How to Mud a Ceiling Joint

It is nearly impossible to create a perfect seam when installing drywall. This is where drywall mud helps. Drywall mud is available at your local builder's supply store and comes premixed in a bucket. Use the mud to cover the seam and blend it perfectly into the drywall to create a seamless look. Applying mud to ceiling joists is a little more difficult than walls because you're working overhead. However, the process is exactly the same.

Painter's tarp
Ladder
Drywall mud
Adhesive joint tape
Scissors
6-inch mudding knife
Mud tray
8-inch mudding knife
Sanding sponge
Face mask
Safety goggles

Instructions

- 1
  Lay a painter's tarp on the floor under the area you are mudding to protect the floor. Set up a small ladder. Mix the drywall mud according to the manufacturer's directions.
- 2
  Center a piece of adhesive drywall tape over the joint. Run the tape along the joint's entire length. Cut the tape with scissors when you reach the wall.
- 3
  Scoop drywall mud into a tray. Use a 6-inch mudding knife to spread a 6-inch-wide thin layer of mud over the ceiling joint. Hold the mudding knife at a 45-degree angle to achieve a smooth finish. Wait for this coat to dry.
- 4
  Apply a second coat of mud over the first layer in the same way you applied the first layer. Extend the edges of this layer 2 to 3 inches past the first layer's edges. Wait for this coat of drywall mud to dry.
- 5
  Use an 8-inch mudding knife to apply the third coat. Double the width of this coat to approximately 10 to 12 inches. Feather the top and bottom edges as smoothly as possible. Wait for this coat to dry.
- 6
  Sand the surface of the ceiling joint with a sanding sponge until it is smooth. Wear a face mask and protective eye wear when sanding. Concentrate most of the sanding on the edges so the mud is blended into the drywall's surface.

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