Drywall is a popular alternative to plastered walls in homes built after the 1940s. It is made by sandwiching plaster slurry between two sheets of paper and is fixed to wooden supports using nails or screws. Drywall joints are covered with tape and jointing compound for a smooth finish. Fiberglass mesh tape is a newer alternative that does not require pre-coats of compound and provides extra strength. Experienced application of joint compound reduces the need for sanding between coats.
Many homes built after the 1940s have plasterboard walls and ceilings. This is done with standard sized drywall sheets joined together. The edges where the sheets meet are called drywall joints. These joints can occur both vertically and horizontally. Some finishing work is usually required on drywall joints to achieve a smooth surface.
Drywall is a type of drywall that can be used for finishing interior walls and ceilings. It is often considered an easy and effective alternative to classic plastered walls. This type of panel is produced by sandwiching a layer of plaster slurry between two sheets of heavy paper, which is then kiln dried.
In a drywall construction, a wall is framed by wooden supports, commonly called studs, which are equally spaced apart. When the drywall is hung, the edges are matched and placed as close together as possible. Each sheet is then fixed to the wooden supports using nails or screws. Occasionally, drywall needs to be cut to fit a space, and these cuts are usually made in a straight line.
For this style of construction, the drywall joints are typically covered with drywall tape and jointing compound, which is sometimes called drywall mud. The purpose of the tape is to improve the appearance, as well as the strength, of the joint. Joint compound alone can be used for drywall joints; however, the possibility of cracks increases dramatically whenever large amounts of joint compound are applied. Drywall tape can be made from paper, fiberglass mesh, or even a combination of paper and metal, which is sometimes used for drywall corner joints.
Many paper taped joints start with a very thin layer of joint compound followed by the tape. Subsequent thin coats of joint compound are then applied over the taped joint to blend the surface. Sometimes a light sanding between coats is required.
Joint compound can be used on all joints and corners, as well as indentations caused by the nails or screws holding the drywall to the supports. Using a float, a flat piece of metal with a handle attached to one side, allows you to spread the compound thinly across the surface to create a smooth finish. In general, the more experienced a person is in applying compound, the less sanding is required between coats.
Fiberglass mesh tape was developed in an effort to create easier ways to seal drywall joints. Most fiberglass mesh tapes have an adhesive backing that does not require pre-coats of compound. A knife or scissors is usually needed to cut the mesh, while the paper tape is usually easily torn by hand. The fiberglass material gives this tape extra strength.
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