Taping & Mudding Process Of A Drywall Around The Windows
Joining pieces of drywall into a single solid wall is what taping and mudding process is all about. You can easily apply drywall tape as well as coats of drywall compound when it comes to reinforcing joints and hide screws and nails. After performing taping and mudding process correctly, your wall will look flat as well as smooth and the seams underneath are hard to see. Drywall is regarded as one of the popular & well-known materials when it comes to home construction, due to the fact that it is cheap, easy to install, and looks good. However, one of the disadvantage of drywall is that you cannot get a professional-looking finish very easily around windows. Drywall is a demanding material, making it easy to mess up the finish around windows, which can be unsightly as well as difficult to fix. The majority of the people try to avoid taping as well as mudding drywall around windows, due to the reason that it can be a challenging job. Usually, people will just leave the drywall unfinished or patch it using a joint compound which can lead to an inferior finish. If you are looking to tape and mud drywall around windows like a pro, then you are at the right place. Gather the required supplies first before proceeding to the step by step instruction:
Supplies Needed
- Tape Measure, Circular Saw, & Plywood
- Ruler Or A Straight Edge
- High-Density Foam Roller
- Paintbrush, Joint Compound, & Knife
- Drywall Screws, & Strap Clamp
- Crowbar, & Chisel
Step 1: Prepping The Window For Tape And Mud
- First of all, you need to eliminate the trim as well as sand down any rough edges. If you notice any holes or cracks, then you will also need to fill in these holes or cracks with the help of putty.
Step 2: Measure And Cut The Drywall
- Calculate or compute the window opening before cutting the drywall to size with the help of a circular saw. If the drywall is not square, then it is best to use a ruler or a straight edge, which will help you to draw a line through the drywall that is perpendicular to the longest side of the window opening.
- Cut along the line with the help of a chisel and a hammer. Repeat the same process for the other side of the window opening.
Step 3: Install The Plywood
- If you are not using pre-made drywall corners, then the best option is to install a piece of plywood around the window opening with the help of drywall screws.
- The plywood should be flush when it comes to the inside edge of the window opening. If the plywood is not flush, then you need to use a chisel and a hammer in order to adjust it as long as it is flush.
Step 4: Tape The Drywall
- Put or spread a thin layer of joint compound to the inside edge of the window opening with the help of a paint brush. Apply tape to the drywall with the help of a high-density foam roller.
- Start by cutting a piece of tape that is nearly 2 inches longer in comparison to the seam. Then, fold the tape in half in order to make sure that the adhesive is on the inside. Press the tape into the joint compound with the help of a roller.
- Put or spread a second thin layer of joint compound to the inside edge of the window opening. Smooth out the joint compound with the help of a drywall knife.
Step 5: Mud The Drywall
- Now, apply a thin layer of joint compound to the entire window opening with the help of a high-density foam roller. Smooth out the joint compound using a drywall knife.
- Let the joint compound dry overnight before repeating the same process for the other side of the window opening.
Step 6: Sand The Seams Of The Drywall
- Sand the joint compound with the help of a sanding block. Start with a coarse grit sandpaper before making your way up to a finer grit.
- It is important to sand the seams evenly. Put or spread a final thin layer of joint compound to the entire window opening. Smooth out the joint compound using a drywall knife. Let the joint compound dry overnight.
Step 7: Prime And Paint The Area Around The Window
- Prime and paint the area around the window with the help of a paint brush. It is important to get into all the nooks and crannies. Allow the primer as well as paint to dry overnight. Repeat the same process for the other side of the window opening.
Step 8: Apply Trim To The Window
- Apply trim to the window with the help of a strap clamp. Make sure to reach all the nooks and crannies. Spread a second coat of trim, if necessary. Let the trim dry overnight before repeating the same process for the other side of the window opening.