Drywall finishing is an underappreciated art. Like many of life's other great ironies, the perfect job goes unnoticed. However, there is a lot of focus on poorly done work. Popping, over-sanding, messy exit hole cutouts, and blistered seams all stick out like thumbs. Even if you've mastered the finer parts of drywall finish, interior corners can still be a challenge. If your tape is torn or you haven't feathered your grout properly, your walls will look uneven (because it is!). Instead, the sharp inner corners make you wonder if the Terminator knows some kind of witchcraft. Getting it right the first time takes a lot of practice. But our pros have some tips for improving drywall interior corners, and we share them here.
Mud indicators for improving inside corners of drywall
"I'd rather use too much than not enough" is an opinion that might apply to most areas of existence, but inside drywall corners it's a different story. Obviously, you want to use enough mud to cover the seams and drywall tape.
However, don't just sprinkle it on top.
Too much grout can hinder the formation of inside corners of drywall. The goal of a drywall finish is to hide seams and create clean, sharp corners. So, prefer to use less mud. Plus, the extra dirt just makes the job harder because you end up having to sand it off later. Keep practicing until you reach a buttercup level of mud spreading proficiency.
Also, consider using a thinner mud. Novices who have problems with sharp corners often find that thinner mud is the way to go. This applies especially to the final or skim coat.
Remember, the goal is just to hide and tape the seams. You're not here to build mud huts. Cut the mud with some water to get the desired thinner consistency.
Feather one side at a time
Consider ditching the angle trowel and using a straight putty knife. Then feather one side of the inside corner of the drywall one at a time. There is no shortage of mockery of the corner trowel in professional circles. Of course, if the trimmer is doing the job efficiently with a corner knife, then it's the right thing to do. But many professionals believe it's best to use a straight knife on one side for the job.
Bringing the Big Cannon to Interior Drywall Corners
The automatic lagging tool applies tape and just the right amount of mud at the same time. Corner rollers are then used to create sharp corners before the mud flusher feathers the edges. Of course, these tools are more expensive than traditional drywall hand tools. However, if you've ever seen an experienced crew use them, you might be tempted to become part of an experienced crew. It makes work faster.
final thoughts
As with most jobs, there are multiple opinions on how to improve and perfect within drywall corners. There are probably many pros who do a great job using a corner trowel and are also very generous with their joint grout. In the end, practice makes perfect. But if you're struggling with this right now, consider these tips for improving inside corners of drywall.
If you're a pro and have drywall refinishing tips, add them in the comments below.