How Do You Apply Drywall Joint Tape?
Most do-it-yourself enthusiasts are fairly confident in their ability to install drywall sheets. Where they start to have misgivings is when it comes to taping and finishing the seams and edges. Applying joint tape and finishing your drywall project won’t be a major hassle if you give the project the right amount of time, use the right tools and follow the proper procedures. Decide whether you want to use paper drywall tape or sticky-back fiberglass mesh tape. Professionals use paper tape, but many amateurs prefer the fiberglass mesh tape because it sticks by itself. The down side to the mesh tape is it’s thicker than the paper tape and the mesh can get caught on the drywall knife on the first coat. The following steps apply to paper tape. Cut the pieces of tape for the seams to the proper length and lay them near where they’ll be used. Use your 4-inch drywall knife to spread a layer of premixed drywall compound (mud) along the drywall seam. The mud should cover at least the width of t
