If you have any wide gaps that contribute to heat loss, it’s important to start out by filling them. You can use a setting compound to fill those gaps. Try and avoid using the regular drywall compound because it tends to shrink too much so it will never cover the wide gaps. Furthermore, the regular compound will take too long to dry out.

Setting compounds are designed for wider gaps because not only do they cover the entire area without shrinking but also harden very fast. Setting compounds are usually sold in sacks in powder form; all you have to do is mix them with water. Make sure you apply the compound fast before it hardens. Check how much time is required for the setting compound to work. This usually depends on the type you buy.

Fill In The Drywall Edges

The next important step is to ensure that all the edges of the drywall joints are properly filled. To completely fill the joint, use your setting compound and tape. Taping with a setting compound helps to minimize shrinking and also works effectively because it hardens quite quickly. It will make your work easier because there’s no need to smoothen the surface trying to make them look even with a knife. Once you apply the first coat of setting compound to fill the joints, lay the paper tape and smoothen it. You can apply a small coat of mud on top of the tape using a knife while making very gentle strokes.

Create Smooth Inside Corners

This can be a very simple process to carry out. When holding the knife, make sure one end of the knife blade rests on the wall and the other on the tape. This will help to come up with an even taper on those corners. You can later use creased tape to keep the corner looking straight and neat. Remember to use very gentle strokes on both sides. Pressing too hard can make so much mud to squeeze out and leave the place looking irregular.

Use Setting Compound To Fill Outside Corners

Again setting compound will come in very handy when you want to fill any place like an outside corner where you are going to use plastic or metal edge beads. You can lay a good portion of mud to completely fill the area. Do it gently so that you don’t press out the mud and leave a hollow that will require additional filling later. Try and avoid misalignments on the corner bead. When the corner bead is not straightened properly the mud pockets become very thin. You can always check and re-adjust the corner bead if you notice it’s either too thick or too thin.

Apply Compound Between Two Non-Tapered Edges

One problem you will notice is that there may appear large bumps on the wall because of the butt joints which is the point where the non-tapered edges meet. One way you can avoid having too many butt joints is by using long pieces of drywall. But sometimes butt joints are unavoidable because you’ll always end up with a few even after using the longer pieces. To try and make this area invisible apply a thin tape coat. When applying a layer of mud on the tape, make sure it’s also a very thin coat. You can stroke down each side of the tape to get rid of the mud especially at the center.

Don’t make the mistake of squeezing out the mud under the tape too hard. You’ll end up making the area look bubbled after it dries. If you notice bubbles in that area, you can use a knife to remove the bubbles and apply a fresh coat of mud. However, if the area becomes very loose you’ll have to remove the tape and start a fresh. The end product with be perfectly smooth with a good finish.