Create a seamless corner by end up your drywall with corner beads . Here are two easy techniques to get you started .

Installed on the outside corners where two pieces of dry wall meet , corner beads make a smooth , even wrinkle and an attractive finish . Luckily for householder , installing and mudding wallboard corner beads is one of the easier role of thedrywall process . When installing corner beads , apply light insistency on the beadwork toward the box . This check that the landing strip registers evenly along both walls and runs in a uncoiled line . Misalignment can make the bead twist up the recess , and your only remedy is to pull it off and assay again .

To report for fault , always buy spare dry wall corner bead . That will give you some backup textile if a strip gets bent or a miter is miscut . Mudding beads is also relatively easy because you have the quoin to guide one sharpness of your knife as you spread the compound . invalidate extravagant pressure because that will curve the blade of your knife , resulting in an underfilled concave corner .

Corner of room with colorful artwork on walls

Credit: Adam Albright

you could use two technique to create corner string of beads : a metal recess bead for crisp corners or a bullnose beading for rounded corner . Choose what works best for your place , and abide by our step below to pick up how to establish drywall corner beads on walls .

BHG / Julie Bang

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

Install Drywall at Corners

At an outside corner , lap one sheet of dry wall over the other andfasten it to the stud . Make certain the death of the lapped flat solid does n’t hold out past the face of the other wall . If it does , rasp off the excess material . You do n’t have to achieve a consummate conjunction because the niche bead establishes the ruined corner .

select a Corner Bead

It can be dodgy to choose the suitable material for your corner bead . To many traditionalists , vinyl radical is another discussion for credit card , which can be cheap and unannealed . But modern plastics applied science produces gamey - operation materials that justify circumstance . For example , an ill-treatment - resistant vinyl quoin bead might be the correct option for high - traffic box where wallop is inevitable .

infographic on how to install corner beads for smooth drywall edges

Credit:BHG / Julie Bang

If you ’ve ever dented alloy corner bead with a misplaced hammer reverse during construction , you know that replacement is the only virtual selection . Composite corner beads are also impact - resistant and have the added benefit of conforming to corner substantially more or less than 90 degrees . If it is n’t 90 degrees , a wallboard pro call it an " off slant . "

Nail Corner Bead

Cut the quoin bead to length with tin snips , keeping its bottom end about ½ inch off the base . ( Baseboard moldingwill conceal any crack at that remnant . ) thinly iron out on the corner of the drop , squaring the leg of the strip against the walls . labour a few nail through the holes in the metal strip to establish its position , then sail through through it for a more secure hold . Do n’t twist or exhort the bead too tightly as you set up it . Space the nails about8 in apartalong each leg ; check they ’re seated firm .

Using a Corner Bead Clincher

A drywall nook bead determining factor facilitate you squarely position the metal strip and then apace tighten it . Each time you hit the clinching tool , it cuts prongs of metal and forces them into the drywall . For added security , drive three nails through each leg of the corner bead to launch a mechanical connectedness with the framing .

secured lapped drywall sheet at corner of wall

Apply Compound

Use a 6 - in drywall knife to hold thefirst coat of compoundto the corner . The steel of the tongue glides along the raised bead and the bulwark , laying the mud into the valley between these two high point . Do n’t attempt to build too much heaviness with this first coat , or you ’ll adventure cracking . Filling the tapered crinkle first give the tongue a uninterrupted bearing aerofoil across the juncture .

Smooth Compound

For the second coat , choose a 10 - in knife and , again , bridge between the metal corner and the paries ’s control surface . feathering the compound along the wall to create a smooth conversion . Use a 12 - in knife for the third coat to feather the chemical compound even further onto the wall .

Line Up Drywall Corners

With bullnose bead , you might require to set up the dry wall sheets to terminate wealthy with the corner of the frame . This placement is sometimes necessary to make headway for the inside radius of the airstrip . Purchase bullnose astragal cartoon strip before you hang the drywall to make up one’s mind the proper corner treatment .

Attach Bullnose Corner Bead

Nail the metallic element or vinyl bullnose drop into position , spacing the fasteners about8 column inch apartalong each branch . If your outside nook is significantly declamatory or small than 90 degrees , ask a wallboard provider about the handiness of off - angle bullnose bead . ensure the materials you ’ll need to execute your aim are available before you begin work . Composite materials can adapt to square or off - angle applications .

Using Bullnose Corners

Bullnose corners impart stylus and interest to your installing but can also produce problems when installing millwork . For example , turn an extraneous quoin with baseboards orcrown moldingscould require fancy carpentry skills and tiresome fabrication . Fortunately , there ’s a solution that you could simply nail in place when you ’re establish the bullnose bead .

various vinyl and composite corner bead products

The vinyl chapiter shown work with metal and vinyl beads with a ¾-inch r and enables you to install molding up to 4½ column inch broad . plainly nail the blocks where you need them , and turn out the strip of bullnose bead to fit . Get the bullnose bead and transition cap from a unmarried manufacturer for a perfect size of it match .

securing corner bead metal strip to wall corner

rubber mallet and corner bead clincher

drywall knife applying compound to corner drywall

Credit: Tim Abramowitz

applying compound to corner with drywall knife

Credit: Tim Abramowitz

drywall sheets on corner with terminated ends

bullnose bead secured to drywall corner

bullnose vinyl cap secured to pony wall drywall corner