If you love do-it-yourself projects, installing drywall is one of the tasks you can do. However, knowing how to spackle drywall seams makes the difference between a professional-looking drywall job and an amateur one. Create seamless joints with these techniques:
Prepare the Spackle
1. Following the directions on the spackle container, add water to the paste and mix until you get a creamy consistency. Have some water ready when you start working and pour some water on the mixed spackle to keep it from drying out.
Fill in Screw and Nail Holes
2. Before you spackle drywall seams, fill screw and nail holes on the wall using a 4-inch spackle knife. The holes would be very small so two spackle coats would be enough. Make sure to allow the first coat to dry before applying the next one. Spackle that’s completely dry should appear white and not grayish.
Spackle the Long Horizontal Joints
3. Use an 8- or 10-inch knife to spackle these joints. You have to make three coat applications to these joints, making sure to dry the surface completely between each coat.
4. The first coat will use the most spackle.
5. The second coat should not be as heavy and will only serve to fill in gaps.
6. The third coat is the finishing coat where the edges of the spackle will be feathered out. A wide 12-inch knife is used for the final coat.
Spackle the Outside Corners
7. Complete these corners in three coatings as well with the first application being the heaviest and the third application as the finishing coat.
8. Use an 8-inch knife to apply the initial coat, running one of the blades over the drywall and the other along the corner bead.
9. Apply the second coat, which is the filler, with a 10-inch knife and the final coat with a 12-inch knife.
Spackle the Inside Corners
10. This is the hardest thing to do when you’re still learning how to spackle drywall seams. For the first coat, once again apply a heavy layer of spackling paste with an 8-inch putty knife.
11. Use an inside corner tool to smooth out the coat’s surface. Let the coat dry.
12. Fill the outer edges of the corner by applying the second coat.
13. Apply the last coat, blending out its edges to make them invisible.
Call in the Professionals
Of course, if you’re really after a quality job on your drywall, you can always hire a qualified professional. TalkLocal makes the process of searching for and hiring contractors quick and easy by connecting you directly with the professionals in your area. Try us now!
