Drywall Without Sanding
I had done many small drywall patch jobs in the past which turned our great. The thing I didn't like was the huge dusty mess I always seemed to create even for a small job. Now I was going to tackle an entire room - ceiling and walls. I certainly did not want to create a dust storm in my house. I researched various methods and found one that worked well for me.
Ok, the reality is there is actually some sanding required but it is very, very minimal. The little sanding you need to do can be done with a small sanding block.
TOOLS Here's the only tools you'll need:
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| 4" Putty Knife |
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| 14" Drywall Trowel |
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| Sanding Block |
SUPPLIES
Here's the supplies you'll need for the corners and seams:
- Outside corners: I like using a vinyl corner bead with water activated adhesive. This installs without any nailing which I find is great.
- Inside corners: Use a standard paper tape such as U S GYPSUM 382198 Dry/Wall JNT Tape, 500', White
to keep the corners sharp.
- Butt joints: To make it easier to apply and provide extra seam strength, use a self-adhering mesh tape such as Duck Brand 280283 1.88-Inch by 180 Feet Single Roll Self-Adhesive Fiberglass Drywall Joint Tape
- Joint compound: I like used a lightweight all purpose ready mixed joint compound in a 5 gallon bucket. You can mix your own which works well but adds and extra step to the process. The premixed compound does dry pretty slow (think overnight) so if you're in a hurry, you may opt for a dry mix.
to keep the corners sharp.
I used the techniques shown in this video to tape and mud my drywall. It does take a little practice but if you follow these instructions you should have good success, Check it out the video here: