Use wallboard joint compound. Joint compound is not the same as spackle. Spackle is thicker and is made for smaller hole repairs, for example, nail holes or small dings. Because spackle is thicker, it won't spread as easy and if used in this application, will make the finishing work difficult and will look poor.
- Using a wide blade wallboard taping knife, trowel on the wallboard joint compound over the mesh joint tape.
- Make sure to cover all the pores in the adhesive mesh and to extend the compound past the joint by at least 6" to blend into the surrounding area (feathering).
- Let dry and then sand smooth with a sanding block or drywall sanding screen. Please do not just use sandpaper and your hand as you will never get the sanding flat and it will look poor when painted.
- Repeat the application of joint compound, feathering and sanding as necessary to get a smooth seam on all the joints.
