Contractor with cleanly finished drywall seams and corners
Finishing a drywall project is much different from hanging the dry wall. The installation takes some physical strength and help from another person. Finishing can be accomplished by one person, and it does take a lighter touch and some practice. The finishing can also take some time. Each coat of joint compound you use must be allowed to dry overnight. The time involved can be influenced by where you have installed the drywall. A garage will not take as long as a living room. The National Gypsum Company notes that the location of the room and the decoration you apply after finishing (paint, wallpaper, etc.) affects the amount of compound you will use.( see references 1) On average you will be using three coats over fasteners (nails, screws) and three to four over seams.
Instructions
Preparation and Application
1. Decide how much joint compound and tape you will need. A 5 gallon container of compound should be enough for a 500 square foot area. You may want to purchase a pole sander if there are some higher areas to be finished.
2. Place a good amount of compound in the tray and place an inch of compound on the 6-inch knife. Place the knife over the seam and fill in the gap.
3. When the seam is covered, place the tape over the compound and press it in every foot or so to secure it.
4. Place the knife at a 45 degree angle on the tape and embed the tape into the compound. Start in the middle of the tape and move to each end. If you start at the end the tape will move. When working on an inside corner, fold the tape in the center before embedding it into the compound.
5. Use a smaller amount of compound to cover the holes over the nail or drywall screws. Lightly spread the compound over holes and allow a 4- to 5-inch width patch over each hole. Allow the compound to dry overnight.
6. Put on a second coat of compound with the 10-inch knife over the seams and fastener sites and let it dry overnight. The larger knife allows you to spread the compound thinner as you don't want it to be noticeable when you are finished. The compound can go 3 to 4 inches beyond the edges of the tape.
7. Put on a third coat of compound with the 12-inch knife. You can mix the compound with some water to get a thinner coat. Let the compound dry overnight.
8. Wrap a piece of sandpaper around a black of wood or the pole sander and carefully sand the compound to a smooth finish. Make sure there is no edge from the compound to the rest of the drywall.
9. Apply a coat of drywall primer to the finished area and let it dry. Apply a second coat if necessary.
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