tape with another thin layer of mud. This will adhere it to the wall.
4. Cover outside wall corners with a layer of mud. Outside corners usually are protected by a metal corner strip. There is no need for tape, but the strips must be covered with mud.
5. Spread mud over the screw heads. Screws are used to attach the drywall to the wall. A little mud over the top helps keep them from showing through the painted walls later on. Let all of the mud dry for a day.
6. Sand the surface of the mud seams and screw heads.
7. Cover the taped seams with another coat of mud. Spread the mud out wider than the previous coat and feather it as thin as possible at the edges so that it tapers down to the surface of the wall. When the walls are painted, this will help the wall seem smooth and flat. Also cover the outside corners with a second coat. Leave this to dry a second day and then lightly sand.
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