Apply Final Coat and Prepare for Sanding

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: one complete final-coat application covering every flat seam, butt joint, inside corner, outside corner, edge trim location, and remaining fastener dimple in the room or area coated under Chapter 12, plus a documented sanding-readiness decision.

B. Coating-Location Schedule (Component Schedule)

Location	What Is Applied	Guide Reference
Flat tapered joints	Thin final coat extended and feathered beyond the second-coat edge	Tapered joint edge from Chapter 12
Butt joints	Wide, shallow final coat spreading buildup over a broad area	Second-coat width from Chapter 12
Inside corners	One-side or corner-tool finishing pass producing a straight line	Corner line from Chapter 10 and 12
Outside corners and edge trim	Thin final coat over bead flanges and trim, feathered to the panel	Bead nose and panel plane
Remaining fastener dimples and minor defects	Flush fill of any depression or surface flaw remaining after Chapter 12	Panel plane at each location

C. Material Takeoff

• Compound: the finishing-grade drying-type or setting-type joint compound identified in the approved finishing specification, in the quantity required for the joint footage, corner footage, and dimple count in the area.
• Water: clean water within the manufacturer's stated addition limit for the identified compound.
• Consumables: damp cloths for cleaning bead noses, trim reveals, and adjoining surfaces during application.

D. Reference Conventions

Use the final coat, skim coat, feathering, lap mark, knife chatter, raking light, and sanding-readiness-decision definitions given in the Reference Conventions table above for every entry on the finishing log.

E. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Flat-joint transition	Every flat joint's final coat extends and feathers beyond the second-coat edge with no ridge detectable by hand or under raking light
Butt-joint buildup	Butt-joint coat spread wide and shallow enough that no visible hump remains under raking light
Corner straightness	Every inside and outside corner line reads straight against a straightedge with no visible wave or gap
Dimple and defect fill	Every remaining fastener dimple and identified minor defect filled flush with no visible depression under raking light
Surface condition	No unresolved lap marks, heavy edges, or knife chatter remaining after workable-stage correction
Surface cleanliness	No compound remaining on bead noses, trim reveals, unfinished surfaces, or hardware
Drying condition	The completed coat, including any touch-up compound, dried fully under the temperature and humidity conditions stated in the compound manufacturer's instructions before Chapter 14 begins
Sanding-readiness decision	Issued only after every defect identified under raking-light inspection is corrected and reinspected

F. Inspection and Preparation Procedure (Steps 1–5)

1. Confirm the second coat is completely dry. Check representative flat seams, butt joints, and corners from Chapter 12 for full drying and the absence of moisture discoloration.
2. Inspect the surface under strong raking light. Direct the light nearly parallel to the wall or ceiling and move it slowly along every joint, corner, and dimple location.
3. Scrape ridges, crumbs, and isolated projections. Remove only what would interfere with the new coat lying flat; do not sand at this stage.
4. Mark shallow hollows, edge lines, pinholes, and corner defects. Record each location on the finishing log before mixing compound.
5. Prepare clean finishing compound to the approved consistency. Mix to the manufacturer's stated consistency using clean water within the stated addition limit.

G. Flat-Joint, Butt-Joint, and Corner Coating Procedure (Steps 6–10)

1. Apply a thin final coat over flat tapered joints. Load the 10-inch knife and draw a single controlled pass along the joint length.
2. Extend and feather the coat beyond previous edges. Lighten pressure as the pass reaches the outer limit so the coat thins to nothing beyond the second-coat edge.
3. Apply a wide, shallow final coat over butt joints. Use the 12-inch knife or wide trowel to spread the coat over a broad area so no visible hump remains.
4. Finish inside corners according to the approved one-side or corner-tool method. Complete one side of the corner in a single pass before finishing the opposite side, or use the corner tool for both sides in one motion where the method specifies it.
5. Apply a thin final coat over outside corners and edge trim. Use the bead nose and panel plane as guides, matching the technique used in Chapter 11 and Chapter 12.

H. Defect Fill and Correction Procedure (Steps 11–15)

1. Fill remaining fastener dimples and minor surface defects. Draw the knife across each marked location with enough pressure to fill it flush with the panel surface.
2. Remove excess compound rather than leaving material for sanding. Wipe the knife clean between passes and avoid building a raised mound at any location.
3. Maintain clean bead noses, reveals, and trim edges. Wipe stray compound immediately with a damp cloth before it sets.
4. Check transitions with a straightedge while the coat is workable. Confirm every feathered edge and corner line reads flat and straight before the coat sets.
5. Correct lap marks, heavy edges, and knife chatter. While the compound remains workable, knife down any irregular pass rather than leaving it to be sanded.

I. Drying and Sanding-Readiness Decision Procedure (Steps 16–20)

1. Allow the final coat to dry fully. Follow the manufacturer's stated drying or setting time under the temperature and humidity conditions recorded on the finishing log.
2. Inspect for shrinkage, cracking, exposed tape, pinholes, ridges, and visible edges. Direct the raking light along every joint, corner, and dimple location a second time after drying.
3. Apply localized touch-up compound where required. Coat only the specific defect locations identified in this inspection.
4. Allow touch-ups to dry. Follow the same manufacturer drying conditions used for the main coat.
5. Issue a sanding-readiness decision. Approve the surface for Chapter 14 only after every defect identified under raking light, including touch-up locations, is corrected, dried, and reinspected.