Finishing drywall joints

Finishing drywall joints can be a meticulous operation.
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1. Apply the first coat
2. Embed the drywall tape
3. Apply the second and third coats
4. Finishing

1. Apply the first coat

Before applying the first coat use a drill with a drywall mixing blade to "fluff" up the compound. Use a putty knife to spread a thin coat of compound, about 76 mm (3 in.) wide on all the joints, and screws.

2. Embed the drywall tape

Then cut a length of drywall tape and embed it into place over the compound, before smoothing out the joint. Remove excess compound by feathering out the edges. Sanding should follow the last finishing coat.

2.1 

It's possible to roll down the drywall tape as you go along. But that admittedly faster technique requires a bit of dexterity. It's better to apply compound generously then smooth out the surface carefully, remembering that any excess has to be sanded, something that can require a lot of work on large surfaces.

3. Apply the second and third coats

Apply a second coat of joint compound 24 hours after the first coat. When applying the second coat use an 8 in. drywall knife (10 in. or 12 in. for the third coat) so the edges of the joints are feathered out.

Tip: Before applying the second and third coat go over the entire wall with you drywall knife to remove any large build ups of compound.

3.1 

The more you need to widen the compound application, from one day to the next, the wider your knife has to be. For a more professional job, use a 254-mm (10 in.) knife for the third coat.

4. Finishing

Once the joints are completely dry, sand all excess compound and rough spots using a fine (100 or 120 grit) sandpaper. We recommend you clean the surface using a fine broom followed by a damp cloth to eliminate any residual dust before applying base paint.

Tip: You can rent or buy sanding vacs (a Shop Vac™) attachement that will limit the amound of dust produced when sanding.
Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
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