I used to bury my tape joints under too much mud for years

For like the first 5 years of doing drywall, I thought more mud meant hiding the tape better. I'd lay it on thick, then sand for an hour to get it flat. Then a foreman on a job in Portland watched me and said 'you're making extra work, dude.' He showed me to feather it out thin on the first coat. Now I use maybe 30% less mud per joint and sanding takes 10 minutes instead of 60. Has anyone else had that lightbulb moment where you realized you were doing a basic step all wrong?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor.reese9h ago

That part about "you're making extra work, dude" hit home with something my buddy Mike went through. He texted me last year all excited saying he finally figured out why his wrists hurt so bad after every job. Turns out he was troweling on joint compound like frosting a cake for years. He switched to a lighter touch and his finishing work actually looks better now.

the_diana8h ago

Making extra work" is exactly what my buddy Dave did for years with drywall sanding. He'd press so hard the paper would tear, then have to patch and re-sand everything.

linda1147h ago

Does @the_diana's buddy Dave ever try backing his sandpaper off a bit? Sounds like the man needed a lighter touch more than a stronger grip.