Should the Tape Show Through Drywall When I Paint?

Tape Application

• Proper tape application is essential to a smooth, finished drywall surface. Using drywall sheeting with indented edges allows for less sanding due to the tape and mud layers laying flat with the rest of the sheet. Apply a thin layer of mud onto the joint and press the tape onto the mud with a drywall knife. This squeezes out the excess mud from underneath the tape. Apply a series of thin mud layers on top of the tape with wide, drywall knives to blend in the tape reducing the chance of having a visible raised area.

Sanding

• Sand the entire area of the joint with a series of sandpaper raising the fineness with each sanding. Wipe off all dust in-between sanding sessions to view any areas where the tape is visibly higher than the sheeting. Reapply mud to areas where sanding will not smooth out the transition and sand the area again.

Primer

• A quality drywall construction primer will seal the drywall board and create a proper coating for the final paint coat. Applying one or two coats should create an even primer coat hiding the drywall finishing marks underneath. The primer is essential due the drywall board and mud having different colors and textures. Always apply coats to the entire drywall area as coats just to the taped area will create an uneven paint surface.

Painting

• Cover the entire primed surface with a quality interior paint by either rolling or spraying it. Most paints only require one coat to properly cover the surface, but two coats will provide a better color shade and wear better. Quality paints often have more pigments in them which will cover any color variations such as drywall tape lines. Use a multidirectional rolling pattern with paint rollers to ensure the paint gets into the wall surface properly.