Drywall is easy to install for the most part, until you get to the edge. While everything else may seem straight forward, this part of the job can be a hassle. The edges of the drywall do not always line up straight. They are ragged and difficult to mud, but those plastic tack strips just don't seem to adhere to the corners either. In every situation, there is one way that works better.
Taping the Seam
The most commonly used drywall edge finishing technique is taping the seam with fiberglass tape and then mudding the seam with joint compound. In this method, you apply one strip of fiberglass tape so it is evenly spaced on each joining corner board. Then, you trowel on joint compound to cover the tape and the corner. This works best on an outside corner because the tape will help hold the joint compound to the wall. It typically isn't necessary on an inside (concave) corner.
Plastic Corner Braces
Using the plastic corner brace on your corner can prove problematic, but it does work well when one of your drywall sheets is too short. The plastic corner is a stripe of plastic with holes perforating both edges. It is placed right over the corner, and the idea is it will flex as the wall naturally shifts, so no cracking will occur. It is difficult to mud over these braces because they are so thick, and oftentimes the compound will not adhere properly to the plastic. They are unnecessary for interior corners, where a square trowel and mud is all you need. They are best if used as a stand-in for drywall when both sheets do not come together to form the corner but are well short of it.
Structural Corners
Manufactured drywall corners are relatively new. They are often referred to as structural drywall joints, or structural drywall system. They consist of a bonded paper corner that fits over a layer of joint compound right on the corner section of the drywall. This paper layer forms the corner itself. These can flex to accommodate interior corners that are wider or sharper than 90 degree angles. They are used on both inside and outside corners, and after being painted, blend right into the wall.
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