Drywall Taping & Mudding Tips

[SkunkedAgain]

I'm getting ready to tape and mud the drywall in my basement renovation. As one would expect there are normal seems, screw dimples, inside edges, and outside edges to be done. I'll be practicing on some unused sections of drywall beforehand. I am not going to hire someone to do this, since I enjoy the challenge and am not afraid of making mistakes. The worst case scenario is that I have to sand off mistakes and do it again. So...

What tips and tricks can you all throw towards me?

[CAMAN]

I am far from an expert mudder/taper, in fact its my least favorite part of doing a remodel.

A couple tips I have learned over the years that helped me...

- keep a 5 gallon bucket of water with a sponge handy to rinse off all the tools whenever you start noticing lines of crumbs being dragged along.

- put the mud on with one pass, level it off with another, excess leveling and feathering just makes your job harder later on.

- several thin coats is better than one or two thick coats

- I highly recommend getting a drill mounted mixing paddle, even the premixed mud needs to be softened up and it just flows a lot better and more evenly if mixed this way. But make sure you don't let the mud dry on it, you don't want the chunks coming off in the next batch of mud you mix, stick it in the bucket of water.

Good luck!

[Eckie]

When doing corners, do one side at a time, let it dry, then do the other side the next day.

+1 on softening it up -- I even at times add a bit of water...don't want it drippy, but soft is good.

I use a couple of electric sanders -- makes the worst part much easier!

[Gordie]

Add a squirt of dawn dish soap to your mud when mixing up helps take out the air and helps blading it out smoother.

[pushbutton]

You got the biggest part down, in that practice a little first. After that, if there is a closet, start there. Always did at least three very fine coats, with a slight more in the middle fanning out to almost nothing on the ends. Get a decent knife and literally pick up different one to see how they feel in your hands, how you are able to work it has a big effect in the outcome. Never used an electric sander, but wow, that might be worth the cost.

[LightningBG]

Watch a bunch of videos on youtube to get the techniques down

[Eckie]

Never used an electric sander, but wow, that might be worth the cost.

Definitely -- think I only bought a couple of $30-$40 sanders -- they were well worth the price!

[crothmeier]

I always use the EasySand mix first it dries faster depending what minute rating you get. I usually use 45 or 90. I do two coats of that, and then one finish coat with lightweight bucket mud.

[Dave]

I used the self-adhesive mesh tape at my cabin and it's holding up well after five years

[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks for all of the responses....keep'em coming!

[Eckie]

on the corners --- I used paper-faced corner bead strips.....they are pre-formed 8 or 10 ft strips of 90 degree tin strips, wrapped in paper...they come in "inside" and "outside" strips......much better than the rolls of mesh or paper for the corners. They are much stronger (due to the metal), will protect the outside corners from taking a beating. Plus -- you'll need less mud.

[soldoncass]

I like the paper tape much better than the mesh type....mesh is harder to cover. A small mixed batch of "fast-set " or "dura-bond " to fill in any gaps/ holes before tape and mud is a good move. ANY bubbles show up later, and need to be fixed. I like 30-45 minute dura-bond for small patching, but 90 minute is better for larger jobs. A loosened up pre-mixed mud is best for setting tape into and finish coats. Any beveled edges/corners don't take much mud, but the butts (ends) will need to be widened out (24-30 ") so they don't show later. Be conservative with the mudding, and smooth it out the first time.......the sanding is the PITS. Do it nice as you go, and very little sanding is necessary. A big lite(300 watt) at an angle , while sanding, shows ANY imperfections.

I've done quite a few small projects.....and ALWAYS WONDER WHY I do it myself. Good luck to you.

[SkunkedAgain]

...because it teaches you the value of paying to have it done the next time, and why they charge what they do!

[crothmeier]

Just finished up a little bathroom remodel for a friend. Textured the bathroom walls, and matched into a smooth wall in the next room over.

Two coats of easy-sand, and a coat of lightweight and we were ready for texture. The more you do it the better you get at it. I was horrible at first, and easily frustrated.