
FREE "Handy" Magazine Start your own Handyman Business! Do-It-Yourself Spas and Hot Tubs!

How To Apply Drywall Seam Tape By Hand
For Drywall Joints And/Or Repairs

by Mike Bell of DrywallSchool.com

STEP1: Mix mud, Spread

Mix up your all purpose joint compound until it is thin enough to work with. Using a drywall pan and a 6" knife, spread a nice even bed of mud on the joint. Make sure to go at least 4" - 6" wide. Any spots without mud will be future problems.

Always tape the butt joints first, recess (or flat joints) second, angles last.

STEP 2: Tape, Wipe

Apply your tape to the joint making sure to keep it centered. There is a small crease in the middle of the tape, make sure that the line of the crease goes down (Towards drywall).

Once the tape is in place, take an 8" drywall knife and wipe off the excess mud.

When I was a rookie the old guys had a saying. "You have to insist that the mud comes out each side

At the time, I thought it was stupid sounding. Insist seems like a big word for muddin'. Now it makes sense. Here is what it means. You put the mud on right ?

After you apply the tape and you start wiping, you must "insist" that the mud oozes out each side of the tape. If there is a spot that didn’t ooze. That's a future air bubble and future problem for you. By pressing a little harder (with your knife) you should be able to get the mud to ooze out the sides. Now you won't have any air bubbles and no problems.

STEP 3: Angles

Once all your flats and butts are taped, it's time to move to the angles. Using your 6" knife apply a generous bed of mud to each side of the angle. Run your finger and thumb along the tape and crease it down the middle. Fold it in half.

Now stick the tape into the angle . Use your finger and make sure it's set into the angle pretty good.

Use your 6" knife to wipe, pull down one side, then the other. For a nice square corner you need to pull it tight and get all the excess mud out.

STEP 4: Details

"Details" are small taping jobs around windows, outlets, pipes, etc. This pictures of a repair around an electrical outlet speak for themselves! (If you ever do this repair, be sure the power is off! Drywall compound and the tool are both electrically conductive.)