Drywall joint construction and method

Abstract

A drywall joint construction and method consisting essentially of abutting drywall boards having a lengthwise crack therebetween and a joint finishing system formed within the crack to complete the drywall joint construction such that a flexible layer defines the joint's center-line surface. Where the edges of the drywall boards are tapered, the resulting channel is filled with a taping compound and a tape forms the flexible layer covering the taping compound so as to flush the joint finishing system with the drywall boards. Where the drywall boards are non-tapered, the resulting slit therebetween may be filled with taping compound and a tape may again form the flexible layer covering the taping compound and flushing the joint finishing system with the abutting drywall boards, or the slit may be filled with a flexible compound that also forms the flexible layer and flushes the joint finishing system with the drywall boards.

1 . A drywall joint construction consisting essentially of: 
 a first drywall board having a first lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing first planar surface;    a second drywall board having a second lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing second planar surface, the second drywall board being positioned adjacent the first drywall board such that the first and second lengthwise edges are brought into substantially abutting contact so as to form a lengthwise crack between the first and second planar surfaces, a center-line surface of the joint construction being defined as the outwardly-facing surface directly over the crack and exposed for surface treatment; and    a joint finishing system installed within the crack to complete the drywall joint construction, the system including a flexible layer forming the center-line surface.    
   
   
       2 . The construction of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first lengthwise edge is tapered inwardly from the first planar surface and the second lengthwise edge is tapered inwardly from the second planar surface such that the crack is configured as an outwardly-opening channel having opposite angled channel sides; and    the joint finishing system comprises: 
 a taping compound filling the channel so as to cover the channel sides; and  
 a tape forming the flexible layer and covering the taping compound so as to flush the joint finishing system with the first and second planar surfaces.  
   
   
   
       3 . The construction of  claim 2  wherein the taping compound comprises a joint cement.  
   
   
       4 . The construction of  claim 3  wherein the joint cement is a non-shrinking formulation.  
   
   
       5 . The construction of  claim 2  wherein: 
 the tape is configured with opposite first and second marginal edges; and    the joint finishing system further comprises a skim coat applied over the marginal edges so as to blend the tape with the first and second planar surfaces.    
   
   
       6 . The construction of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first lengthwise edge is substantially perpendicular to the first planar surface and the second lengthwise edge is substantially perpendicular to the second planar surface such that the crack is configured as an outwardly-opening slit; and    the joint finishing system comprises: 
 a taping compound filling the slit; and  
 a tape forming the flexible layer and covering the taping compound so as to flush the joint finishing system with the first and second planar surfaces.  
   
   
   
       7 . The construction of  claim 6  wherein the taping compound comprises a joint cement.  
   
   
       8 . The construction of  claim 6  wherein the taping compound comprises a flexible compound.  
   
   
       9 . The construction of  claim 6  wherein: 
 the tape is configured with opposite first and second marginal edges; and    the joint finishing system further comprises a skim coat applied over the marginal edges so as to blend the tape with the first and second planar surfaces.    
   
   
       10 . The construction of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first lengthwise edge is substantially perpendicular to the first planar surface and the second lengthwise edge is substantially perpendicular to the second planar surface such that the crack is configured as an outwardly-opening slit; and    the joint finishing system comprises a flexible compound forming the flexible layer and filling the slit so as to flush the joint finishing system with the first and second planar surfaces.    
   
   
       11 . The construction of  claim 10  wherein the flexible compound comprises a non-shrinking formulation.  
   
   
       12 . A drywall joint construction consisting essentially of: 
 a first drywall board having a first lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing first planar surface, the first lengthwise edge tapering inwardly from the first planar surface;    a second drywall board having a second lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing second planar surface, the second lengthwise edge tapering inwardly from the second planar surface, the second drywall board being positioned adjacent the first drywall board such that the first and second lengthwise edges are brought into substantially abutting contact so as to form a lengthwise crack between the first and second planar surfaces configured as an outwardly-opening channel having opposite angled channel sides;    a taping compound filling the channel so as to cover the channel sides;    a tape covering the taping compound so as to flush the joint construction with the first and second planar surfaces, the tape being configured with opposite first and second marginal edges; and    a skim coat applied over the marginal edges so as to blend the tape with the first and second planar surfaces.    
   
   
       13 . A drywall joint construction consisting essentially of: 
 a first drywall board having a first lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing first planar surface, the first lengthwise edge being substantially perpendicular to the first planar surface;    a second drywall board having a second lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing second planar surface, the second lengthwise edge being substantially perpendicular to the second planar surface, the second drywall board being positioned adjacent the first drywall board such that the first and second lengthwise edges are brought into substantially abutting contact so as to form a lengthwise crack between the first and second planar surfaces configured as an outwardly-opening slit;    a taping compound filling the slit;    a tape covering the taping compound so as to flush the joint construction with the first and second planar surfaces, the tape being configured with opposite first and second marginal edges; and    a skim coat applied over the marginal edges so as to blend the tape with the first and second planar surfaces.    
   
   
       14 . The construction of  claim 13  wherein the taping compound comprises a joint cement.  
   
   
       15 . The construction of  claim 13  wherein the taping compound comprises a flexible compound.  
   
   
       16 . A drywall joint construction consisting essentially of: 
 a first drywall board having a first lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing first planar surface, the first lengthwise edge being substantially perpendicular to the first planar surface;    a second drywall board having a second lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing second planar surface, the second lengthwise edge being substantially perpendicular to the second planar surface, the second drywall board being positioned adjacent the first drywall board such that the first and second lengthwise edges are brought into substantially abutting contact so as to form a lengthwise crack between the first and second planar surfaces configured as an outwardly-opening slit; and    a flexible compound filling the slit so as to flush the joint construction with the first and second planar surfaces.    
   
   
       17 . A method of forming a drywall joint consisting essentially of the steps of: 
 positioning a first drywall board having a first lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing first planar surface against a support structure;    positioning a second drywall board having a second lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing second planar surface against the support structure such that the second drywall board is adjacent the first drywall board and the first and second lengthwise edges are brought into substantially abutting contact so as to form a lengthwise crack between the first and second planar surfaces, a center-line surface of the drywall joint being defined as the outwardly-facing surface directly over the crack and exposed for surface treatment; and    filling the crack with a flexible compound so as to form the center-line surface and to flush the drywall joint with the first and second planar surfaces.    
   
   
       18 . A method of forming a drywall joint consisting essentially of the steps of: 
 positioning a first drywall board having a first lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing first planar surface against a support surface;    positioning a second drywall board having a second lengthwise edge and an outwardly-facing second planar surface against the support surface such that the second drywall board is adjacent the first drywall board and the first and second lengthwise edges are brought into substantially abutting contact so as to form a lengthwise crack between the first and second planar surfaces, a center-line surface of the drywall joint being defined as the outwardly-facing surface directly over the crack and exposed for surface treatment;    filling the crack with a taping compound;    taping over the taping compound with a drywall tape so as to form the center-line surface and to flush the drywall joint with the first and second planar surfaces; and    applying a skim coat over opposite first and second marginal edges of the tape so as to blend the tape with the first and second planar surfaces.    
   
   
       19 . A method of forming a drywall joint consisting essentially of the steps of: 
 positioning a first drywall board against a support surface, the first drywall board having an outwardly-facing first planar surface and a first lengthwise edge tapered inwardly from the first planar surface;    positioning a second drywall board against the support surface, the second drywall board having an outwardly-facing second planar surface and a second lengthwise edge tapered inwardly from the second planar surface, such that the second drywall board is adjacent the first drywall board and the first and second lengthwise edges are brought into substantially abutting contact so as to form between the first and second planar surfaces a lengthwise outwardly-opening channel having opposite angled channel sides, a center-line surface of the drywall joint being defined as the outwardly-facing surface directly over the channel and exposed for surface treatment;    filling the channel with a taping compound so as to cover the channel sides;    taping over the taping compound with a drywall tape so as to form the center-line surface and to flush the drywall joint with the first and second planar surfaces; and    applying a skim coat over opposite first and second marginal edges of the tape so as to blend the tape with the first and second planar surfaces.