Drywall Finishing Techniques

A well-installed drywall helps make the interiors of your house look beautiful. Sometimes, the joints of the drywall sheets are not aligned the way they should be. As a result, it looks quite messy and shabby. Drywall finishing involves proper filling of the joints in order to make the surface smooth so that the walls look attractive after the interior painting is done. Good drywall texture finishes can be achieved with proper drywall finishing techniques.

Drywall Finishing Tips
Make sure each of the panels of drywall is properly affixed to its support. Use long nails so that the dry wall can be more secured more firmly. You can strengthen the dry wall further, by using two set of nails. If you think that screws are a better option, then you can use screws as well. Try to insert the heads of the screws or nails into the surface of the drywall. Protruding nail heads create bumps on the surface and are difficult to conceal. Whereas, the hole created by insertion can easily be filled up using a joint compound.

Fiberglass-mesh tape and paper tape are two different types of tapes used on the drywall. Fiberglass mesh tape can be put directly on the drywall as it has its own adhesive, but paper tape has to be fixed over a joint compound. Sometimes, people opt for fiberglass tape in order to save time. However, it is recommended to use paper tape as it gives a much better finish.

There are two varieties of joint compound or mud available in the market - powdered and premixed. Among them, premixed is the more preferred one. Mixing the compound is very crucial to get a good drywall finishing. The consistency of the compound should be such that it is neither stiff nor loose. A stiff cement will be tough to apply on the joints and a loose one cannot be scooped with trowel. During the mixing process, do not whip it too much as it will attract more air, which in turn will form bubbles on the joints of the drywall.

How to Finish a Drywall
The areas where two sheets of drywall meet, a dent is formed due to compression. To obtain an even and smooth surface, the depressions need to be filled up. It can be done with the help of tapes and joint compound. Firstly, a thin layer of joint compound is applied over the joint. Then place the tape end-to-end. Ensure that there is no overlapping and butt its ends firmly at the corners. After the tape is applied, press it gently with a taping knife so that the extra compound is squeezed out from below the tape. The next step is to apply the first coat of joint compound over the tape to cover its surface. Smoothen it as much as possible so that the edges of tape are not visible.

The same method is applicable to each and every joint of the drywall and also on the corners. Once you have taped all the joints, put a little bit of the joint compound on the nail or screw heads to hide ridges and the small holes formed. Allow the compound to cure up completely for one day or as much time required. Sand the dried compound with a light hand so that loosely attached compound can fall off. Then, apply another coat of compound and leave it so that it can dry up. This should be followed by one more round of sanding. In cases when the first coat is applied carefully and the sanding is done well, the final coat of mud does not require much effort. Just a thin layer of mud will serve your purpose. Apply it using a broad knife or trowel. After it is dried up, sand it once again.

The real challenge of finishing drywall yourself, lies with the finishing of the edges and the corners. If you apply the drywall finishing techniques mentioned here, you will be successful in getting the desired result.