Drywall Corner Bead & Metal Trims

Drywall corner bead and metal trims keep the corners and edges of a board finish straight and hard-wearing. Choose 90° or 130° corner bead by the angle of the corner, and L-trim or J-trim by how the board ends.

90° Corner Bead

Galvanneal steel corner bead for every 90° outside corner of a drywall wall, column, bulkhead or opening. Its rounded nose gives a straight, hard-wearing corner line, and its 1-1/4″ knurled flanges with key holes hold the joint compound.

130° Corner Bead

Galvanneal steel corner bead for wide-angle outside corners. It is formed at 130° to fit the 135° corners of bay windows, angled walls, chamfered columns and angled bulkheads, with 1-1/4″ knurled flanges that hold the joint compound.

L Trim

Galvanized steel L trim that gives a clean, finished edge where gypsum board ends: at door and window openings without a wood casing, and where the board meets a suspended ceiling, beam, plaster, masonry or concrete. Fastened after the board is hung and finished with joint compound.

J Trim

Galvanized steel J trim that caps the end of a gypsum board with a clean, finished line at window and door openings, columns, mullions, concrete, masonry and wall or ceiling intersections. Its 3/8″ leg leaves a straight steel line on the board face, so it needs no joint compound.

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Which bead or trim goes where

The right profile depends on the corner angle and on whether the edge will be finished with joint compound.

Where	Product	Finish
Square outside corner	90° corner bead (CB-90)	Joint compound
135° corner: bay windows, angled walls	130° corner bead (CB-130)	Joint compound
Board edge against a frame, ceiling or masonry	L trim	Joint compound
Exposed board edge, no compound wanted	J trim	Prime and paint

Why the beads are formed under the corner angle

CB-90 is formed at 84° and CB-130 at 130°. Pressed onto a 90° or 135° corner, the flanges open up and spring back against the board, so the bead sits tight before it is fastened.

Galvanneal, key holes and knurled flanges

Both corner beads are 28 gauge galvanneal steel. Three details help the joint compound hold:

a matte zinc-iron coating that takes compound and paint,
key holes that let compound lock through the flange,
a knurled flange surface that gives the compound a grip.

Sizing L trim and J trim

Trims are sized to the board, not the wall. Use 1/2" trim on 1/2" board and 5/8" on 5/8"; the wrong size leaves a gap, a step or a loose board. Both come in 8' and 10' lengths. For framed bulkhead and soffit edges behind the board, use L-track angle.

Common questions

The questions finishers ask most.

Which corner bead fits a 135° corner?

CB-130. It is formed at 130° so it springs tight onto a 135° corner.

J trim or L trim?

J trim caps the board end and needs no compound; it goes on before the board is fastened. L trim goes on after the board is hung and is finished with compound.

Is corner bead galvanized or galvanneal?

Our corner beads are galvanneal, which takes joint compound and paint better than bright galvanized steel.