How to Fix Bubbles in Drywall Tape – The Easy Way!

Bubbles are quite annoying to see when you’re done with your wall. It doesn’t give a nice look and it leaves you with an uneven surface. Before you can paint or apply anything else, you have to first take care of these bubbles and remove it if you don’t want them to cause issues further down the line.

As a matter of fact, it’s because the joints were taped incorrectly but there can also be other reasons for it.
For the incorrectly taped joints, all you need to do is redo the process. Carefully remove the tape, add more joint compound and then apply a new layer of tape, it’s easy as that. However, this is only one of the few common solutions to it and it still depends on the cause of the air bubbles.

By finding out the cause of the bubbles, you can easily apply a specific solution to them. Make sure to always find out what’s wrong in the first place unless you want to follow a step-by-step tutorial that wasn’t even meant for your specific circumstance. By reading further, you will know all about how the bubbles form and how to remove them from drywall tape even when you already have paint on it.

Why do the bubbles form?

During the installation process, some sections tend to get loose if there’s not enough compound embedded in the tape. The spaces underneath the tape will allow bubbles to form so always make sure that you apply an adequate amount of mud before taping it. If you’re not sure what the right amount is, not having any space with the mud and tape is a good sign.

The problem could also be your drywall mud. If it’s too thick, it might dry quickly before you can spread it out in an even manner. If it dries out in this situation, it will most likely form bubbles. However, if you’re using premixed mud then it is definitely too thick. Try to either mix your compound well or add a little bit of water until it has the consistency of cake frosting.

How to Remove the Bubbles?

Now that you know more about the issue, you can go right ahead to remove the bubbles from the drywall tape. Just a fair warning though, it can be a tedious job especially since you will most likely be redoing the patches that you’ve worked on.

Removing the bubbles in drywall tape

• If it’s underneath the tape, use a utility knife to cut around the bubble then remove the tape.
• Apply a layer of drywall on the section, make sure that it isn’t thick or old mud before applying. The layer of mud should have a slightly bigger width than the tape.
• Get a tape that will fit the section and tape it over the recently applied joint compound.
• To release any trapped air, use the utility knife to gently run it over the tapes. Remember to use even strokes and repeat this step until you’re sure that all the air is released.
• To finish the job, apply another layer of drywall mud. For better results, make the layer around 1/6th inches. You need to let this dry for 24 hours before doing anything else to the wall. After you let this layer dry, you can sand it out for a more even and smooth finish.

How to remove air bubbles in tape after painting

1. Before doing anything, make sure that the painted surface has completely dried.
2. Cut around the bubbles using a utility knife. Make sure that you cut all of it before pulling out the hump and scraping off any drywall mud that is loose with a paint scraper.
3. Use a primer on the affected area/s and let it dry before continuing the repairs. Put fresh tape on the area/s, you don’t need to worry about the adhesion because the primer that you’ve applied will help with that.
4. Spread a layer of joint compound, make sure it’s not old or too thick before application. Lay another fresh tape on it and make sure it’s completely embedded so scrape the tape until it lays flat.
5. Repeat step number four.
6. The repaired area/s shall be left alone to dry before applying another coat of drywall mud. Make sure to feather the drywall to ensure that you don’t leave thick edges on the compound. If you’re not good with feathering, you can practice on a spare piece before going in with the actual project.
   How do you prevent it from bubbling?
7. When you’re applying the tape, make sure that it’s not totally dry. If you do, it will either bubble or cause peeling as time goes by. You can moisten the tape by lightly coating it with water, emphasizing the lightly part so you won’t ruin the adhesive feature of the tape. With this technique, you can improve the contact of the joints and prevent bubbling.
8. You can go above and beyond the application of drywall mud before taping. It’s much better to have excess drywall mud instead of having less and letting the air bubbles form. You can easily scrape off the excess with your knife or trowel before letting it dry. Just make sure they adequately cover all areas of the wall as you skim through it.

Fiberglass mesh

Another technique you can use to prevent air bubbles in the tape is using fiberglass mesh. It’s a better alternative when dealing with large patches as it can cover larger areas. As long as you follow the traditional method of taping, this will also help minimize your chances of encountering bubbling once painted.

Using these techniques should give you a much better result when removing air bubbles in your drywall tape. Whether you’re doing it on your own or working with a professional, the key is to be patient and have a good eye for detail to ensure that everything goes smoothly.​

Conclusion

In the end, having to repair drywall can be much more taxing, especially if you’re repairing drywall that’s already been painted. Most of the time, you have to apply multiple layers of joint compound and tape which is considerably worse than just making sure that there’s a good amount of mud or the three minutes that it takes to lightly moisten the tape.
If you follow the steps in this guide, you can effectively remove the air bubbles while knowing enough about how to prevent them. Remember, it’s better to clock in those extra precautions rather than potentially wasting a time on repairs.