Knowledge Builders

what tools do i need to finish drywall

by Gisselle Beier II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Tools

  • Drill/driver
  • Drywall taping tool
  • Swivel-head pole sander
  • Sanding block
  • Mortar box
  • drywall knives - 5- and 10-in.
  • Mallet
  • Corner clincher
  • Shop vacuum

Only four tools for finishing are absolutely essential: a mud pan, two drywall knives and a sander. But a few others can help the job go more smoothly, quickly and cleanly. A couple of drywall knives are essential to finishing drywall.

What tools are needed to put up drywall?

What tools are needed to put up drywall?

  • A couple of drywall knives are essential to finishing drywall. Credit: geargodz/iStock/GettyImages.
  • Mixing paddle.
  • Mud pan for drywall compound.
  • 12-inch drywall knife.
  • Drywall corner trowel.
  • Drywall taping banjo.
  • Hand sander.
  • Pole sander.

What tools are used in drywall?

The features of the new and gently used drywall finishing tools include:

  • Handle extender: This allows you to reach drywall seams well above your head.
  • Corner attachments: These allow you to press the drywall in the corner of a room.
  • Rust-resistant: These resist rust and corrosion even when exposed to chemical cleaning agents or moisture.

More items...

What supplies do you need for drywall?

What supplies are needed to do drywall?

  • 01 of 09. Introduction.
  • Drywall T-Square: Expensive But Crucial. Amazon.com.
  • Drywall Knife In 12, 6, and 4 Inch Sizes. skhoward / Getty Images.
  • Utility Knife.
  • Cordless Drill For Fastening (Not Hammer and Nails)
  • Sanding Pole and Sanding Sheets.
  • Drywall Sanding Sponge, Abrasive and Non-Abrasive.
  • Drywall Screws.

What is the Best Drywall cutting tool?

Top 15 Best Drywall Cutting Tools Review in 2021

  1. Best DEWALT Rotary Saw Tool For Cutting Drywall. For every DIYers and renovation workers, we cannot forget Dewalt tools. ...
  2. Makita Lithium-Ion Cordless Cut-Out Tool. Even with the battery, the tool is very lightweight. ...
  3. Milwaukee- Fastback II Flip Utility Knife. ...
  4. DEWALT Max Drywall Cut-Out Tool. ...
  5. Milwaukee Cordless Cutting Saw For Cutting Drywall. ...

More items...

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What tools do you need to mud and tape?

1:425:31Drywall Taping Beginner Tool Set - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo a mud pan is an essential in my opinion. You can do a lot of things with it you can thin downMoreSo a mud pan is an essential in my opinion. You can do a lot of things with it you can thin down your mud you can mix up quick-set.

How do you finish drywall step by step?

InstructionsPrepare the Surface. ... Apply the First Mud Coat (Paper Tape) ... Apply the First Mud Coat (Fiberglass Tape) ... Finish Inside Corners. ... Finish Outside Corners and Screw/Nail Heads. ... Sand, Then Apply the Fill Coat. ... Apply the Finish Coat. ... Finish Sand the Wall.

How do you finish drywall like a professional?

3:1117:16How to Finish Drywall Like a Pro - Renee Romeo - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the first thing I'm doing is taking the fiberglass mesh tape. And putting it over any gap that IMoreSo the first thing I'm doing is taking the fiberglass mesh tape. And putting it over any gap that I have so in other words between wall. And wall wall.

Can you finish drywall a day?

Fortunately, fast-drying setting-type compounds allow you to do just that. Setting-type joint compounds harden chemically in anywhere from 20 minutes or 30 minutes to 4 hours or 5 hours, depending on the type used. The compounds with the shortest setting times are ideal for one-day finishing.

How much should I charge for finishing drywall?

The cost of finishing drywall is typically in the range of $1.00 to $1.65 per square foot, not including labor. For an average 12' x 12' room (144 square feet), those costs would translate into a drywall finishing cost of anywhere from $144 to $238.

Is drywall finishing a good career?

Most drywall finishers work full-time during weekdays. According to the BLS, the median pay for 2020 was over $59,000 a year. This specialization pays better than an installer's salary, which averages around $48,000 per year. The 10-year job outlook for finishers is stable as older workers retire from the industry.

Can you only do 2 coats of drywall mud?

If your wall has distinct crevices, cracks, or textured areas, or if your brand of drywall mud isn't offering enough coverage, you may have to do a couple of additional coats of compound. However, in general, you'll need one coat to fill in the seams and three more coats after taping.

Do you tape corners or seams first?

The order of taping is the same: Do screw indentations and beveled joints first, inside and outside corners next, and butt joints last. If you use mesh tape on flat joints, note that it's not suitable for corners. Use pre-creased paper tape for inside corners and preformed tape for outside corners.

What order do you mud drywall joints?

The order of taping is the same: Do screw indentations and beveled joints first, inside and outside corners next, and butt joints last.

How do I get a smooth finish on drywall?

0:181:26How to Get the Smoothest Drywall Finish in Six Steps - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor this job you'll need plenty of drywall mud a trowel. Some mesh tape and drywall sandpaper theMoreFor this job you'll need plenty of drywall mud a trowel. Some mesh tape and drywall sandpaper the first step is to go ahead and put your tape on all your seams. After.

How do you finish rough edges of drywall?

1:042:31Installing J Bead Where Drywall Meets a Wood or Brick Wall - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd we're just going to just lighting it on like a sleeve. And that's it. So what that does is itMoreAnd we're just going to just lighting it on like a sleeve. And that's it. So what that does is it gives you a perfect factory edge on the edge of the drywall.

What is Level 5 finish drywall?

Level 5 drywall has a high-quality skim coat over it. This thin coat covers the nails, tape, compound, and wall materials from the naked eye, creating a pleasing, completed look.

What are the tools used to carry drywall compound?

1. Hawks and mud pans. A hawk is a large square sheet of metal supported by a center handle. Mud pans resemble meatloaf pans and have crisp, sharp edges. These tools are used to carry the drywall compound with you while you work. Hawks are the tool of choice for professionals, so they tend to cost a little more.

What is the best tool to repair plaster?

Hawks are the tool of choice for professionals, so they tend to cost a little more. A mud pan will work nicely for occasional repairs. 2. Knife. Plaster repair requires the right kinds of knives. Putty knives range in size from two inches across to more than a foot.

What is an inside corner tool?

Inside corner tools are perfect for finishing off the difficult area in the corner of a room. It will speed up the process of finishing a stretch of drywall. However, it’s not typically required for repairs around the house.

Can you use self adhesive mesh to cover holes in drywall?

The process involved in repairing drywall is straight forward and simple. What many people don’t realize , however, is that working with the drywall compound takes a great deal of experience. It takes skill to get the wall completely smooth and blend the repair.

Can you use sandpaper for patching?

You cannot do a proper patch job with sandpaper. A sanding block is OK, but actual paper with a special hard sanding pad is better. If you will be working on higher areas, invest in a sanding board that you can put an extension on.

Can you use a sponge to sand drywall?

Used along with a bucket of water, the sponge will eliminate concerns about drywall dust. They should be used with care, however, to avoid removing too much of the compound.

What tools are needed to finish drywall?

Only four tools for finishing are absolutely essential: a mud pan, two drywall kniv es and a sander. But a few others can help the job go more smoothly, quickly and cleanly. A couple of drywall knives are essential to finishing drywall.

How to use a 12 inch knife for drywall?

Feathering creates a gradual transition from the center of the mudded joint (the thickest area of mud) to the bare drywall at either side of the joint. Applying more pressure to the outside edge of the joint, and thereby flexing the blade at the outside edge, make the mud thinner at the outside than the inside. This technique is easiest to do with a 12-inch knife.

What is the smallest knife used for drywall?

Taping knives are the smallest drywall knives and are used to apply the first layer of mud to drywall seams, or joints. When taping joints with paper joint tape, you apply a band of mud over the joint (using the knife), lay the tape over the mud, then press and smooth the tape into the mud, again with the taping knife.

How to use mesh tape on drywall?

When using mesh tape, stick the tape directly onto the drywall seam then mud over it with the taping knife. A taping knife, particularly a 6-inch knife, is also used for mudding corner bead (angle pieces that cover outside corners) as well as finishing the ends of walls, such as those flanking wall openings.

What is a banjo used for?

Banjo. Professional drywallers use banjos (or similar tools) for quickly taping and mudding joints. A banjo is like a big tape dispenser that loads paper tape with mud as you pull the tape out of the banjo.

Can you use a vacuum for drywall sanding?

Not long ago, only pros had vacuum equipment for drywall sanding, which eliminates most of the horrible dust created by sanding. But these days, DIYers can buy inexpensive sander attachments for shop vacuums. Some attachments have a hand sander, and some have pole-type sanders, but all attach to a standard shop vac for home use. Drywall dust is extremely fine, so it's best to use a shop vac with a bag and filter, to help capture all the dust.

Can you use taping knives to smooth corners?

The alternative is using standard taping and finishing knives to finish each side of the corner separately; and it can be tricky to smooth one side of the corner without scraping the edge of the knife onto the adjacent side.

What is a drywall knife?

Drywall knives are the flat blades used to spread the joint compound or spackle over the seams to seal them. You may want to get a couple of different sizes to use, depending on how big your job is. The most common drywall knives range in length from six inches to 12 inches.

How long should a tape measure be for drywall?

Any tape measure can be used to measure the size of drywall sheet that you will need. We recommend that you get one that is at least 12 feet long to enable you to measure longer walls.

What angle to use for sanding blocks?

If you’re using a sanding block, rather than a pole sander, then you may also want to buy a corner sander. These have a 90° angle that allows you to sand into the corner of walls or into the ceiling corner. You can get blocks that you use in hand or those that attach to the end of an extension pole for the ceiling.

Can you use a drywall sanding sponge?

Though drywall sanding sponges work well for smoothing your walls, you don’t want to depend on them to do the whole job for you. They are best used for touch-ups only. The sanding process is one of the most tedious and time-consuming aspects of drywalling. It is, however, a very important step. As with any good sanding job, you should start out with an abrasive surface.

Can you sand drywall with sandpaper?

For smaller jobs, you can get handheld wood blocks with sandpaper on one side. You do need multiple grits from coarse down to fine. You don’ t want to sand with the coarse and follow that directly with the fine, because the coarse will leave marks that the fine can’t sand out.

Can you use a drywall knife for corners?

As well as the 4” or 6”, and the 12”, drywall knives, you can also buy a drywall corner knife. It is possible to complete the corners using your standard knives but it will be easier using a corner knife that is dedicated to the task.

Is it hard to hang drywall?

Hanging drywall isn’t difficult to do. There are certain tools you will need to put it up efficiently, though. When you mix up drywall mud, it only stays wet for so long, so make sure you have all the tools you need before you start the job. You won’t want to quit and give the mud time to dry out before you’re ready for it. We have put together a list of tools that you will need in hopes that you only have to make one trip to your favorite home improvement shop.

How to smooth drywall with a knife?

With knife, gently push into corner. Starting in the middle, draw the knife along the drywall, smoothing the tape on one side of the crease. Skew blade 45 degrees to squeeze out excess mud. Run knife in the same way on the opposite side of the crease. Finish by smoothing back to the starting point.

How long does it take to hang drywall?

6 to 8 hours. While hanging drywall takes a little muscle, getting the drywall ready for paint or wallpaper requires finesse. The goal here is simple: Make the joints between drywall panels disappear so that walls and ceilings are perfectly smooth.

How to get tape off a wall?

Pull knife to one end of the joint in a single stroke, smoothing the tape and pressing it firmly into the compound. Scrap e excess compound from the blade into mud box . Return to the starting point and repeat in the other direction. (This technique prevents tape from pulling off wall.)

How to smooth tape in a joint?

Pull knife to one end of the joint in a single stroke, smoothing the tape and pressing it firmly into the compound.

How to make a metal corner bead?

Make sure the metal corner bead on outside corners is nailed or clinched every 10 inches. Straighten bends, if necessary, with corner clincher (see tools and materials above) Using the 5-inch knife, smear one side of bead with compound. Repeat on the other side.

How to use a 5 inch knife?

Allen Penn. Using 5-inch knife, fill mud box halfway with compound. Load the edge of the knife blade with about 2 inches of compound. Starting in one corner of the room, force the compound into the joints between sheets.

Why do you tear paper off drywall?

Tear away any loose or torn paper from drywall (especially at corners and cut edges) to prevent bits from ending up in the compound.

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1.Essential Tools You Need for Drywall Work - The Spruce

Url:https://www.thespruce.com/essential-tools-for-drywall-work-1821508

7 hours ago There are so many ways to finish drywall that it can be overwhelming. Let's explore one of the possibilities together! WHAT YOU’LL NEED Tools: Screwdriver Drywall hammer Utility knife …

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