Do joints in Gypsum board is the process of covering and reinforcing the joint between gypsum panels to give a smooth, flat appearance.
The technique is an important element of drywall construction and is combined by the application of a first coat of mix, and reinforcing tape between panel joints, followed by taping compound. But first, let’s know what materials we will need and what to take into account, step by step, to make the joints.
reinforcing tape
Materials for making joints in plasterboard:
1. Drywall
The plasterboard or drywall They normally come from 10 x 20 cm to 1.20 x 2.40 meters. And although the latter, due to their size, require less work, they tend to break more easily and require a helper for installation and transport.
As for thicknesses, we can find them from 50mm to 2cm, with 1.2cm being one of the most popular.
drywall
The drywall sheets they can include other additives or attributes that make them resistant to humidity (bathrooms and kitchens), we can also find fire resistant plates, and other composite plates, depending on the regulations and needs of each region.
2. Micro-perforated tape
The micro-perforated tapeIn addition to being the most resistant, it is also the most difficult to use for casual DIY. The main difficulties experienced are the bubbles that appear after painting through the plasterboard bonding, which requires the seam to be filled to hide the tape.
micro-perforated tape
Bubbles that form under the tape are caused by the absence of the bonding compound under the tape, or it was not applied consistently, and dried before the tape was embedded.
To avoid this, your mix or joint compound should be wet and not runny.
As with plasterboard, there are micro-perforated tapes with different characteristics to be used according to the job requirement.
High temperature resistant tape
3. Cleaning the area to work
Clean the wall or ceiling that will support the panels. You must remove nails, screws, even drywall old ones that prevent the new ones from being placed properly on the crossbars.
In drywall, don’t be surprised if you find steel studs instead of wood.
Steel studs are recommended for the added strength this metal provides, plus they are termite proof and fire resistant.
The only difference during application will be that you will have to use screws instead of nails to attach the panels.
4. Cut and install drywall
It is essential that the ends of the panels meet a piece of the crossbar or beam to be fixed to the structure.
If the panel does not end in a stud, measure the distance to the center of the nearest support piece and cut with a utility knife or saw to drywall, ensuring that the end of the panel terminates within the splice.
Add glue along each joint of the stud that the stud will sit on. drywall, and adjust it starting from one corner.
Using the drill, drive at least four screws in a row and across each joist or joist, repeating this for each plate.
It is recommended to work in rows, always starting from the corners. And it’s a good idea to mark all the studs, either with a stud finder or with tape markings on the floor, once the studs are exposed.
If there is any leftover piece on door or window frames, you can cut it with a rotary drill or a specialized saw.
5. Glue and fix the joints
To paste and fix the joints in a uniform way, we must place several layers of mixture or paste.
For the first layer of the plaster, apply a generous amount of mixture with the knife, which must be placed directly on the joint of the panels.
tape application
To prevent the tape from showing through, first make sure there are no irregularities in the plasterboard. If so, cut them with a saw. If cutting out the irregularity creates a large gap, discard the board before making the joint.
Using a putty knife, pack the tape tightly and evenly into the gap, using plenty of pressure to remove the base layer from under the tape. Then, use the squeezed mixture and apply it to the tape.
Tape Placement
It is important that the back of the tape is wet. Paper tape stretches, so once the tape is embedded, to finish the coating, start smoothing it from the center and work your way to each end.
Finally, clean the excess plaster with the knife and go through the entire joint of plasterboard from one end to the other to smooth out any excess.
Excess paste must be removed.
Remember to scrape the joint once the base coat has set, before applying the second coat. If there are bubbles, wet the knife blade and flatten the tape with another pass.
To continue, apply two or three more layers, using the putty knife and letting the mixture dry between each layer to avoid bubbles.
The pasting will also serve to level out any surface imperfections with each layer.
It is recommended to let it dry for at least a day, although there are hot pastes that dry in an hour, and others that change color, indicating that the material is ready for another layer.
6. Drywall sanding process
For sanding of drywall you will need a hand sander, sandpaper to drywall 150-grit sanding pad, a corner sanding sponge, a dust mask, and safety goggles.
Install the 150 grit paper on your hand sander. It’s tempting to buy 80-grit paper to speed up your sanding job. But because panel compound is so soft, you don’t need coarse sandpaper to sand it down. Coarse grit paper will leave undesirable sanding marks.
Don’t try to sand large grooves and ridges either. It is recommended that large grooves and ridges be touched up with another coat of joint compound rather than attempting to sand them.
It’s much easier to just smooth on another coat of joint compound. This is especially important at the edge of joints, where too much sanding will damage the face of the paper on the drywall.
Keep a pencil handy to mark problem areas that need filling or detailed sanding. Next, get a flashlight and go back to work as the light illuminates the surface of the wall.
Use your hand sander and sponge sander to touch up any trouble spots. And mark the depressions and other spots that need filling.
You can finish the job by filling the marked areas with joint compound, and finally sanding these spots when dry.
Learn the details and recommendations for the installation of drywall sheets, allows us to have a more technical vision during the application, save time and minimize errors.
Drywall construction is a complex job that requires planning and experience. and the unions of plasterboard, although they seem like a job that can be done by amateurs, they are a key process in this type of work, and their correct installation will guarantee the aesthetics and finish of all the work.
