- 1). Ensure all screw heads are set below the wall surface. If there are any raised, gently screw them in further, being careful not to tear the drywall paper. Raised screws will look like little bumps in the wall if they aren't taken care of.
- 2). Using your putty knife, run a coat of mud along the drywall seam. Make the mud a little wider than the piece of tape you will be placing next. Be sure to cover the seam fully with mud.
- 3). Center the tape over the joint and place it on top of the mud.
- 4). Run your knife along the tape to smooth it out. Some mud may squeeze out, but that's OK. Be sure you flatten out the tape with your knife so that there are no air bubbles and it is completely stuck to the mud. Remove the excess mud with your knife and just scrape it back into your mud pan. Let the mud dry.
- 5). Using your putty knife once the mud is dry, gently scrape away any excess mud that is not level with the surface. This unevenness will prevent a smooth second coat if the ridges are not scraped away. You want the surface to be smooth.
- 6). Apply more mud to the tape and feather it out past the edges of the tape. Every mud application should spread a little further than the last coat. Let the coat dry.
- 7). Repeat steps 5 and 6 one to two more times as necessary to ensure the joint is well covered and there is no dip in that wall surface. After the final coats are dry and the excess is scraped away, you are ready to sand.
- 8). Using a 220-grit sandpaper, lightly sand away any imperfections in the mud so that it is smooth. Wipe down the surface with a rag to ensure there is no dust left on the wall from sanding. Be careful not to sand too hard or you will sand right down to the drywall paper and potentially damage your wall. You may need to mud a few small nicks or scratches with a small amount of product. You shouldn't need to sand those if you do it correctly.
- 9). Prime your wall with a primer and paint roller. You may need two coats of primer. When the primer is dry according to the instructions, you may paint it the color you wish.
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