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How To Finish Drywall And Achieve Excellent Results by Donald Thomas
Finishing drywall (sheetrock) is a highly skill craft that can take years to perfect and master. However, it is within most serious do-it-yourselfers ability to do a fine job nevertheless and achieve splendid results. I have been in the home improvement business for almost a quarter of a century and I still marvel at a drywall finishing job that looks great. I am a drywall finisher as well and I take pride in the work I do and I have been regarded by clients and fellow contractors as a fine finisher. So let's get started... and away we go.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
First of all, I think it's important that you should use good quality tools to work with. I wouldn't dare begin a job without having quality tools to work with because I have discovered through trial and error that there really isn't a subsitute for quality tools and that goes for equipment also. I personally have over twenty different drywall knives that are various sizes : 3", 4", 6", 8", 10", 12", 14" and even 18". I love working with all these knives and each one works better in certain places and situations, but I don't recommend that you go out and purchase all these knives, however, you will need at least three of them.
For applying drywall tape I suggest you use a 3", 4", 6" knife. You can decide which one is more comfortable for you and choose accordingly. When it comes to bedding the tape down or applying your second application you should use a 10" or 12" knife, and for your final float or application of mud you should use at least a 12" knife or maybe even a 14" knife. I prefer using stainless steel knives most of the time but they can be stiff and a little harder to work with. I also own and use blue steel knives, they are more flexible and easier to work with than stainless steel blades. But they are prone to rusting if left in water to long, as opposed to stainless steel knives that do not rust at all.
You will also need a tray that will hold the joint compound and usually these trays come in twelve to fourteen inches in length and they are about 3 or 4 inches in width. I almost always purchase stainless steel trays instead of plastic trays, I find them to be much better in general to work with, but you might feel just the opposite and if so buy a plastic tray and suit your own taste.
There are many accessories available for the finisher to assist him/her with their work, for instance, tape and tray holders, tape holders only, drywall knives with extended handles and so forth, but you can do a good finishing job with just the basic tools and nothing more. Whatever tools you purchase or already have to work with just take a little time to practice on some scrap piece of drywall before you actually begin your work in earnest.
TAPING THE DRYWALL
Before you begin taping the joints be sure to check the drywall to see if there are drywall panels that are loose and need to be properly fasten to the studs or ceiling joists. If so, take the time to secure them with drywall screws; which I prefer, or drywall nails. Whatever the case, just make sure the drywall is correctly fasten down becasuse if not it will be very difficult to tape and finish and it could prove to be unsafe as well.
Now that you're ready to begin taping here are some key pointers that will certainly help you do a good job. Start by applying the joint compound liberally on the joints. Whether you're working over head (ceilings) or the walls be sure to apply enough joint compound (mud) to cover the joints adequately before you start taping. Place the tape in the mud that you have just covered the joint with, use your taping knife to do this by firmly pressing the tape down until all the excess joint compound oozes out from beneath the tape and then wipe the excess from the area and put it back into your tray. Continue to repeat this process throughout the job, always making sure that you apply enough joint compound on every joint or seam, and repeating it until the entire job is completely done. In order to do a quality finishing job you must do an adequate taping job! So take your time and make sure you do a thorough job at this stage of the work, if not, you will not achieve a good finishing job and all your labor will have been in vain; not to mention the cost of the materials--and tools.
THE FINISHING PROCESS: BEDDING DOWN THE TAPE
Assuming that you have done a good job taping the joints, now is the time to begin the next step. Many refer to this part of the job as bedding, or bedding down the tape that you have just applied over the joints. At this stage of the process I usually use a 10" drywall knife or sometimes a 12" knife depending on the situation. But as a novice I recommend that you use your 10" knife to apply the joint compound. Make sure the mud has been lightly stirred to make spreading it a little easier, but at the same time avoid stirring to much to avoid creating air bubbles that will show up in your work. Whether you stir the joint compound mechanically (drill and paddle) or manually, try not to over stir, but if you do don't panic because once it dries you can sand out the bubbles.
Go over all the joints that you have taped using the 10" taping knife and make sure you apply enough joint compound while doing so. At this stage of the process you don't have to be so meticulous about the way your bedding work is looking because once it dries you will be able to sand all the excess mud off, however, the less you have to sand the better. But if things are not looking so great at this point don't be discourage and become dismayed, just take a break and relax for a while. This is a rather time consuming task so allow time to be your ally and not your enemy.
Remember, bedding is the step where you are suppose to cover the type completely and not allow it to remain showing. And because you are applying a heavier application of joint compound (mud) and leaving more of it on as opposed to removing the excess off as you did when taping ; you may very well end up doing quite a bit of sanding when it dries but that's okay too. It's all a part of learning how to tape and finish drywall--so be encourage and congratulate yourself for attempting to do this in the first place. Taping and finishing drywall is a serious endeavor, not for the faint hearted either. You should be commended for even trying this no matter the outcome and be assured this is an area where few tread, not to mention succeed. So let's get ready for the main attraction.
THE FINISHING PROCESS: FLOATING OUT THE JOINTS
Once the joints have been bedded down thoroughly and sanded to give the appearance of a flat surface, make sure before you begin your last application to rid the drywall of dust that has accumulated from sanding. Take a broom or brush and knock off the remainging dust that could prevent you from properly floating out the joints. Now that all the dust has been removed from the drywall and it is clean and ready for the final application choose your 12" knife and begin to make your final past. At this stage of the process you should slightly thin the joint compound to help facilitate a smoother finish. At this point your tape should be well hidden therefore thinning the joint compound will have no bearing on whether or not your joints are covered, instead, floating out the joint ever wider is a way of giving the illusion that the drywall has no seams at all. The objective is to make the drywall appear as one whole piece and not a room covered with many different panels.
To achieve this look you may need to float out the walls several times and you may or may not choose to use an even wider knife than the 12" blade that you are using, however, if you do decide to use a larger blade than the 12" one, you will also need to buy a tray to accomodate the longer blade. Larger trays are slightly pricer than the standard 12" tray but they also hold more joint compound as well. Finishing drywall is a lot like being a chef in the sense that you create and use your own recipes and formulas to make delicious meals. Finishing drywall is as individualistic as cooking your own gumbo, but there are some standard procedures and techniques that can be utilized by all, so just step in the kitchen and begin experimenting in good faith, that is, constructive practice that will help you become a better finisher. As I stated earlier, I have been finishing drywall for years now and I'm still learning each and every job. I refuse not to learn because I want to become a better finisher and that takes practice...practice that is ongoing.
You don't have to be a professional drywall finisher to achieve desirable results, all you have to do is committ to the work and be willing to give it your very best and like with most things, through trail and error you will most definetly become a better finisher and that has got to make you feel proud of yourself in the right way. So in closing, as always, I only wish you the very best. Good luck.
As a disclaimer, the author is not responsible for any injuries that may be sustained from implementing practices in this arrticle or any other article written by him. These articles are written for the sole purpose of informing and entertaining. We stress the importance of hiring a certified contractor to do all home improvement projects.
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