Dry lining – Mixing up
Our Exeter based decorators say to always use clean water and clean tools. Suggested ratio mix for Joint Filler is 1 part water to 1.75 parts powder. Stir continuously until free from lumps. Allow to soak for 10 minutes. Mix filler again prior to use. Do not use below 30C.
In the corners you need to use corner tape, both the internal corners and the external corners will need to be taped, if your boarding is very good and the angles of your corners are already well defined you can use paper tape. However if your boarding is short of perfect it may pay to use a metal angle tape, which you will need tin snips to cut.
When applying the tapes, our Exeter based decorators say to read the manufacturers’ instructions, the paper tapes normally have to be applied to the corners damp, and most tapes need “bedding in” by running some filler up and down the length of the corner, and them applying the tape with your fingers and using your filler knife to expel air from behind the tape and leave flat in the corner.
The basic premise of dry lining is using the joint filler to “lose” the tapes, screw holes and any ridges created by the slight uneven alignment of plasterboards. If you have followed the above sections you should at this point have your boards and corners all taped and your filler mixed up for “flushing out” the joints.
Using your filling tools (Our Exeter based decorators recommend a 5″ dry liners filling knife, and 300mm caulking blade) use your filling knife to load some filler (start of sparingly until your confidence builds) onto the centre of your caulking blade and using your caulking blade, fill/ “flush out” the channels on both the joints and the corners, both internal, and external. Use your filling knife to keep taking the filler off the caulking board and putting it back in the centre of the caulking board with just the right amount of filler for your next “chase”. On the joints you are trying to bring out the tapered edges of your plasterboards almost “flush” with the surface of the main face of the plasterboards, and in the corners you are trying really just to “lose” the tape. Also you need to fill any screw holes, as these are small we recommend using your filling knife and using your caulking board to wipe the excess filler onto.
For more information about other decorating services that we offer across Exeter and the surrounding areas, get in touch with a reliable decorator such as ourselves today.