Friday, September 20, 2013

Finishing Drywall - Here's What To Do

By Brian Winters


Believe it or not, replacing drywall is easier than finishing its surface area. It is important to have a flat and smooth drywall surface to conceal the repair completely. Invest in high-quality drywall tools and materials for guaranteed results.

Always take safety precautions before repairing your drywall. Since sanding can cause dust particles to accumulate, wear a dust mask whenever carrying out repairs. Protect your furniture from dusting by covering them with plastic sheets or cloth beforehand. For large-scale repairs, it is best not to allow anyone in your household to enter the room until the repair is finished.

Cover the seams with a drywall tape once the panel has been installed. Paper tapes are best used for joints while fiberglass mesh tapes work better in covering seams. Mesh tapes are easier to use since they are self-adhesive. You may need to apply a thin coating of drywall mud to stick the paper tape into the mud.

It is essential to check the consistency of your drywall mud before applying it over the damaged area. If the consistency is too loose, you can use a newspaper to keep the mud from falling off. It is better not to use old compounds that are too stiff to spread evenly. For a flawless surface area, purchase premixed compounds in buckets instead of powdered ones.

Use the compound to cover the tape pieces completely. Once it dries out, apply a second coating before sanding the surface. Doing this removes the texture and imperfections on the patched area. Flush the panel with your existing drywall without over sanding it.

You can now apply a thin coating of finishing compound once you are satisfied with the surface area. Thin the consistency of the mud by adding water to make the panel look natural. Applying a generous amount of thick drywall mud can cause the drywall to look bumpy. Let it dry overnight before proceeding to the final step.

It is important to apply at least two coats of primer to prevent the compound from drying up the paint. Choose the exact paint color of your existing drywall for proper blending. You can use paint rollers instead of brushes to avoid having brush marks all over your drywall. Besides, rollers come cheap and are easier to clean than others.

Get advice from experts for additional tips on how to repair and finish a drywall. If you are not comfortable in repairing the drywall on your own, you can always hire a specialist to complete the task. Finishing a drywall shouldn't be a problem once you get the hang of it.




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