Contrary to popular belief, flat seams don't always need sanding

Look, I get why everyone says to sand every seam. It makes sense to get things smooth. But on flat walls, if you spread the joint compound right, you can avoid sanding most of the time. It cuts down on time and dust, and once you get the hang of it, the finish is just as good.

4 comments

4 Comments

jamesc791mo ago

Thinner mud on your final coats makes a huge difference for skipping sanding.

lucashenderson19d ago

Spent an entire weekend sanding" is basically my life story.

rose_clark811mo ago

Yeah that makes total sense, my buddy learned this the hard way last month. He kept laying his top coat on way too thick because he said it felt faster, but then he spent an entire weekend sanding it all back down. I told him about your point, @jamesc79, and he tried way thinner mud on the next room. He couldn't believe how much easier it was to just skim it smooth with the knife, and he barely touched the sandpaper after it dried. It honestly saved him so much time and dust in the end.

kevin_williams1mo ago

Guess I always figured more mud meant better coverage, but seeing how much faster it dries and sands changed my mind completely.