For Smooth Results!
Have you ever noticed on do-it-yourself shows, how they gloss over the
hard parts, like drywalling? Wonder no more! Here it is, how to do it,
just follow the directions. If you have any questions, write the
sponsor, Country Cabins, linked on each page. Anyone can do this, you
don't have to be a journeyman or skilled trades person to have success.
You'll be so pleased with the results. What seemed
before to be an intimidating, difficult and messy task will become a
creative joy!
SECTION 1 - FLAT HORIZONTAL OR VERTICAL JOINTS
To start, get a bucket of joint compound (mud), a roll of drywall tape, a mud pan, a flat 6-inch metal spreader and a metal corner spreader. Put a couple of scoops of mud into the pan.
Slope the mud at about a 45-degree angle to the lip of the pan, then cut off a smooth, fat roll of mud on the edge of the spreader. Do this as needed throughout the job.
Start mudding crosswise to
the joint. About two or three inches on each side of the joint is
about right. This is so the edges feather easily later.
Swipe the blade across, tilt it at about a 23-degree angle.
At first do a three foot section of the joint until you
get faster and more comfortable with the process. How much mud to
cover? About like a peanut butter sandwich.
The trick is, make sure when swiping the mud crosswise, not to make the track wider than the working edge of the blade. This lets the mud edges feather and blend into the drywall nicely later. But if it's too wide, no harm done, the mud edges can be narrowed, as shown below.
To correct a too wide mud track, cut off the excess mud lengthwise. Wet and swipe with empty blade at a 23-degree angle. The excess mud can be reused.