Old timer told me to stop sanding my mud so smooth

I used to sand everything down to glass before prime. Guy I worked with for a week in Tulsa said I was wasting time, just needs to be flat not polished. Tried his way and cut my sanding time by about 40 percent. Anybody else get feedback that changed their whole process?

3 comments

3 Comments

lisab328d ago

Yep, same here. Took me way too long to learn that smooth isn't flat.

the_felix8d ago

Wait, you mean I've been spending years making my drywall look like polished marble when nobody cares? That's basically my whole personality as a drywall finisher - obsessive sanding until my knuckles bleed. I used to sand corners so smooth you could see your reflection, but then I realized the painter is just gonna prime over it anyway. Now I just knock down the high spots and move on. Saved my back and my sanity, plus I don't have to buy new sanding sponges every week. Ever have that moment where you realize you've been doing things the hard way for like a decade?

jackson.max7d ago

Actually @the_felix I gotta push back a little on that sanding thing. You can't just knock down high spots and call it done because the primer won't hide deep scratches or knife marks from the second coat. The painter might roll over it but those imperfections will show right through the paint especially with flat or eggshell sheen. I learned this the hard way when my buddy painted a ceiling I finished and he cursed me out for leaving tool marks in the corners. Now I do a quick pass with 150 grit just to scuff the whole thing even if it looks smooth already. You don't need to bleed or buy new sponges every week but skipping the light sanding completely will bite you later. Huge difference between polished marble and just not leaving ridges but that middle ground is where the real skill lives.