7 Top Tips for Finishing Your Drywall

While a lot of people drywall themselves, the reality is that it is best left to the professionals. People like Lloyd Claycomb will tell you that it is actually a form of art. That said, the reality is also that hiring a professional is costly, and most of us will want to try things ourselves first. The following top tips may be of benefit.

7 Top Tips for Drywalling

  1. Make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials. A corner taping tool, a bread pan, a joint compound, a joint tape, an application knife, and a taping knife spreader should all be in your arsenal.
  2. Prepare yourself properly. Take all the necessary measurements and make sure that you have the panels secured properly in place. After all, the last thing you want to happen is for your drywall to collapse and fall down all of the sudden. Make sure that the nails that you use are long enough to keep the panels in place. Screws tend to be better, because they won’t pop over time. What matters is that you feel the panel is properly secured in place.
  3. Be prepared for a whole lot of mess. Drywall compound is called ‘mud’ for a reason. When you mix it, you should get a consistency that is a little bit like cake icing. This means that, when it is on a trowel and you hold it upside down, it doesn’t fall off. Don’t whip your cement while mixing, however, as this will get air trapped inside, leading to bubbles.
  4. Do not use paper tip, but use mesh tape instead. This type of tape is more porous, which means the cement can go through it. This gives you a lovely, smooth result. Paper tape is often visible once the mud has dried.
  5. Save on nails by using more glue. But do make sure that your adhesive is a good one. This technique should not, EVER, be used on the ceiling, however. But on drywall panels, you can use adhesive and only put nails or screws on the edges.
  6. Hide your nail heads by tapping them to just below your drywall’s surface. This takes a little bit of practice, so make sure you have a couple of attempts on a piece of panel that you have cut and isn’t up on the wall or ceiling yet. You do have to get it right, however, because nails that stick out look like bubbles.
  7. Patch holes properly. A lot of people fix drywalls themselves, stuffing small holes with newspaper. It is actually a better idea to make the whole slightly bigger, so it can be properly stuffed, then cover it with tape and cement. Treat a hole like a joint, in other words.

With these seven top tips, you should be able to create a very professional-looking drywall. But if in doubt – call the professionals in. It will save you money in the long run, since they won’t have to fix any mistakes.