How to do Butt Joints

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THE DRYWALL DOCTOR P.O. Box 1559 122 N Wheaton Ave. Wheaton IL. 60187
What are butt joints and How do I finish a butt joint?
how do i mud a butt joint? an easy way to do but joints.
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Leave a comment below or email us at [e-mail] THE DRYWALL DOCTOR™

[@andrewcarr2431]

Best advice from the "Drywall Doctor" is "walk away, let it dry...."

[@staceyrunions3174]

Drywall Doctor you the man and no arrogance. Keep teaching us weekend warriors. I got new tools and some scrap boards to practice on. Will let you know how it goes.

[@suzanneschristie]

I fired 2 "Professionals" and did the work myself (first time ever working with drywall), exactly the way you showed how to do this work correctly. My work was fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@shirleyorsak5656]

Probably professional bsers

[@str8marine82]

This video is so inspirational. I knew it could be done like this but you confirmed it. This info is worth more than KZbin likes. Thank you my dude!

[@kristopherhasenbuhler5393]

As a contractor I have to say that he is really good. I know an old man who used a concrete trowel and he goes back and makes the half dry mud wet! And skim coats it flat. I still took sand paper across it lightly to bother him but it disnt need sanded at all. I even checked it with an angled flashlight

[@dylandogfirebird1]

Back when construction workers were respected professionals.

[@borys444]

That was back in the 60’s.,.

[@ryanmccue8180]

Don't worry guys budding professional here there's plenty of us that still care about our customer and the Lord Jesus

[@kevinbaxter1571]

as nobody wants to work or learn its coming around again!

[@ryeweskey]

I've only been doing this for 8 years or so, I enjoy watching people with greater experience do their thing, maybe there's something there that I can reflect on or learn from, 100 percent agree that there's not much I can't coat out with a 10" knife. Never been a fan of a 12" unless I am just pulling mud off the wall for a skim. It might just be me but I've never had much luck with taping a joint and immediately coating again right after, hot mud to tape and taping for first seems to work alright but I still let the tape dry prior to recoating, 2nd/3rd I let it dry enough that I can Scrape the ridges and coat again. I only sand after my finish coat which, like you, I pull tight, try to keep it clean just to minimize sanding. Nice Video, thanks.

[@nathanielreyes2234]

Try anything with an 8 im on fire

[@wayneroadarmel235]

did my whole house with regular green lid usg brand heavy mud 30 years ago, no cracks 30 years later

[@john633]

The best way to cover butt cracks is to pull your pants up...

[@yessicadavis8854]

john633 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

[@jeromegarcia5396]

Unless you a chick with a whale tail, my God work stops and every dude is 10 yrs old again...lol

[@stargateproductions]

Hey doc, here in eastern Canada we use 12-14 inch curved trowels to finish our seams, it's cool seeing how others use different methods!

[@kenkozma9894]

stargateproductions Groovey Man, Far out!

[@Jonathonmaclean]

I'm from Nova Scotia myself ! I cover my tape with a 10" Knife then double with a 14" bow trowel. Then I'll skim with my 12" flat trowel depending on what's needed !

[@EhurtAfy]

I am a younger handyman who does daily drywall repairs. I do not even own a 12-inch knife if that says anything about the utility of it. Also, good work here!

[@stickhillfarm]

Old polish guy from NJ taught me this way, durabond 90, easy sand 90, joint compound, mud tight, mud tight, touch up with light sand. He did everything with a hawk, 6" knife, and 10" trowel, he never liked the big knives

[@David-kh9nd]

I tape the same way,in NYwe do not use durabond with sheetrock,just compound and plaster (when- needed) Some times I mix some plaster In my compound for gabs and if I want to start doing my skim caoting the same day or when I some joints need a little extra care .and i want to start doing my finish coating on that day.I never use plaster when I put the paper on, always straight compound only. I have been hand taping for 25 years. I wished I would have had the bazooka and the other tools tools you use . They are really great tools . Even thoughI have done many houses about (4-5 rooms), by myself at a fast but efficient speed. I can usually do the paper coating in about a day.or sometimes it may take 2 days. But with the tools you use , it would have a better and more efficient way. Also putting less stress on my wrists and knees going up & down scaffolds and ladders. With the tools you have been using.for the last 40 years. If would have know you 25 years ago. I would have differently ask you to show me have to use these tools, I am always willing to learn how to do things more efficiently .You can always show an old dog more efficient tricks,, if they are willing to learn. them. That's what's wrong with some young adults today, they are not willing to learn different ways of doing things to be better at there professions. I do not mean yourself.

[@Giove83]

What I love about this video he feat straight to it. No nonsense Justin what I like

[@mickblock]

As a novice I'm jealous how you make those nice even swipes when applying mud. Although I am comforted to see your hands are also covered in mud.

[@jeromegarcia5396]

Mud while find you, and get on you like any crazy chic she will lay her mark on you... lol

[@mookeythepimpthompson6031]

Michael Block dirty hands, good clean money.

[@propaintdrywall7177]

I almost always prefill w/plus 3 -- straight out of the box. Never have cracks, lol... Love the Doc though, always good to get a new perspective. You do however want the prefil to dry b4taping. So if ur in a cold/damp basement or garage...yeah i can see durabond there for sure, so you don't have problems

[@VladikMagicChannel]

Great, easy to understand video! Thanks a lot for advices!!!!

[@geodude6244]

You need a 1 inch a 2 inch a 6 inch a 10 inch and a 12 inch. I occasionally us a 16 inch. Each knife serves its purpose. Nice to have a knife for scooping too.

[@malcolmbeaton5933]

This is irrelevant to this video but I have a client who requested that I mud over the joints on vinyl coated gypsum board in a mobile home. Do you recommend oil base primer and then just treat as a regular butt joint or will the way the walls move just cause the joints to crack?

[@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1]

You are absolutely right use a vinyl strip over the seams that's all you can do mud will never hold up. If it's dirty just prime and paint

[@andrewmcgeorge7820]

House is moved into every tape lifted. Good explanation of why it happened. Annoying having to replace every tape. The house is about 40 years old in the UK I just thought it was cowboys. Means something different here my friend

[@shonuff6221]

I'm a mechanic but still saw the whole video

[@Dentropolis]

Nice work. As a novice I have a 12 or 14 inch bowed trowel. By bowed I mean it is not flat but has a slight arch to it. This allows me to spread the durabond out an leave a slight thickness over the joint and the tape which tapers to 0 on each side. I always thought that tape had to be wet with a slurry of durabond. I see that this is not done here so this pro does it this way. In any case I use fibreglass tape because it saves me time from putting on wet paper tape. The only drawback that I can see is the fibreglass is a bit thicker which can be problematic. Also it is more expensive. As an amateur without the high level of skill of this gentleman, fibreglass tape and bowed trowel is what I use for joints.

[@jerseyjim9092]

But wouldn't that give you a rounded area over the joint rather than flat. I only use a curved trowel over bevel joints.

[@donireland2640]

Man after my own heart. I'm retired now but I've been doing double 10 and double 12 on butt joints for 30 years. You young guys, pay attention.

[@Matt-gk4jy]

I just started doing drywall this past year. I usually double 12 twice after I tape. You're telling me I can use a 10 first? Thank the lord I can set down the giant 12 for at least one coat lol.

[@Mikesmith-ip1yh]

Thought he was just running his mouth til I saw him run the knives . Nice work

[@nickcornell9128]

So wait you can pre fill, tape, 8 inch coat, 10 inch coat all right there? Or do you let each coat dry but you were showing for demonstration purposes?

[@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1]

You can tape and coat it but it has to set up before you can put a second coat on or a third

[@life_score]

Why are drywall guys so… hyper all the time?

[@mikebrennanborntherelovedt1852]

Wow looking good nice to some one who knows what they are doing

[@thomasglashaw8131]

you should get some 12 footers no butt joints lol good job you should be a teacher best part you said walkaway let it dry a lot of people play with it till all of the mud is gone from wiping it to much. been in the drywall 42 years lol.

[@MattyWill1]

Awesome video !!

[@cw5657]

you can watch other videos then watch the Drywall Doctor do it right. I'm on a small renovation now and we are NOT doing it the right way and it's been tough.

[@lashawndapritchett1358]

Hello how can I smooth my painted Spanish textured wall? New home owner. I want smooth finish so I can paint over it. Thanks

[@G3AUXduckY0URS3LF]

KZbin is watching me through my phone. I am doing this exact thing while listening to KZbin. Why would this be a suggested clip to watch? I haven’t searched anything about dry walling. Big Brother is watching.

[@chrisj197438]

Ryan Morrow No doubt because KZbin is owned by google now

[@tednugent8501]

Make no mistake. Our phones are listening to us.

[@anthonyray02vargas]

Can you show us a video on how you do your drywall? Drywall doctor?

[@stevenminnerly5336]

Butt board ( a variation of backer board construction ) is kinda lookin like it might make butt joints obsolete. The drywall community might have a hard time accepting that reality , however.

[@javiersaavedra41]

Thanks mister doctor?👍👏🏽

[@user-by6yc8yl7v]

Glad to finally see someone using sheetrock/durabond for the first coat. Premix mud has NO place in any first coat. Less is more if you're new. Always pull your work tight. Hardest part of taping for newbies is to know when to stop touching it and leave it alone/allow to dry.

[@Affordablebath_remodel]

harder to find now

[@alexis3930]

This is pretty hard man I don’t get it after applying the tape

[@ryanmccue8180]

You just practice and you're probably pressing to hard the whole trick involves the angle of your knife and the pressure you apply play with those variables you'll be fine

[@fc872e1]

This man is truly a professional. Amazing. Deepest respect and thanks

[@yhhjm]

nice, i stopped using the 12 also lol dam near use a 10 for everything besides troweling and boxing bead that is,... again some really good pointers

[@o.ggonzalez3470]

Good thanks again doctor.

[@rexsheeley]

Excellent

[@JosephCouncilYusuf]

I still don't know how a butt joint look they just showing me how fast and skillful they are damn

[@hammersaw3135]

I always get scratches in my durabond unless I soup it way up, it seems to take a bit more water to get the clumps out than any other mud. Hardest one to use lol need a machine to sand it if you don't get it right.

[@7outdoors4lifethebuckhunte80]

Thank you so much amazing videos I just learning how to do this type of job in my house 🏡

[@pureblood324]

Why dont u use easy sand. Just curious

[@shawnbauer7889]

hello. I hope you see this and reply, I would really appreciate it. when you wipe down the middle the last time will it be flat even if your knife isn't? is your knife flat? ive notice it doesn't take long and the 10 inch knife becomes convex or concave depending on which way you hold it. advice on how to deal with this please? I never learnt hawk and trowel and don't want to start now but trowel stays straight.

[@mattjames958]

You never for any reason run center of butts first. Always split with 10 or 12

[@standicarlo8334]

And I was going to cover my joints with molding. Nice Job!

[@Stevesbe]

Say no to crack

[@kidjetrecon7153]

I’m not sure about telling a novice about dura bond 😂first time I don’t agree with you Ray , I can actually see someone leaving it way to high edges that can’t be sanded. I’m wondering how many people have dura bond nightmares. I actually had a couple who thought they would do a job in dura bond, 64 sheet of 🤬🤯

[@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1]

Ouch

[@miguelcruz566]

Hey doc, I noticed you pulled out an offset 12 inch, do you use for anything other than bead?

[@doitnow3291]

Try and get a taper to use durabond 90 first coat...

[@abelpedraza299]

I do it on jobs that they want to he done asap first coat second coat it takes some skill to leave it smooth

[@miguelcruz566]

@@abelpedraza299 I think he meant tapers who do piece work, wasting time cleaning your bucket every time you have to mix more is basically losing money

[@raychong6994]

But there’s no glue it dura bond.

[@chavens5438]

Thanks for debunking the soap in mud myth.

[@stevezartman7238]

I am going to need to do this in a bathroom. So can you just use Durabond for the whole job or do I just use this for the initial taping and then use another type for finishing? Can durband be used to cover the screws as well?

[@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1]

I would use it for the initial taping sorry it took me so long I just saw this comment and yes you can fill in screws just make sure they're dented in cuz it's hard to scrape

[@wetsaw7869]

This was you at your finest instruction.

[@rhdtv2002]

4:10 is where the secret is..its always my mistake..

[@Jester62D]

How do you do a butt joint on steel rounded corners ? I have a 26 ft. run for a half wall, aka. garden view basement. Thx.

[@McGener]

I can’t tape in corners with durabond in my part of the world, tape hardens up and splits over time, houses are all 100 plus years old, twenty percent of the homes I work on are plaster and latte walls, I’m constantly trying to tie old crooked plastered walls into new gyprock 2 feet around the bottom, it’s been a wild three years here lol

[@AnthonyDibiaseIdeas]

Great instruction. Thank you.

[@khoanguyen-iq6dh]

As you said do as the manufactor direction, I see that you nailed only a few nails on the green boards, especial the backerboard in the bathtub area nails space like 12" too ......

[@michaeldevine1068]

I never put paper on with bond! It doesn’t shrink in enough and will bulge out and make a hard jump to float!

[@christophe3281]

In the middle of this at my place right now and have all but lost patience with it. Gunna call someone else to deal with that

[@fernandomonje5665]

Finally someone who knows they job

[@kenkozma9894]

It depends on how bad the butt joint is.

[@terrydickson6581]

Hes doin all the fill in one step cause durabond gets hard as concrete and doesent crack then all you have is your finish coat.instead of multiple coats of mud and chancing it cracking use this instead its old news for me just on deep fill joints cause if you for some reask build it up to high you will be tearing the rock you dont sand durarock

[@geoffgeoff143]

Does my butt joint look big in this?

[@BobsHomeServicesLLC]

Hey Doc, ever mud a tapered edge to a butt edge? What do you recommend when a remediation company cuts 2' of drywall from the basement floor up the wall. I have about 223' of drywall that needs to be replaced and I want to save on waste by cutting the drywall in 1/2 long ways and using both top and bottom pieces.

[@ryeweskey]

If the company already boarded and put the factory up to the buttjoint, just prefill the factory so you are left with a flat surface. I.e. buttjoint. Once dry it's easy to tape again.

[@ByHulk1]

Drywall doctor, I would like to tell you, thanks for your help on the butt joint video. everything you say helped me do a better flat joint. Thank you sir.

[@Abcd-hr9ot]

Wouldent u use a 12 if you were floating over a complete wall or ceiling?

[@jorgec2019]

As a professional you should use stainless steel knives they don't rust and keep them clean.

[@johnhitchcock5404]

Lol. We call it dirty blonde

[@javiervazquez2999]

My way of doing butts works at is best less sanding

[@TheMrFinneth]

What are your thoughts on prefilling an area that is already settled? Doing a basement in a 10 year old house. Do I need to prefill each crack like this or just the larger holes?

[@TheMrFinneth]

Good point, thanks

[@mike03108]

Doctor- how can primer NOT penetrate the mud / tape and not lock it in? You say it could pop the tape- how's is that even possible?

[@brickbuildingmachine5606]

mike ray look at any house that a bad finisher has done you will see it's possible

[@jstorres486]

Do u prefill every joint with 90 or just cause it’s in the bathroom

[@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1]

Everything everywhere

[@jstorres486]

@@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1 thank u.. love ur videos please keep them coming! Have a blessed night!

[@michaelraduazzo6146]

Just had a guy install sheetrock, tape and paint. Now I can see the seams between the sheetrock, I think these are called settlement cracks. Been killing myself trying to fix them. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[@ryeweskey]

Make a video and post it to youtube, show us what's happening and you'll likely get a lot of answers

[@charlescho]

Man, you’re good. But why is your mud yellow? I’m new to your channel so you probably addressed it before, but I don’t know. Is it so it picks up better on video?

[@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1]

Tinted+3 have been using it for years

[@ChristopherGarcia-no6uk]

Hey drywall doctor it's a pleasure to see your videos I love all of them... Mister Ray ,I have been doing what you do, and I have been doing it for years except I don't use Dura Bond because they don't sell Dura Bond here in the Rio Grande Valley Texas... At least I haven't been able to find it by I use easy sand USG brand to pre-fill before I tape but for a different reason ,because when you pre-fill you stop blisters, from happening in the tape when you have large gaps.... It's an extra step other type of floaters in my area don't do. But I have always done.... now will USG still recognize my method as good if I use easy sand 90 instead of durabond 90 to do a pre-fill?

[@ChristopherGarcia-no6uk]

Thank you it's just that here and they're Lower Rio Grande Valley they just slap the houses together I'm a damaged drywall repair specialist and what I do is I correct the mistakes all these guys are leaving behind.... Thank you for your channel I learned a lot of stuff from you....... You can find my videos in (DDR Express) DDR stands for damaged drywall repair.. my company has its own channel...

[@robinmead5826]

Excellent advice. A 10 inch mud knife is easier to wield.

[@peterryan7827]

I would like to ask as someone with general building knowledge in the uk. this is what you call drywall, we use plasterboard here mostly and it is skimmed all over and finish flat with a plasterer trowel, and then painted or wallpapered, whichever the client requires. So does this mean that the plastering trade over there is just not required, because you do as a finish just skimming the joints etc,

[@peterryan7827]

@@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1 Many thanks for your very swift reply cheers mate. have a very nice day, great video and very informative.

[@34789199]

Can you sand-it to be flat Or is it better to have it flat with compound?

[@marcosmunoz1663]

Thanks

[@lukeskywalker6079]

DUDE THEY DONT KNOW WHAT WIPE IT TIGHT MEANS

[@patriotrep2093]

Luke Skywalker yah I don’t

[@benjaminaristotleboes3157]

INDEED

[@victoreous626]

It's a "BUTT" . . . . . Wipe it tight or you will have too much mud where you don't want it.....

[@jonathanwise4252]

Durabond just doesn't shrink as much

[@corporateworldwokeslave3589]

I agree , theres nothing in drywall finishing i cant do with a 6 a 10 and a pan period .

[@smurf8490]

Awesome video. Can you do one on installing expansion joints with a laser or level? Thanks

[@wangbungal]

Damn this guy is amazing, i dont know how he hides thats tape while its wet hehe i tried to do that and keeps exposing the tape heheh

[@JayZoop]

A little scrambled in thought. Steps are not clear. Didn’t mention drying times in between coats.

[@ryeweskey]

I too got my dick stuck in the toaster, his Instructions were not clear

[@ericsmith3765]

you're missing some screws in the board...

[@kickinrocks6055]

My butt joint is big and round. Is this correct?

[@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1]

No keep it flat 🤣😂

[@kickinrocks6055]

@@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1 ok. Ill back off the hops.

[@floridagliderpilot7525]

bread and butter

[@javiermezquital7185]

Very good videos I learn a lot.thank you!

[@Cabron-gt2xp]

Gotta say it this old man knows how it has to be done so everything looks good when painted

[@loan6489]

Merci 🎉

[@jasonhoover6320]

I have a question doc please help I can I get a perfect cut with the bazooka in the upper angles. My tap keeps pulling so I have to go back an cut lil peace to fix the problem. Its it my mud consisted to running or not to running

[@MrNorthstar50]

I have hung thousands of rolls of tape with a bazooka and what you have to do is make it a little long as you go to move away from the corner with practice you'll get where you'll make them the right length. It also helps as soon as you leave the corner press really hard on the crease wheel.

[@jasonhoover6320]

Thank u I jus figure that out the last couple jobs but now I know I'm doing it right

[@holywar911]

I’m having problems after doing a patch job Getting the texture to match the rest of the wall Another worse after painting you can see a patch job do you have a video for that

[@ryeweskey]

You're probably not sanding properly if your repairs are showing, the secret to hiding multiple repairs is to sand them off properly, take a hawk or half pan of finishing mud, load up the area or the wall and scrape it back off, skimming it will even the texture out on the entire wall, light sand and prime and the texture will be even again, I only do that on extremely poor walls, most patch work i do blends just fine with the majority of walls I repaint. Sanding it properly is key. So is knowing how to patch dings and holes... could be a lot of things, but if you still see your patches after repainting, you didn't blend the height out and or didn't sand enough. Maybe they were minor blemishes and instead of smacking them into the wall with the bottom of you taping knife you decide to try to flare out the height of the blemish/damage.. it's easier to dig into a wall and coat it back to flat then it is to try and blend a high spot.

[@ryeweskey]

Natural light/higher paint sheens will show everything. This could also be why your repairs are showing.

[@twoserve2449]

Terrible camera you are using man!

[@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1]

Yes it was it's not even compatabible with my computer now.

[@twoserve2449]

@@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1 Mad skills for sheetrock though!, I've learned some new good tricks/ways from you!, 👍

[@kirkdunn1379]

Hear you say the " real durabond" alot........what is fake durabond?

[@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1]

Light weight setting compound

[@chrisj197438]

THE DRYWALL DOCTOR First Aid The white bag crap that says easy sand. Anyone who has ever sanded it knows that’s false advertising 😂

[@chrisj197438]

Kirk Dunn The durabond 90 is a great product to prevent cracking. Just know that it dries very hard and it doesn’t sand very easily. Perfect for high moisture areas like bathrooms or hot tub rooms. Personally I have used it on several carports and breezeways and never had any issues.

[@michaeldeleon8509]

can you make a sample

[@johnh9507]

the guy at usg said to use mesh tape with durabond now i am really confused

[@THEDRYWALLDOCTOR1]

He is also not repairing the drywall is he?

[@jessewixson291]

Dont use mesh tape. Only to fill large gaps in corners where the installer messed up.

[@Purple_911]

you're so good at it! I suck!