The key to a good drywall installation is invisible joints between the panels. About one-third of the time required for drywall installation is dedicated to jointing, but this also depends on the design of the surface and the required quality. This simple step-by-step guide will allow any contractor to create solid, unnoticeable joints between plasterboard panels.
Knauf products and finishing systems have been specifically designed to meet the needs of the contractor and to give better results in the finish. For this job, you will need some simple building tools and materials, including the following:
- Knauf tapered edge boards
- Knauf Joint Bora (jointing compound)
- Knauf joint tape
- Trowel and spatula
- Bucket
- Mixing rod
- Ladder
- Sandpaper (p180 to p220)
Steps to tape and joint drywall panels
- Use jointing tape as this product is designed for this particular application. Cut the tape to length so that it can run from the top of the panel to the bottom. Do not apply the tape yet.
- Mix the drywall compound. This usually requires adding some of the jointing compound powder to a bucket of water. Leave the jointing compound powder (Knauf Joint Bora) for three minutes to absorb the water before stirring it thoroughly with the mixing rod. Fill the joint cross-sectionally with a 15cm trowel (spatula). Use a long, clean sweep to apply an even coating of the drywall compound to the gypsum board panels.
- Apply the Knauf jointing tape over the gap between the two panels. It will stick to the drywall compound that you just applied. Make sure that there are no creases or air bubbles in the tape. Run a clean trowel down each side of the paper tape to remove any air bubbles and to secure it properly.
- Once the tape is bedded into the compound, you can now apply a second coat of drywall compound to cover the face of the jointing tape. Once again, use long, clean sweeps with a trowel to apply an even coating of the compound and smooth it out with the rest of the drywall panels so that there are no steps in the joint.
- Leave the compound to dry and set properly for about 24 hours. Then, apply a third coat of drywall compound. This time, use a wider trowel to ensure that the compound spreads either side of the first couple of layers. If there is a slightly raised edge on the drywall panels, use a trowel to scrape it flat and create a flush joint between the compound and the panel. Leave this coat to dry and set.
- Using a fine grade of sandpaper, sand the dry compound so that it is smooth and flush with the panels. This will create one continuous wall with no bumps or raised lines.
- Prime the wall with a base coat of paint. Apply this layer as recommended by the paint manufacturer. Leave it to dry and then add two or three coats of wall paint. This will render the joints invisible and leave you with a beautiful wall that is strong and durable.
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Knauf is a German manufacturer of gypsum plasterboard that has operations in Tanzania. We use local materials to produce high-quality drywall products for the construction industry. Knauf takes pride in the quality of products and services that we provide to customers.
We have a world-class team of researchers that have developed ecologically-sound structures and earthquake-resistant systems and materials. These construction solutions are internationally patented and are now available to Tanzanian contractors.
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