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Sure, it’s easy when you have the wall texture that is designed to look like a bad drywall job. If you’re trying to match the wall type found in 90% of American

Sure, it’s easy when you have the wall texture that is designed to look like a bad drywall job. If you’re trying to match the wall type found in 90% of American homes, there’s a huge difference in efficiency and quality between a DIYer and a professional mudder. A good feathering job saves a ton of wasted sanding effort and drywall dust. When I ask GCs and tradespeople which job they would would never do themselves, drywall is far and away the most common answer. It’s the only job I regret doing myself.

latchkey 4y ago
From what I've learned on YT, using quick drying mud and mixing it yourself (not using the premixed stuff in plastic containers), is the key to smooth finishes. Mostly because it hardens quickly and doesn't shrink. I used the 40m quick dry and it was quite easy to work with. You're right, feathering correctly... no sanding needed.
- orangepurple 4y ago
  Sheetrock 45 is the way
  - latchkey 4y ago
    I'm just using 18lbs bags of westpac 40... it's what they had at home depot. cheap and easy.
- devonkim 4y ago
  Picking the correct timing for the cure time with the job size is almost an art in itself. It’s unlikely one can figure it out without a lot of experience doing it and most folks that don’t do it for a living won’t do it often enough to acquire that experience. It’s a lot of hot mud waste and back and forth trips to the hardware store that’s exhausting for busy folks that have another full time job.
  - latchkey 4y ago
    I used a drill with a mixer from a hand blender plugged into it. Made it really easy to make a batch that filled the stainless steel mud box I am using. Even being totally untrained, getting that onto the wall in under 40 minutes was easy. Took a bit more mixing and batches than a pro would take, but all in all... it wasn't nearly as hard as you're making it out to be.
whiddershins 4y ago
How about flooring?
- latchkey 4y ago
  I'm teaching myself that one too. Will replace with luxury vinyl. I just pulled up the oak floor in the bedroom. It had asphalt paper under it. Sigh. Date on the wood was 2001, so not terribly old, but definitely could use an update. Since the house is old, it is plywood floors and they aren't even enough for vinyl. Going to have to learn how to fix that too. From what I can tell, it is basically just mud like on the walls... but portland cement on the floor.
- pbourke 4y ago
  I’ve done wood and vinyl plank flooring in a single room as a not particularly handy homeowner. It’s a lot of work but not really difficult.
nostrademons 4y ago
"When I ask GCs and tradespeople which job they would would never do themselves, drywall is far and away the most common answer." Electrician is the answer I usually get, largely because if you do electricity wrong, you can kill yourself or burn down the house.

latchkey 4y ago

From what I've learned on YT, using quick drying mud and mixing it yourself (not using the premixed stuff in plastic containers), is the key to smooth finishes. Mostly because it hardens quickly and doesn't shrink. I used the 40m quick dry and it was quite easy to work with. You're right, feathering correctly... no sanding needed.

orangepurple 4y ago
Sheetrock 45 is the way
- latchkey 4y ago
  I'm just using 18lbs bags of westpac 40... it's what they had at home depot. cheap and easy.
devonkim 4y ago
Picking the correct timing for the cure time with the job size is almost an art in itself. It’s unlikely one can figure it out without a lot of experience doing it and most folks that don’t do it for a living won’t do it often enough to acquire that experience. It’s a lot of hot mud waste and back and forth trips to the hardware store that’s exhausting for busy folks that have another full time job.
- latchkey 4y ago
  I used a drill with a mixer from a hand blender plugged into it. Made it really easy to make a batch that filled the stainless steel mud box I am using. Even being totally untrained, getting that onto the wall in under 40 minutes was easy. Took a bit more mixing and batches than a pro would take, but all in all... it wasn't nearly as hard as you're making it out to be.

whiddershins 4y ago

How about flooring?

latchkey 4y ago
I'm teaching myself that one too. Will replace with luxury vinyl. I just pulled up the oak floor in the bedroom. It had asphalt paper under it. Sigh. Date on the wood was 2001, so not terribly old, but definitely could use an update. Since the house is old, it is plywood floors and they aren't even enough for vinyl. Going to have to learn how to fix that too. From what I can tell, it is basically just mud like on the walls... but portland cement on the floor.
pbourke 4y ago
I’ve done wood and vinyl plank flooring in a single room as a not particularly handy homeowner. It’s a lot of work but not really difficult.

nostrademons 4y ago

"When I ask GCs and tradespeople which job they would would never do themselves, drywall is far and away the most common answer." Electrician is the answer I usually get, largely because if you do electricity wrong, you can kill yourself or burn down the house.