Gaps between drywall panels
#1
02-10-15, 03:45 AM
Gaps between drywall panels
I'm not really sure what happened here. Maybe we were going too fast, but after screwing down several drywall panels, we noticed a couple spots in the corners of the room where the upper drywall panel doesn't even touch the ceiling drywall panel. I'm concerned about the gap. I haven't measured it, but in one place it looks to be as big as about 1/4 - 1/2".
Should I just not worry about it and tape and float it? Or is there another technique? I was thinking about filling the gap with drywall joint compound or even silicone, and then waiting for that to dry before doing the tape and float.
Should I just not worry about it and tape and float it? Or is there another technique? I was thinking about filling the gap with drywall joint compound or even silicone, and then waiting for that to dry before doing the tape and float.
#2
02-10-15, 04:15 AM
Yes, prefill the gaps. You can use regular compound but would be better to use one of the setting type powder compounds. You can get them in various timed setting mixes, perhaps the 45 min. material would be good for the job. Big box stores have them.
#3
02-10-15, 04:15 AM
It's common to fill those types of gaps with a setting compound like Durabond, regular ready mix j/c dries too slow and will crack if applied too thick. You don't need to fill the gap flush with the drywall, just enough so the mud you use when taping won't fall out.
#5
02-10-15, 05:55 AM
Group Moderator
I agree with the guys above. I'll usually mix up a pan of the 20 minute setting compound and fill those gaps with that. Generally it will be ready to tape within an hour or two. Its always good to have a bag of it on hand... and I'll fill any gap that's +1/8.
#6
02-13-15, 05:30 AM
Hey guys. Thanks for the suggestions. I did try prefilling the gaps with some drywall compound before eventually taping and floating. It's been tedious and time consuming, but the prefilling technique has worked out well so far and it looks great. On the portions we finished, you can't even tell there were large gaps that existed before.
#8
02-15-15, 09:24 PM
Yeah you guys are right. I switched from the joint compound to a setting compound and it like marksr said. Much faster drying. Seems like the setting compound dries harder too or maybe that's just my imagination. I wish I didn't fill in the first ones I did with the joint compound.
#11
02-16-15, 10:50 AM
Ahh. I thought the setting compound (hot mud) was harder than the joint compound, but I probably was just more liberal in applying to the gaps. Whatever the case, it's been working pretty good so far. After applying the dura bond to the gaps (btw, thanks for the suggestion mark) I still have a little bit more to go to completely fill the gap and I think I'm close enough to just finish it off with some standard tape and float with joint compound. Thanks again everyone. The results are really good and I can't even tell that there were such bad gaps before.
#12
02-16-15, 12:46 PM
I don't like to sand durabond [not fond of sanding anything 
] so I try to never apply too much and when you are prefilling gaps it doesn't have to be smooth or level - you just need a base to hold the j/c when you tape. Same sanding scenario applies to the rest of the drywall finishing - it's easier to come back and add more mud than sand off a bunch of excess.
] so I try to never apply too much and when you are prefilling gaps it doesn't have to be smooth or level - you just need a base to hold the j/c when you tape. Same sanding scenario applies to the rest of the drywall finishing - it's easier to come back and add more mud than sand off a bunch of excess.
