How to putty the corners of drywall (internal and external corners)

Although working with drywall can be a satisfying project, there are sometimes difficulties, particularly when it comes to finishing corners. To guarantee a polished, polished appearance, corners on the inside as well as the outside need to be carefully maintained. You’re not alone if you’ve ever been irritated by uneven or cracked corners. The right methods and equipment can help you achieve smooth, clean edges that will give the appearance of seamless walls.

It’s critical to concentrate on drawing a crisp line where the two walls converge when addressing internal corners. Applying joint compound, sometimes known as "putty," requires steady hands. Using the appropriate amount of compound and properly prepping the surface can significantly alter the final appearance. The secret to avoiding common pitfalls like bubbles and uneven surfaces is to be precise and patient.

On the other hand, external corners are more likely to sustain damage. They therefore need to be reinforced in order to keep their integrity and shape. For this reason, corner beads are frequently used to create a strong edge that resists knocks and bumps. For a perfect finish, cover these beads with putty and sand them down to a smooth surface. Your walls will become more visually appealing and durable as a result of this process.

The overall appearance of your project can be improved by learning the technique of puttying corners, regardless of your experience level with DIY projects. Any room can be made more aesthetically pleasing by transforming rough edges into smooth, polished corners with a few simple steps and some practice. Let’s get into the finer points of puttying drywall corners, both inside and out, so that your next project turns heads in the right directions.

Step Details
Preparation Clean the corners and apply drywall tape to cover gaps.
Mix Putty Prepare the putty according to the instructions on the package.
Apply Putty Use a putty knife to apply a smooth layer of putty over the tape on both internal and external corners.
Smooth Edges Feather the edges of the putty to blend with the wall surface.
Dry Let the putty dry completely.
Sand Sand the dried putty lightly to achieve a smooth finish.
Second Coat Apply a second coat of putty, if needed, and repeat the drying and sanding steps.

Necessary materials and tools for puttingtying corners

The corners of drywall sheets are the most troublesome and prone to outside influences. Therefore, puttying the surface is required to prevent their damage while the home is being used. The process requires the use of specialized tools and materials because it is challenging to place the external and internal corners.

  1. An electric drill with a mixer attachment for mixing the solution. This procedure can be done manually, but this will increase the time spent on preparing the mixture.
  2. Spatulas of different widths, including corner models, sandpaper and a grater, or a block for rubbing surfaces.
  3. A construction or laser level. With the help of the tool, you can check the evenness of the coating.
  4. A tank for mixing the raw materials. Specialists use a special construction container with a volume of 20 liters.
  5. Paint brushes, a construction knife and a plastic trowel.

Which is required in order to repair the serpyanka.

Choosing a putty

Selecting the appropriate solution is necessary before you putty the plasterboard.

Construction hypermarkets offer a large variety of dry mixes; therefore, in order to choose an appropriate combination, you must be aware of the characteristics and distinctions between each one. Certain products are made for walls and ceilings, while others are meant to smooth out slopes and remove cracks. Additionally, ornamental putties are for sale.

Their price varies according to the intended use and mixture composition. The cheapest options are the dry ones, and they last a long time. This kind of material can be applied sparingly, which is crucial when making last-minute repairs. Prefabricated compositions are more costly but do not fear different environmental influences.

  1. Polymer.
  2. Cement.
  3. Gypsum.

Plasterboard walls work well with all varieties. However, a cement-based mixture works better in high-humidity processing areas (kitchens and bathrooms). Gypsum analogs eventually develop surface cracks because they are unable to tolerate moisture.

On the other hand, putties made of gypsum are appropriate for most other uses as long as their structure satisfies stringent requirements for strength and quality. You can smooth and ready the surface for wallpapering with the solution’s assistance.

Polymer particle models are highly sought after because of their malleability. They are primarily used to process joints and trouble spots.

Whether installing drywall internally or externally, rounding the corners can be a little challenging, but with the right methods, you can get smooth, polished results. This tutorial will take you step-by-step through the entire process, from sanding to apply putty and create a smooth finish, starting with corner preparation. Even novice do-it-yourselfers can produce neat, tidy drywall corners that are prepared for painting or finishing by using these easy pointers.

Preparatory work

You must take a few steps before you can putty a plasterboard wall.

As soon as the raw ingredients are mixed, you should move on to this step, using the following algorithm:

  1. First, you should trim the cuts at the corner and get rid of defects.
  2. The intersection of surfaces should be carefully wiped with a rag so as not to damage the sheets.
  3. Then you need to prime the treated areas with a brush and wait until they dry completely.

You must get ready for the putty once the primer has been absorbed by the drywall. To accomplish this, fill the container to the manufacturer’s recommended liquid level and then add the powder. Mixing can be done manually or with a drill bit that has a mixer attachment.

The solution will take three to five minutes to fully infuse. Next comes another round of mixing.

Choosing corners for gypsum board

Plasterboard corners can be modified in a number of ways. Their purposes and the materials they are made of are different.

Using a plastic corner like AquaBead

AquaBead is a regular plastic corner with a unique paper with an adhesive mixture on the inside surface. You don’t need to apply glue beforehand in order to install the product. Water treatment of paper that has an adhesive surface causes the base to become activated.

  1. The base is checked for evenness using a water or laser level.
  2. Next, the sticky part of the paper on the corner is moistened with a spray bottle or a wet brush.
  3. After a few seconds, you can fix the corner in the specified place, making sure that the adhesiveness is not broken.
  4. After 15-20 minutes after fixing, you can distribute the leveling layer.

The majority of construction hypermarkets carry these parts, although their cost is higher than that of their non-adhesive counterparts.

Perforated metal corner

  1. Check the evenness of the surface using a level.
  2. Prepare a corner with the required dimensions.
  3. Mix the solution for fixing the structure along the length of the corner.
  4. Apply the solution to both sides in small portions.
  5. Apply the corner and press it into the mixture, leveling it with a level.

Using a spatula, evenly distribute the glue along the height so that it will be released when the corner is pressed in through the holes. Builders occasionally turn to another fixation method that involves a straightforward stapler.

Semi-circular plastic corner

These products are identified by their non-sharp corners, and they should be used in areas of the room where there is the greatest possibility of mechanical impacts. Sturdy ABS plastic makes up the structure.

The end of the plasterboard sheet is cut to a height of 1.5–2 cm, maintaining a 45° angle, prior to installing the corner. It is essential to install the product in the processed end and apply a thick layer of base putty solution.

The plastic corner needs to be repositioned using a laser or water level before the surface is filled. You can use a construction stapler to improve fixation. Using a sponge or rag, remove any leftover mixture after leveling the end.

How to fill the inner corners of plasterboard

Plastic corners, which have an installed stack for reinforcing the joints, are typically used to fill the inner corners. However, if you have access to an angle spatula, you can get by using just a mounting mesh.

Prior to finishing the plasterboard corners, you must arrange for superior sheet adhesion at the joint. These areas show cracks and crevices when there are strong vibrations.

  1. A mounting grid is applied to the joints so that the center of the cavity is located exactly in the center.
  2. On top of this grid, you need to apply the prepared putty to the height of the corner.
  3. Then the corner should be leveled with an angle spatula.

It is advised to align each corner component sequentially.

How to putty the outer corners of drywall

The outer corners are very challenging to putty.

  1. Perforated, plastic or metal corners.
  2. A device for cutting metal or plastic products.
  3. Building level.

  1. At the first stage, you should determine the length and cut off the required part of the corner.
  2. Then you need to make sure that the slope is even using a level. If there are no deviations, you can proceed to applying the putty solution. If there are defects, it is worth partially opening the material and treating the problem areas with putty.
  3. Next, you need to install the corner in the desired part of the sheet and press it lightly until the putty begins to squeeze out through the holes.
  4. Use the level to make sure that the corner is level. If necessary, in certain places it is worth additionally fixing the product.
  5. The remains of the mixture are distributed evenly over the perforated corner.
  6. Before the subsequent stages of puttying, you need to sand the base layer with sandpaper, and then apply the primer.
  7. The finishing solution is distributed in a thin layer. It is necessary to mask defects, differences in height, etc.

Final stage

You just need to use sandpaper or mesh to rub the corners of any non-woven or other texture- or three-dimensionally-patterned wallpaper you intend to use to decorate the wall. A smooth surface is essential if painting or paper wallpapering the area without embossing is the plan.

To do this, you’ll need to use finish putty, which smoothes out imperfections and creates a visually appealing surface, on the plane and angles once more.

The corners must be primed before putty is applied. Spreading the finish mixture, you must use a spatula to smooth the putty on top of the non-woven tape. By doing this, the tape will be given more time to soak and freeze, strengthening the base’s resistance to mechanical loads.

After that, you must apply the final layer of putty to level everything out and give it two to three days to fully dry.

Using grout grid or sandpaper, grout should be applied in the final step. All of the imperfections will be eliminated by this processing, leaving the surface level and smooth.

Gaining proficiency in the art of puttying drywall corners—both inside and outside—is a useful ability that can greatly improve any room’s finish. Smooth, polished corners that last a lifetime can be achieved with perseverance and the appropriate equipment.

Make sure the drywall is firmly in place and that the joints are appropriately taped before proceeding. Carefully apply the first coat of putty, blending the edges and covering the tape with wide strokes. To achieve a perfect surface, always wait for each layer to dry completely before sanding and applying the next coat.

Apply putty uniformly to internal corners using a flexible knife or corner trowel. Smoothing out the compound should be done slowly, taking care to fill in any spaces and produce a smooth transition between the walls. For extra strength, external corners need a corner bead, which needs to be securely fastened before puttying on the putty. Smoothing out the edges will aid in producing a seamless finish.

Your corners should appear neat and tidy after the last coat has dried and been sanded, prepared for painting or other finishing touches. Make sure to check your work frequently for flaws and fix them right away to keep the quality of your project high. Your abilities will grow with practice, speeding up the procedure and improving the outcomes.

You can guarantee that your drywall corners are both aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting by adhering to these instructions and taking your time during each step. Your home will look better overall thanks to this attention to detail, which will reward your labor of love and add value.

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Andrey Ivanov

Experienced civil engineer with more than 20 years of experience. Specializing in the construction of industrial and civil facilities. Author of many publications in professional journals.

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