I get the urge to chase perfection, but honestly, I’ve found that obsessing over every tiny flaw can be a time sink—especially if you’re flipping or renting out properties. Here’s a different angle: after the second coat, I use a wide taping knife to skim the seam and feel for bumps. If it’s smooth to the touch, I move on. Most buyers or tenants won’t notice minor imperfections unless you point them out. Sometimes, “good enough” really is good enough, especially if you’re juggling multiple projects.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to drive myself nuts trying to get every seam invisible, sanding and re-sanding until my arms felt like noodles. But after a few years and a lot of turnover jobs, I realized most folks never even notice the little stuff. Like you said, unless you shine a flashlight right on the wall, those tiny ridges or pinholes just blend in once it’s painted.
Here’s what I do now: after the second coat dries, I run my hand over the joint. If it feels smooth, I move on. If there’s a spot that catches my fingers, I’ll hit it with a quick pass of the sanding block—nothing fancy. Sometimes I’ll even close my eyes and feel for bumps, just to focus on touch instead of sight. It saves a ton of time and honestly, no one’s ever complained.
Perfection’s great for magazine spreads, but in the real world, “good enough” keeps the project moving and your sanity intact.
Honestly, I used to obsess over every little imperfection too, especially when I first started flipping houses. I’d spend hours chasing that “perfect” seam, only to realize once the furniture was in and the pictures were up, nobody noticed except me. These days, I just make sure it feels smooth to the touch and looks good from a few feet back. If you’re not seeing obvious lines in normal light, you’re probably good. The only time I really sweat it is in kitchens or bathrooms with those brutal overhead lights—those’ll show every flaw. Otherwise, I just keep it moving.
Otherwise, I just keep it moving.
I get where you’re coming from, but I dunno… I’ve had buyers walk through with a flashlight and point out seams I thought were invisible. Maybe it’s just my luck, but I still spend extra time on the main living areas. Kitchens and baths, for sure, but I’ve had picky folks notice stuff in hallways too. Guess it depends on your market and how picky your buyers are.
I hear you about picky buyers—some folks really do come in with a flashlight and a magnifying glass, it feels like. But honestly, I’ve started rethinking how much time I spend chasing “perfect” seams everywhere. Here’s my take: I focus on kitchens, baths, and main living spaces, but for hallways or closets, I’ll just make sure the joints are flat and primed well. If you get the lighting right and use a good primer, most seams basically disappear unless someone’s actively hunting for them.
One thing that helped me was switching to a wider knife for the final coat—like 12” or even 14”. It feathers out the mud way more than the standard 8”, and it’s actually less work in the end. And if I spot a seam after paint, sometimes a quick skim coat and touch-up does the trick. At some point, I just have to accept that no wall is ever going to be 100% flawless.
Curious if anyone’s tried those sanding sponges with the built-in LED? I’ve heard mixed things, but maybe it’d help catch the stuff flashlights find before buyers do...