Use a 6-inch trowel for the initial application of compound.
Drywall panels, installed over wall studs and ceiling joists, provide a smooth surface when installed and taped out correctly. The panels are heavy and unwieldy, however, so you'll need at least one strong assistant. By using the same tools drywall professionals use, and by following some basic taping techniques, you can minimize the risk of imperfections and enjoy a seamless wall surface.
Instructions
Install the Panels
1. Use the fewest number of panels for the fewest seams. Drywall panels are 4 feet wide, but they come in lengths from 8 to 14 feet. By installing larger sheets, you will have fewer seams.
2. Cut drywall panels so they fit from the center of one dimensional stud to the center of another dimensional stud. Professionals call this, "breaking on center," and it allows two drywall panels to share one stud.
3. Hang drywall on the ceiling before you hang it on the walls. That way, you can push the wall panels tightly against the panels on the ceiling for a smooth seam.
4. Use a drywall lift to hang ceiling panels. The lift holds and hoists the panel into place, but you'll still have to adjust the panel by hand and fit it snugly against the adjacent panel to reduce joint size.
5. Install drywall panels as tightly together as possible. Wide joints are more likely to result in a wall imperfection later.
6. Insert a drywall screw through the panel into a stud, about every 8 to 10 inches on the edges of the panel and in the middle of the panel where a stud lies beneath. The heads of the drywall screws should be slightly beneath the surface of the panel, but not so deep that they tear the protective panel paper. This is called "dimpling."
Tape Out the Panels
7. Use paper drywall tape instead of fiberglass tape. Fiberglass tape is easier to use, but it's also thicker, making it more likely that you'll see a seam later.
8. Apply the first coat of wet joint compound to seams with a 6-inch taping knife. Press the compound into the joint and smooth away excess.
9. Cut paper tape a couple of inches shorter than the joint you're taping. Stick it on top of the wet joint compound, smoothing it into place with the trowel.
10. Use a wider, 10-inch knife to feather out the edges of the wet compound, and to remove any obvious excess compound. Let the wall dry completely.
11. Sand over the seams with a drywall pole sander to remove dried ridges and smooth the joints before adding another coat of wet joint compound over the taped seams with the 10-inch knife. Smooth out the mud and let the wall dry again before sanding thoroughly.
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