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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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Rub a Dub Tub Five Main Things to Know before Buying New Tub


Some people will walk into a home improvement store expecting to walk out with a new bathtub. However, they did not think of all that entails which deciding to purchase and install a new tub. On the other hand, there are people like you who are reading articles like this. That is a very good thing. You are one of the persons who will be able to make an educated decision about buying a bathtub.

Five things should come to mind when choosing a bathtub. Those five things are listed and described as follows:
1. Know the dimensions of your bathroom
In order to make an educated decision in purchasing a bathtub, you should the length and width measurements of your bathroom. You should also know how high the ceiling is from the ground. Also you should multiply the length of the bathroom by the width of it, to give you the total square feet. This will help you determine approximately what size your tub should come in. Also, it will determine how high from the ground it will be raised.
2. Know the dimensions of where your bathtub will go
Once you have measured the total square feet of your bathroom. You should decide how much space you want your tub to use. Some people d not mind if the bath tub takes up most of the space in the bathroom. Yet others will be concerned about it. It is up to you how large your bathtub should be. Just remember you are the one who has to live with the end result. Along with that, you have to remember how useful your house would be to your guests. Likewise, you must thing of the overall value of your home. If you plan on selling it, it is wise to have a large enough tub to relax it, yet small enough that the bathroom is still comfortable to use.
3. Know which materials bathtubs are made of, and choose
The most common materials that bathtubs are made of are porcelain, marble, stone, concrete and plastic. You should decide which is better for you. Porcelain is more durable than plastic. However, plastic is less expensive. This is especially true if you want to install a whirlpool bath tub. It would cost less than marble.

Also, plastic when scratched is hardly noticeable. ON the contrary, when porcelain is scratched, it leaves a gray film. The reason for this is because the surface of porcelain is actually a top coating which makes the porcelain tub look shinier.

Marble, stone, and concrete tubs are very elegant looking, but can cost a lot. Also, they are best suited for outside whirlpool bath tubs, rather than inside ones.

4. Have a color in mind After you have chosen the size and material for your bathtub, you should choose a color. Most people choose white, but bathtubs have also been manufactured in a variety of colors. Some colored bathtubs include, ivory, lime green, lavender, and pale yellow. You can shop online and browse your favorite stores. This will give you an idea of what colors are out there. Along with this, you should already have planned a color scheme for your bathroom. Knowing what color scheme your bathroom is will add less frustration later. For example, a person could impulsively a lavender bathtub, then later decided to paint the bathroom lime green. If this happens, then that person will have to return the bathtub, and may find that the color they really wanted is not in stock. To avoid this frustration, you should plan ahead. Remember, pick the color scheme for your bathroom, and plan it according to the color bathtub you want.
5. Compare prices Once you have picked a color for your bathroom and bathtub, it is time to shop. If you dont mind spontaneously walking into a store not knowing what is there, you can leave without calling. However, if you are like most people, and do not have a lot of time on your hands. You would be better off calling first. You can find out which stores have what you need, in the size you need it. Also, if you want to find a bathtub without having to pick up the phone, you can search the internet at some of your favorite stores. This will help save a lot of time, and is less tired than having to travel to the store. Once you know what you want, you can either have it shipped to you, or you can pick it up. For a purchase such as a bathtub, it is beneficial to choose a merchant as close to your region as possible. This would be in case you find a defect in your bathtub and you have to return it.

Now you know five things that most people do not know about purchasing a bathtub. However, you should still keep this article handy. You can use the same above before purchasing your toilet and sink. Pretty soon, you will have the best looking bathroom on your block.