Sheathe the metal frame with plasterboard, this is not the end of the repair work. After sheathing, do-it-yourself drywall seams are required. To do this, you do not need to make efforts, draw drawings and follow accurate measurements. But, adherence to step-by-step instructions is necessary.
Stages of sealing joints between drywall sheets
To seal joints in a drywall structure, you will need:
- Spatula. These tools must be of different sizes.
- Mixer and drill attachment.
- Set of brushes, .
- Grout (sandpaper).
- and a set of blades.
Materials are also needed:
- Putty "Start", "Finish".
- Acrylic primer mix.
- for sealing drywall seams, the price ranges from 16 to 30 rubles.
- Reinforcing tape for corners.
- Putty semin.
- Rotband Knauf plaster.
Having collected everything you need, you can start sealing the seams. You need to make sure that everything is in place. 
A putty for sealing drywall seams should be chosen carefully. For different purposes, it is different, for wallpaper - a cheap and ordinary "Finish", for painting it is worth buying - based on gypsum. Semin filler is most suitable for sealing joints.
Preparatory work
Before sealing the joints, you should prepare the surface, the process of sealing drywall joints on the ceiling will be a little more difficult, and also follow the generally accepted recommendations from the masters:
Surface preparation
Must be strong, especially on the ceiling. If the sheet is loose, then it should be strengthened before. After the work done. This is done with a brush. A roller can be used, but there is no guarantee that the soil mixture will be chamfered and all material will be processed. The boundaries of the joint should be primed with a resolution of about 15 cm in both directions. The video shows a master class for sealing drywall seams.
Seam sealing
In order to start sealing the joints, you need to prepare a mixture of putty. It must be mixed with a certain consistency. After diluting and kneading, the mixture should stand for a while, after which the mixture should be re-stirred. Don't do too much putty. She freezes. It is better, if there is not enough of it, to knead an additional portion. Now:
When working with paper tape, the sealing technology is different from the sealing of drywall seams with a serpyanka. Paper is cheaper than mesh, but it is practical, does not tear or stretch (price 16 rubles). A tape, 1 meter long, is soaked in boiling water. The first layer of putty should dry completely. It needs to be brought to a smooth state. After the paper squeezed out of water is applied to a layer of PVA, which is applied to a layer of putty. From above, the tape should also be coated with glue. It is required to smooth out the tape with a spatula. The seam at the joint of the sheets will be thin and practical, serving to seal the surface.
Example of sealing fillet weld Corner seams are made in the same way. Here you need to be very careful when working with the solution. You do not need to apply it a lot, then you will have to work for a long time to remove a flat surface. After the work done with the seams and corners, the entire surface of the plasterboard product is leveled with the finishing putty.
This should be done with a spatula and a thin layer of mortar. Evenness is measured using a level.
On wet putty, perfect evenness is not done. After drying, excess strips, grains, and bumps are removed with a mesh or sandpaper. If required, apply more "Finish" in some places. Allow time for drying after each application. Under the wallpaper, the surface should be covered with Rotband Knauf plaster. It is of high quality and serves as the basis for further decoration.
Pay attention to the video: how to patch up drywall seams.
When the surface is perfect, it should be primed. It is better to do this with a roller, the corners are primed with a brush. Everything should dry again. Now, for some other decoration. In working with drywall, you should adhere to the algorithm of actions, then the product with your own hands will turn out to be of high quality and beautiful, which will emphasize the interior of the room and decorate the home.
Z Finishing the joints of drywall sheets is a responsible procedure, since incorrectly sealed seams between the gypsum boards will lead to cracks on them, which can ruin the entire appearance of the finish, especially if you have → (follow the link to learn about painting the gypsum board without puttying).
Let's find out how and how to seal the seams between the sheets of gypsum board with our own hands, so that cracks do not form, and if they do, we will reduce the damage from them.
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When cracks between sheets of gypsum board are dangerous
Cracks between drywall sheets are dangerous only in one case - when the drywall is painted, without wallpaper. Then these cracks will be visible and spoil the appearance of the finish.
If the wall was prepared for gluing wallpaper, then the cracks in the seams of the drywall are not scary, because they are not visible under the wallpaper, and the wallpaper will not tear from this - not the tension (unless, of course, the gypsum board is not mounted somehow and even dangles a little).
Let's get to the heart of the matter.
Preparation of joints for sealing (jointing, priming)
If the seams with the factory edges of the sheets, then they do not need to be embroidered, they are already ready.
If the edges of the sheets are cut, they need to be chamfered (edge). It is carried out either before the installation of drywall with a special plane on the gypsum board, or after installation with an ordinary construction (clerical) knife with replaceable blades 18 mm wide.
Carefully cut off a chamfer with a knife from 2 edges of the sheet "at an angle of 22.5 degrees to a depth of 2/3 of the sheet" - as it is written in a technologist from Knauf, the total angle is 45 degrees. You can cut at an angle of about 45 degrees (preferably no more) to a depth of half the sheet. Having embroidered all the seams in this way, we prime them with deep impregnation soil both the seam itself inside and at a distance of 5 cm from it at the edges, it is convenient to do this with a wide brush or with a brush. We leave to dry. This is not the only way to join joints, there are several more, let's see.
Undoubtedly, drywall is a very popular material that is used for interior decoration. But it is not the end result of such work, there will still be a decorative layer. This means that the surface must be carefully prepared. Sealing drywall seams requires special attention. This stage is very important, initially everything needs to be done correctly.
When starting any work, it is better to prepare everything in advance. You need to pay attention to tools, the minimum set of which is as follows:
- A set of spatulas - it is better to choose three basic ones: wide, medium and narrow. The first will do the least amount of work, but it is very convenient for them to smooth the seams.
- If you wish, you can also add a falcon - a special device for working with putty. It is a flat plate with a handle. It is convenient to take a solution from its surface. Although, a wide spatula will perfectly take on its role.
- Level.
- Drill with mixer attachment.
- Brush and.
- Block and sandpaper.
- Construction knife.
Tools for sealing drywall seams We must not forget about the materials, which should be in the required amount:
- Two types of putty compounds:
Starting. It will be used to seal the drywall seams.
Finishing. With this mixture, drywall joints will not be sealed. It is needed to apply a control layer, which will make the surface perfectly flat. - Primer mix. Better to prefer acrylic.
- Special tape - mesh (serpyanka). She will be glued to the joints of the gypsum board. And it is needed so that the putty does not crack in the future.
- We must not forget that there are also corner seams. Therefore, it is better to stock up on special perforated elements. As well as reinforcing tape for corners.
Only by bringing everything together, we can say that the time has come for doing the work with your own hands. Sealing drywall seams should not be interrupted due to the lack of something.
Advice! When choosing a putty, they are guided by the final decorative coating. So, you can choose a cheaper dry mix under the wallpaper. In any case, it is better to give preference to a gypsum-based putty. It is a reliable compound that is well suited for this kind of work.
Working with seams
Sealing drywall seams has its own characteristics. To do everything right with your own hands, the following conditions are met:
- The optimum performance indicators are observed, which are indicated by the manufacturer on the putty packaging.
- Drafts must not be allowed.
- Plasterboard boards must be checked for reliability of attachment to the wall (profile). Any "walking" of the sheet will lead to the destruction of the layer of putty mixture, even when gluing the tape (mesh).
Now the putty of drywall joints begins, divided into several stages.
Embroidery
This process is the processing of the edges of the material. The purpose of the event is to get a surface that will be most suitable for work. A construction knife is used.
- In the places where two sheets of drywall adjoin - remove all unnecessary (cardboard scraps, broken areas).
- Begin to cut the chamfer. Do this at an angle of 40-45 degrees. That is, the joints of the slabs should resemble one well-known symbol - a "tick". It is more convenient to do this before fastening. Although, nothing can be done after.
On a note! There is a plasterboard on sale, the edges of which have already been processed at the required angle.
Primer
It is believed that priming is optional, but this is not entirely true. Yes, gypsum plasterboard has sufficient adhesion properties that will hold the putty layer and the subsequent decorative layer. But why take the risk. The cost of such formulations is small, they are applied quickly.
It will be right to choose an acrylic-based mixture. It has good penetrating properties and dries quickly.
If you plan to paint the surface, then priming is required.
Putty joints
Sealing drywall joints begins with the preparation of a dry mix. It is diluted with water and stirred well. After letting her stand for a while, the procedure is repeated. A small amount is prepared - exclusively for an hour of work.
Attention! In the work, a tape - serpyanka can be used, and there is also a paper reinforcing tape for drywall. They are similar in their parameters, but the latter is used with increased requirements for the resulting seam. For convenience, self-adhesive products are chosen.
The process technology is as follows:
- For the convenience of working with joints, you can take a small container, put a little putty into it. So, it will be faster and more convenient to work.
- So, take the mixture with a medium spatula, you need to literally keep it on the tip. And with a smooth movement, slip into the seam.
- It is necessary to ensure that the solution completely occupies the volume of the joint.
- Now cut off the tape, which is glued directly to the seam. It should go in the middle.
- Serpyanka is pressed a little. Next, the next layer is applied along the entire joint. Thus, the tape is immersed in the solution and becomes flush with the surface.
- Everything is carefully smeared. Check the level.
- When the layer dries up, use sandpaper.
On a note! Working with a reinforcing paper product is somewhat different. It is immediately cut into the desired size and poured with boiling water. Then a layer of solution is applied to the seam. After waiting for it to dry, it is subjected to grinding. Then the tape is squeezed out, PVA glue is applied to the seam. Gluing the tape to the joint, it is immediately greased with the same glue. The surface is smoothed with a spatula. The seam is very thin and strong. The whole process is easy to do with your own hands.
There is another way, it is similar to the one already given. But to close up the joints, you need a little skill in handling the tool. This is the case:
- The solution is quickly smeared with a medium spatula. At the same time, without smoothing or removing excess.
- Then they take a wide instrument, set it at an acute angle - and draw it along the surface from bottom to top.
- It will be correct to press down on him.
- It turns out that the putty fills in empty areas and forms a smooth surface on which the reinforcing product is already glued.
The corners are closed in a similar way.
The result will be a surface that remains to be covered with a finishing layer of putty. If everything is done correctly, then there will be no cracks. In any case, the main thing is to do everything carefully and painstakingly, especially if such work has not been done with your own hands.
Quite many people are surprised at how neat the drywall seams are obtained by craftsmen who have been using drywall in their projects for a long time. Such accuracy is associated not only with their experience, but also with knowledge of the technologies for performing drywall putty. Experienced craftsmen never ask the question - is it necessary to cut the edge of drywall? Or other similar questions that torment the heads of many newbies in the field of repair. Of course, cleanliness in work, reliability of the design and excellent results come with experience, but a beginner can learn some advice from masters that will help him to get around most of the difficulties when filling seams in products from gypsum plasterboard.
We will tell you in detail how to properly seal the seams in drywall and what is needed for this. Seams are sealed with the help of special putty mixtures, the choice of which we will also tell you about. If you do not know why to seal the seams in drywall products, then you probably haven’t done anything from it yet, because the frame sheathed with drywall looks very unpresentable and sloppy.
What is this article about
Choice of tools and putty mixture
Plastering of drywall joints is done with a spatula, which means that you have to choose it. There are no special recommendations when choosing them. In this case, your personal preferences are more important, which should be taken into account when choosing a spatula. The main thing is that it bends well enough, and everything else is not so important. If it is more convenient for you to use a wide spatula, then take it, if it is narrow, then do not hesitate and choose a narrow one.
The choice of material that will be used to seal drywall seams must be approached very responsibly, otherwise they will simply begin to crumble, a bad putty will definitely not withstand for a long time. In the event that you will seal drywall seams, it is better to choose a finishing putty from Knauf, which may have a price slightly higher than other similar materials, but has passed all the necessary tests, thanks to which its durability has been proven by the manufacturer ... Of course, you can also use a starting putty, but it is not particularly suitable for puttying joints, so if you use it, then only if wallpaper is then glued to this surface.
Surface preparation
Before the joints of drywall are sealed, it is necessary to put the entire surface to be treated in order. To do this, you need:
- Process the edges of drywall sheets, but only if the manufacturer has not done this, otherwise you can not make it easier, but complicate your task.
- Clean the seam and adjacent surface from debris, pieces of paper.
- You can pre-coat the drywall with a primer, so it will absorb much less moisture and will not be saturated with paint, which will have a positive effect on its durability. It is advisable to use a primer if the drywall is not moisture resistant, but moisture still threatens it.
Sealing drywall seams is not difficult, but it requires enough endurance and accuracy, since there can be a lot of seams, and everyone will have to seal them up, and if they are also located on the ceiling, then the master will be very tired. We advise you to take short breaks so that the quality of the work does not fall, and so that the putty does not fall from the ceiling, you need to press harder on the spatula, so it will more densely penetrate deep into the seam.
Main works
Now you will learn how to putty drywall joints so that the entire product retains an excellent appearance for a long time for many years, perhaps, if you do everything correctly, then for decades. First you need to dilute the mixture, but keep in mind that you still need to calculate for 30 minutes of work, since then it will simply harden and become completely unusable for further work. The calculation can be carried out according to this principle, in the case of cement and gypsum putties, you need to use about 1 kg of the mixture per square meter. But in order to seal drywall joints more economically, we advise you to use glue-based mixtures, they can be taken at half a kilogram per square meter.
If you do not know how to correctly chamfer drywall, then remember that this is done with a drywall knife, which, at an angle of 45 degrees, cuts off the edge from the edge of the gypsum board sheet. The finished mixture is applied to the spatula; you don't need to put too much, otherwise it will be simply inconvenient to work. Now you need to draw a spatula along the line of the seam, maintaining moderate pressure on the tool and making sure that the layer of putty covers not only the seam itself, but also a distance of 5-7 cm from its edges. If the putty of drywall seams occurs over a rather long area, then divide it into several parts and process each one.
After you complete the application of the first layer of putty, it is necessary to proceed with the fastening of the reinforcing tape, which will contribute to a stronger and better adhesion of the seams. Experts often call it "serpyanka". It must be laid along the entire length of the seam in order to give it greater strength. It is necessary to apply a serpentine so that the seam is exactly in the middle of it, that is, the edges of the reinforcing tape should protrude beyond the edges of the seam, and the edge of the drywall should not be visible under the layer of putty. Serpyanka needs to be slightly drowned in the putty so that it is better fixed exactly in the depth of the seam.
The second layer of putty is applied after hardening and fixing the first. With the second layer, you already level the surface, making smoother transitions between the seams. In addition to plastering the walls, it is also necessary to putty the self-tapping screws, which can greatly go beyond the height of the drywall sheet, therefore, before puttingty the screws, they need to be tightened. You can check the level of their height using the same spatula, to do this, slide it over the surface in which there are self-tapping screws. If it clings, then you need to tighten it up. Self-tapping screws need to be putty using a cross method: along, across, so it turns out to mask the screws much better.
Experts who know how to putty the joints of drywall, I advise you to use the finishing putty to putty inside corners, but in this case you will also need to use a corner, which must be attached to the base of the corner, in 1 layer of putty, and then covered with the second. In the event that the seams of drywall have a complex, curved shape, then it is worth using plastic corners, which can be putty in the same way so that no one will notice them.
Final work on the processing of putty joints
When all the putty applied to the walls is dry, you can start finishing the seams to give them a neat shape. To do this, take a fine-grained sandpaper, carefully process all the seams and corners with it. Do not forget to wear a respirator, since sealing drywall seams is quite a harmful activity, small particles of putty can get into the lungs, which, unfortunately, is not very useful, otherwise the builders would be the healthiest people.
Note that there are professionals who can make a neat and completely even seam with paper tape, but such specialists have a lot of experience that allows them, because they literally feel the drywall. They know exactly how to seal drywall seams, and most of their advice is in this article. If you read carefully, then you will carry out all the work very well, but if you are a beginner, then there may be mistakes, but they will pass, the main thing is to start.
There is nothing difficult in this, so if you have coped with the manufacture of the product itself, then the putty will pass, at least, it should go well. If something is not clear to you, then we advise you to read other articles on our website, there is a more detailed description of the processes, which are explained here superficially, since it is quite complex.
Sealing drywall seams is an urgent problem of interior decoration. This material is widely used for leveling the surface of walls and ceilings, as well as creating suspended ceilings and partitions, but sloppy joint of sheets can affect the appearance of the finish. Only knowledge of the principles and rules of preparation for finishing can give the room the desired attractiveness.
Why patch up the seams
The joints of drywall sheets are a problem area. Difficulties may arise during installation:
- The ends can crumble and break in case of mechanical stress.
- The edges of the sheets at the junction are subject to deformation (bending).
- With temperature drops, it changes its width, which leads to the appearance of cracks in the finish, swelling of the edges of the sheet.
- Moisture collects in an unsealed gap, causing stains and flaking of the topcoat, as well as the formation of mold and fungi.
- Inaccuracies in the joint make the surface of the walls and ceilings uneven.
Thus, the lack of proper sealing of gaps between drywall sheets leads to damage to the finish coating, gradual destruction of the material itself, and deterioration of its appearance. It is important to properly seal the joints when preparing the surface for painting.
Sealing drywall seams includes several requirements:
- Correctness of plasterboard installation. The precise positioning of the profiles and the rigidity of the frame are of paramount importance. The joint should be in the middle of the U-shaped section (i.e. the edges should rest on a rigid platform), and the lathing should have sufficient stability. Otherwise, the edges of the sheet will deform, and the seam will diverge from the vibrations of the coating.
- Reliability of drywall fixing. The seam will diverge due to insufficiently strong fastening of the sheets to the frame profiles.
- Alignment accuracy. Any steps at the junction worsen the condition and quality of the seam.
- Width. The gap at the joint should not exceed 7-10 mm. A wide seam is more difficult to close.
- The presence of a chamfer. It is necessary to increase the area in the joint area and improve adhesion. Standard sheets with high quality factory bevel. Homemade processing is necessary after cutting drywall.
These requirements oblige to carry out the termination reliably and efficiently. Without it, it is impossible to ensure the attractive appearance and durability of the plasterboard structure.
Necessary materials
Sealing drywall seams can be done using the following materials:
- Paper tape... It is a reinforcing strip made of high-strength paper with fibrous additives. The tape has a longitudinal groove to ensure an even bend when finishing corners. Perforated versions are available to increase the reliability of the primer. Famous brands of paper reinforcing tapes - Knauf, Sheetrock, NextBuild.
- Serpyanka... It is a self-adhesive tape in the form of a mesh of synthetic threads. Its main advantage is its ease of use. Disadvantages - insufficient strength, tensile elongation, tendency to cracking. Serpyanka is used mainly for longitudinal seams.
- Putty... 2 types of putty are used - starting and finishing. The first type is needed to fill the gap, and the second to align the joint. The most famous is gypsum putty, which is sold as a dry mix. In particular, the quality material is manufactured by Knauf. Uniflot modifications have polymer additives that make it possible to increase the moisture resistance of the seams. Knauf Fugen putties are made especially for drywall.
- Primer... For drywall, an acrylic-type deep penetration primer is suitable. Usually it is a white or colorless liquid that can be smeared with a thin layer with a brush or roller. Knauf produces high-quality primers - Tiefengrunt (for preparation for painting, wallpapering), Betokontakt (for tiles). You can also use other materials - Ceresit 117, Universal.
Required tools
To carry out work with your own hands, the following devices are used:
- Rasp plane (roughing plane). Designed for leveling and cleaning sheet edges. Roughing and edging tools are used for drywall. The first option is a metal block with handles with a grater on the bottom. The second type is special knives that allow you to cut the chamfer at the desired angle.
- Spatulas... A wide, narrow and angled trowel is required for embedding. It is advisable to have a tool with a metal and rubber blade. Wide spatulas have sizes - 45, 60 and 80 cm, and narrow ones - 15 and 25 cm. The best quality is the tool of the companies Kraftool, Ansa, Armero, Sheetrock, Storch.
- Abrasive tool... For manual processing of sealed joints, an abrasive block, a block with fixation on a special device, and a grater with a telescopic handle are used. The latter option is suitable for ceilings. The most common finishing tool is sandpaper. For primary rough processing, coarse-grained paper is needed in the range of 20-200, and for the final one - fine-grained grades with numbers 250-2000.
In addition to the basic fixtures, additional and controlling tools will be required. For the primer, paint brushes of different widths are needed. And you can correct edge flaws with a sharp knife. It is necessary to control the quality at the building level.
How to patch up drywall joints: workflow
Sealing drywall seams includes the following steps:
- Preparation... Work begins with a thorough cleaning of the working area from dust and dirt with a brush. Burrs are removed with a knife.
- Joining seams... When joining the factory sheets, it is not required. The cut must be chamfered at an angle of 45 degrees. The chamfer size (width and depth) is 3-5 mm. It is best to use a plane, but you can also chamfer with a knife, being extremely careful.
- Primer... The composition should have a concentration convenient for application. If necessary, the mixture is diluted according to the attached instructions. The primer is applied with a paint brush in a thin layer. The entire seam is thoroughly smeared, as well as the surface of the sheet at a distance of 12-16 cm from the edge. To speed up work, you can use a paintbrush or a narrow paint roller.
- Filling the joint with putty... After the primer has solidified, the putty mixture is pressed into the gap with a narrow spatula (preferably a rubber one). We must strive to completely fill the joints.
- Sticker tape or serpyanka... A reinforcing tape is glued to the filled seam. Perforated or serpyanka is pressed into the still uncured filler mortar. If continuous paper tape is used, then a layer of glue is applied over the putty. PVC can be used. The tape is glued over the seam. The width is chosen so that it overlaps the gap by 3-5 mm. The recommended length of one piece of tape is no more than 3 m.
- Sealing with putty... After hardening of all layers of the embedment, the working area is leveled with a putty. The mortar is applied with a wide trowel and carefully leveled.
- Finishing sanding of the dried joint with emery cloth... Final processing is carried out by finishing sanding with sandpaper or a grinding tool. As a rule, manual sanding with emery cloth is used in several stages. Initially, coarse sandpaper No. 50-80 is produced. Cleaning is carried out in small sections, the movement is carried out in one direction - from top to bottom. Further, the filling is sanded with fine-grained sandpaper No. 300-400 until the irregularities are completely eliminated. The seam must be completely flush with the wall or ceiling surface. Grinding is done with gentle circular motions, starting at the edge of the area and moving towards the center of the joint.
Sealing the seam with reinforcing putty without mesh or tape
Currently, special putties are produced that allow you to close up seams without additional reinforcement, that is, without using tape or serpyanka. Such a putty itself is capable of performing a reinforcing function due to strengthening additives. Among such materials, products under the Semin brand are especially noted.
Sealing drywall seams with a reinforcing putty is done in the following order:
- Cleaning and jointing of a seam.
- Primer. It is applied in a similar way to the described technique, using similar mixtures.
- Putty. It is applied similarly to other putty mixtures using a spatula. Overlay is provided in 2 layers, with the second layer applied after the previous one has completely dried. The top layer is carefully leveled.
- Grinding.
This sealing technology requires the selection of a good filler. Its features are indicated on the packaging, and in the title there is a reference to the fact that it is specifically intended for sealing drywall seams. The main advantage is that there is no need to apply tapes and simplify the finishing. The disadvantage is the increased price.
The nuances of sealing corners
When sealing the joints of sheets in the corners, certain subtleties are taken into account:
- Inner corner... The seam in it is closed with a paper reinforcing tape or serpyanka. The technology is very similar to sealing joints on a surface. Putty is made with a spatula from 2 sides. First, the mortar is applied along the entire length of the joint along one wall. Then, the tool changes direction, and a similar operation is carried out along the adjacent wall. A tape is applied to the putty, which is folded in half.
- Outside corner... For its decoration, a plastic (PVC) or metal (most often aluminum) corner is used. It has perforations, which allows it to be securely fixed with a putty mixture. To increase the strength, the corner can be additionally fixed with self-tapping screws.
When finishing corners, puttying is best done with a corner trowel. Such a tool allows you to ensure an even, right angle.
Drywall is widely used in finishing works. The presence of seams between the sheets is recognized as a problem. Correct finishing gives the surface an attractive appearance and ensures that the finish is resistant to operating conditions. The filling can be done with your own hands, but for this you need to know how to choose the right material and carry out the work, taking into account the recommendations of specialists.