Drywall finishing system

Abstract

A drywall finishing system for finishing 1) normal inside and outside corners of any angle, 2) stub wall or closet corners, 3) window wrap corners, and 4) L-metal for window sills and areas where drywall ends against some other surface like brick. The finishing system comprises a preformed trim piece comprising a semi-rigid member that is relatively thick in the center and tapers laterally to a thin edge. A layer of paper is bonded to the inside surface of the semi-rigid member for receiving joint compound to continuously bond the trim piece to the dry wall. A layer of finishing material is bonded to the exterior surface of the semi-rigid member. To install one of the pieces, it is selected from stock and cut to length. A flat coat of mud is applied to both sides of an exterior or interior angle, and the trim piece is placed over the mud and smoothed into place. Since it is preformed, the piece makes a straight line at the required angle. Once, the piece is in place, the edges are feathered once with a small amount of mud and a wide blade. At that point the corner is complete except for drying. It generally does not need to be sanded or touched up or at most, requires very little sanding or touching up. The finish material on the exterior surface can be directly textured or painted.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A corner trim piece for drywall comprising, 
 a preformed, elongated, semi-rigid member having two flanges, each said flange tapering in a lateral direction to a thin edge;    paper bonding means on an inner surface of said semi-rigid member for bonding said semi-rigid member to the drywall; and    paper finishing means on an outer surface of said semi-rigid member for receiving paint or texture, substantially the entire outer surface of said semi-rigid member being continuously bonded to said finishing means.    
     
     
         2 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , wherein said paper bonding means comprises a layer of fibrous material bonded to said semi-rigid member.  
     
     
         3 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , wherein said paper bonding means is joint tape paper bonded to said semi-rigid member.  
     
     
         4 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , wherein said paper finishing means extends laterally beyond the edges of said semi-rigid elongated member forming side tabs.  
     
     
         5 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , wherein said paper finishing means is a layer of cup stock paper.  
     
     
         6 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid member is high-impact plastic.  
     
     
         7 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid member has a maximum thickness of at least about 40 mils at its center, and a minimum thickness of no more than about 10 mils at said lateral edges.  
     
     
         8 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , wherein one of said flanges has a lateral width which is greater than the other of said flanges.  
     
     
         9 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid member is L-shaped, said flanges being perpendicular one to the other.  
     
     
         10 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid member further comprises an arcuate portion of substantially uniform thickness between said flanges.  
     
     
         11 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , said semi-rigid member further comprising a hinge between said flanges, whereby said semi-rigid member can be flexed about said hinge to produce a selected angle between said flanges.  
     
     
         12 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 11 , wherein said hinge comprises a longitudinal groove in the inside surface of said semi-rigid member.  
     
     
         13 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid member is L-shaped and further comprises a center portion of substantially uniform thickness between said flanges, one of said flanges being perpendicular to said center portion; and a hinge between said center portion and the other of said flanges.  
     
     
         14 . A corner trim piece as in  claim 1  further comprising a center portion of substantially uniform thickness between said flanges, and a plurality of parallel, longitudinal grooves in the inside surface of the said semi-rigid member.