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Grown-ups Can Play with Mud Too: Three Basics to Know when Mudding Drywall

After installing and fastening your drywall, you need to move on to the taping and compound stage. This is an important stage because the final look of your walls will really be determined by how well you apply the mud or compound to your drywall.
Here are three of the most basic things you need to know about mudding drywall.
1. Know Your Compounds and Your Tools
Preparation is the key in anything, particularly in home improvement projects. Take the time to familiarize yourself with products and techniques before you begin a project will save time down the road and will also result in a better-finished project.
Jointing compound comes in both a powder and pre-mixed form. There are also different textures. Taping compound is coarse and should be used for the initial taping layer. Topping compound is much thinner and smoother than taping compound and should be used for finishing the surface. There is also all-purpose joint compound on the market, which is halfway between taping and topping compound in terms of both texture and thickness.
To apply the mud, you should be using taping knives. These tools come in different lengths and you should use one that is slightly longer than the previous one for each new layer.
At this stage, you also want to make sure that all of your nails and screws are properly sunk in and that none of them are sticking out. You check this by running a taping knife along the edges and seams. If you feel or hear anything against the metal, then you need to go back and sink the nail or screw further into the drywall.
2. Follow the Proper Steps
Mudding drywall is a four-step, four-day process. You need to make sure that you allow at least twenty-four hours of drying time between each application of compound.
You start with a taping layer. At this stage, you apply compound and then insert paper-jointing tape into the joins and then smooth with more compound. You also need to cover up all of the nail and screws with compound (ensuring first, of course, that they are properly sunk in). After completing the taping layer, your surfaces should be all filled and everything should be leveled.
The next step is to apply two layers of compound that will smooth out your surfaces. With each application youll want to use a taping knife that is one or two inches longer than the previous one. For the second and third coat, youll want to use a taping knife that is anywhere from seven inches to a foot long.
You want to try and apply the compound on the joint and then smooth it by stroking each side and then one last stroke right down the middle.
It can be tricky to apply this compound. Youll need to apply the mud in different thicknesses and with different pressure in different spots. When doing the side strokes, you want to apply more pressure to the outside of the knife, whereas when you do the center stroke, youll want to keep the pressure evenly distributed. This will take a bit of practice and a lot of patience.
The final coat is a finishing coat. This is where you will have to be most fussy to ensure a smooth finished product. Start by scraping a wide taping knife over the joints to ensure that all ridges and bumps are removed.
You can thin out the compound for this last stage. Some people do and some people dont it is just a matter of personal preference.
3. Have a Little Patience
When mudding drywall, the key is patience and consistency. Though you may be eager to get through this stage and on to the priming and painting, this stage is crucial and will make all the difference in terms of the appearance of your finished walls. You need to make sure that you leave the proper amount of drying time between coats. You also want to take the time to check for bumps and ridges between coats and then sand the room after your final coat. This sanding will smooth out any remaining little ridges. This can be a messy process so make sure you lay down plastic to seal off the room and also wear protective gear to eliminate the threat of eye and respiratory irritation.

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Furnace Fall out Three Things to Check before Calling an Expert


Before you start losing it and screaming at your furnace in the dead cold or the heat of the summer time, stop and take a deep breath. Your furnace might not be working because of a few simple issues that can be fixed quickly. Sometimes the simplest thing is right before your eyes, and when youre agitated you can miss them. Take a few moments and read about 3 common things that can go wrong, and more importantly what you can do to keep your furnace working.

Here are 3 tips to use before you call your service repairman.

1. Check your Setting. People have actually called a service technician and theyve found out that the only problem was that their temperature setting on their thermostat control was not turned to the proper setting for heating or cooling their home. Thats not only embarrassing, but a very expensive call for something so simple. Be sure and check.
2. Check Breakers and Service Switch. If your service switch isnt on, or any of the other switches arent on, the furnace wont run. The service switch is located near or on the furnace. Look at the main breaker box in your house too. If its been tripped it wont come on either. Sometimes all thats need is to replace the service switch if its gone bad.
3. Outside Disconnect Switch. Go outside and look around the unit. Youll find a switch that you can flip to turn the outside fan on. Again check your main breaker box inside the house to see if that control has been changed to the off position. Replace outside service switch if needed, as a service technician can easily replace it.

If all of these things are in working order then itll be time to call your local service company for a complete inspection of your furnace unit. Dont attempt to try to diagnose any serious issues. Not only could you hurt yourself or others, you could void the warranty on your furnace. Youll be completely responsible for the cost at that point. Be wise and call.

Before a major problem develops there are ways to lengthen the life of your furnace.

Filters. Regularly change your filters on your furnace. Its recommended by professional HVAC heating, venting and air conditioning service technicians to change them on monthly bases. If youre furnace type can be fitted for a washable filter, then youll save some money by using them. You can save some money too by buying your standard filters in bulk. Most hardware supply stores or home improvement stores will either have them in stock as bulk, or they can special order them for you too. When thinking about changing your filters dont forget to include any time that there is a high volume of foot traffic. Holidays and times when doors will be fanned open such as in the summer time, might require you change the filter more. Pet dander will cause more clog for your furnace too.
Vacuum and Wipe Down. Another way to lengthen the life of your furnace is to clean it. Grab a shop vacuum thats works well and clean the furnace. Make sure you vacuum is in good working order, the last thing youll need is it to be leaking more debris back into the furnace.
Replace Insulation. If your furnace has insulation around or inside the door be sure to examine it for brittleness or huge pieces of it missing. It can further clog up your furnace by being pulled into it when the fan kicks on. It wont take long for it to burn up a motor.
Inspect Wiring. Go outside and look at the wiring that connects your outside cooling and heating fan to see if there are frayed wires or loosening wires from it to the house. Clean away debris from around the fan and if possible wash off the unit with a mild detergent. Pull out any leaves or garbage out of the grill of the fan, so it can run with maximum efficiency.
Clean Vents Inside and Out. Go and take the time to clean out your floor vents. Also look outside and check your duct work to make sure that it hasnt fallen or become tangled. Naturally you run the unit harder because youre not staying cool or warm in the winter, if there is anything clogging or obstructing the air flow. This will shorten the life of your furnace.
Furnace Inspection. Make sure to schedule a yearly inspection on your furnace.