How do I mud drywall butt joints?

  4 answers
  • Karen Brunck Karen Brunck on Jan 17, 2019

    Lay a thin layer of mud down the center of the joint. Add your paper or mesh tape over the mud, centered on the joint, then press and drag your mud knife over the tape to set it. Let dry. Use a larger mud knife and apply mud over the tape. Dry. Repeat. Sand.

  • Darlene Williman Darlene Williman on Jan 17, 2019

    Karen's answer if correct.

  • Diane Coverdale Diane Coverdale on Jan 17, 2019

    When 'mudding' you will need to apply fiberglass tape to re-enforce the inside wall corner your making. Once taped, you'll then mud over the tape, allow to dry completely, sand, brush off the dust, and then re-mud until smooth and no sign of tape. Paint surface with primer to seal the surface and then use your favorite paint formula.

  • Tim Tim on Jan 17, 2019

    Dave,

    Finishing butt joints are what separates the novice from the pro.

    Start out taping the joint as with any joint. Then, using a 12" knife, spread joint compound vertically to both sides of the joint. Stay about 2" away from the taped joint and bend your knife so the compound (mud) tapers away from the joint. Make sure the mud edge closest to the joint is built up at least slightly about the joint. Let that dry completely. After drying come back with a 4" knife (the one you used to apply the tape) and fill in the resulting middle depression. The idea is to have an ever slight mound about 24" wide or more. If you really want to lose your mind lay a flashlight against the wall and shine the light over your newly "finished" butt joint. If you see a shadow on either side the mud must be built up on the shadow side. Strategic light placement in the finished room helps hide a lot of discrepancies.

    There are tons of videos on You Tube that show different methods of hiding butt joints.

    Good Luck,

    Tim