Have you ever admired a home with perfectly smooth surfaces and wondered how to achieve that look? In Calgary, the secret to this level of elegance lies in expert drywall taping. Drywall taping not only improves aesthetics, but it also avoids cracks and peeling caused by temperature variations and moisture. Hiring expert drywall contractors in Calgary can help you to turn your vision into a reality, delivering a beautiful and long-lasting finish for any drywall project.
Is Drywall Taping Necessary for Drywall Installation?
Drywall taping Calgary ensures a smooth and durable finish for your walls. It strengthens the joint to prevent cracking where the boards meet. For drywall taping, there are various options available like Paper tape, Mesh tape, and Fiberglass Mesh tape. Drywall taping will handle the typical expansion and contraction due to temperature and humidity changes without cracking. Relying on experienced drywall companies in Calgary can save your time and effort while delivering stunning results.
Effective Drywall Taping Techniques
Preparation to create a smooth base for taping. Ensure that all the drywall sheets are securely fastened. Screws or nails are properly installed at regular intervals.
Selecting the appropriate mud for your drywall taping project. Use taping mud for the initial coat. For finishing coats, all-purpose mud can be used for its ease of sanding.
When applying tape, start at one end of the joint and press it firmly into the mud using a drywall knife or your automatic taper.
Apply a thin layer of joint compound over tapped areas. Spread the compound evenly across the tape. This will allow for better drying and reduce the risk of cracking.
Sanding Between Coats by using fine-grit sandpaper, lightly sand the surface to achieve a smooth finish.
Tips for Better Drywall Taping Calgary
- Hiding Butt Joints
Butt joints are points where two non-tapered ends of drywall meet. To hide butt joints build up a hump of joint compound. This is time-consuming and difficult to do well. The best way to avoid butt joints is to use sheets of drywall that are long enough to cover entire walls and ceilings. As a result, you’ll have only tapered joints to finish.
- Use Mesh Tape (Not Paper)
Paper tape strengthens joints, but in less-skilled hands, paper tape can ripple, slip out of place or trap air bubbles. Adhesive-backed mesh tape eliminates all those glitches. Just stick it in place and it stays put, leaving you free to concentrate on spreading a smooth coat of mud. But mesh tape has one weakness, It is not as strong as paper. To compensate, you have to cover it with a setting-type joint compound, which is stronger than a premixed compound. You can use mesh anywhere except inside corners.
- Keep Corners Straight With Reinforced Tape
Inside corners are tough to keep neat and straight. To achieve clean corners in your drywall installation, using reinforced tape is essential. Use tape that is backed with metal or plastic strips. This tape is especially helpful on odd-angled corners, which are very hard to keep straight. This will contribute to the overall aesthetic of your walls.
- Fill Joints Fast With Setting-Type Compound
Setting compounds has three key advantages over premixed versions. It allows you to use mesh tape. it hardens fast and shrinks much less. Quick hardening and low shrinkage make the setting compound perfect for deep filling. Using a setting-type compound ensures a solid, long-lasting finish.
- Dunk Paper Tape
Paper tape can ripple, slip, bulge and bubble. But you can minimize these problems by dropping it into a bucket of water. Wet paper tape is more pliable than dry tape, so it traps fewer air bubbles behind it. Water also makes the paper slick, so your knife slides over the tape without creating ripples or creases. Paper tape is more susceptible to scuffs and tears when soaked.
Conclusion
Drywall taping creates smooth joints and makes it easier to apply paint or other finishes without visible imperfections. Drywall Taping Calgary seems challenging at first, but with the right tools and techniques, anyone can achieve a professional look. For durability and economy, paper tape remains a solid choice, especially for those who have some experience with taping. For ease of use and moisture resistance, mesh or fiberglass mat tapes are excellent alternatives that can simplify the process. Keeping in view the specific needs of your drywall taping project, select drywall contractors in Calgary that have expertise and fit to your budget also. Calgary Drywall Services , one of the best drywall companies in Calgary, provides customized drywall services to give your space a perfect look.
