Skip to main content

Finish Drywall (Mud, Texture, Paint) — Repair and Finish the Ceiling: Restore the Bathroom

Intermediate

Part of project

Ceiling Rain Shower Installation: A Comprehensive DIY Guide · Step 5 of 5

Helpful?

In this video

Finish the drywall patch for a seamless look. Apply fiberglass mesh tape over all the seams. Using a putty knife, apply a thin first coat of joint compound over the tape, filling the beveled gaps. Allow it to dry, then sand lightly. Apply a wider second coat, feathering the edges. Once dry, sand smooth. Finally, apply wall texture to match the surrounding wall and paint the entire area.

Goal: Finish the drywall patch

Used in this video

  • Putty knifeApplying joint compound.
  • Sanding spongeSanding the dried joint compound.
96.9K views2.1K1 hour
LRN2DIY

1.0M subscribers

View Channel

FAQs

What specialized tools and skills are essential for extending the water supply and installing the new plumbing lines for a ceiling shower?

You'll definitely need a copper pipe tubing cutter and a butane detail torch for soldering the new copper lines. Proficiency in soldering copper pipes is crucial for creating secure, leak-free connections, so practice on scrap pieces if you're new to it. An adjustable wrench is also vital for tightening fittings.

What critical safety precautions should I prioritize, especially when working with water and in the ceiling cavity?

Always turn off the main water supply to your house before starting any plumbing work to prevent flooding. When working in the ceiling, wear eye protection and a dust mask. If there's any electrical wiring near your work area, ensure power to those circuits is off as well to prevent electric shock.

Given the 'intermediate' difficulty, how much time should I realistically allocate for this project, and what are the main cost drivers?

Realistically, plan for at least 1-2 full days for the plumbing and installation, plus additional time for ceiling repair and finishing. The main cost drivers will be the new rain shower head itself, copper piping and fittings, and materials for drywall repair like the Prest-on Drywall Repair Kit and joint compound.

What are the most common plumbing mistakes DIYers make during this installation, and how can I ensure my connections are leak-free?

Common mistakes include improper soldering, not applying enough Teflon tape to threaded connections, or failing to properly secure pipes. To ensure leak-free connections, clean and flux all copper joints thoroughly before soldering, and apply Teflon tape clockwise to all threaded fittings. Always pressurize the new lines and inspect for leaks before closing up the ceiling.

Transcript
Hide

Alright, so we've got the second coating mud on the wall. We sanded the first coat and then went a little bit wider. And then put the second coat on. We'll wait for that to dry. I sand it and then put some texture on it and paint it. Alright, so we've got the patch completed here. You can kind of see it's all right here. And I got it textured so all I've got to do is paint it.

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.