At some point, I just started calling it “character.”
- Totally relate to the “character” approach—sometimes you just gotta embrace it.
- Lightweight joint compound is my go-to for final coats, but honestly, even with that, my walls still have a few “quirks.”
- Tried using a wider knife for the last pass? It spreads things out and hides a lot of sins.
- I’ve heard some folks swear by those sanding sponges instead of regular paper—less mess, maybe less frustration?
- At the end of the day, I think it’s 90% elbow grease and 10% clever shortcuts... unless you count strategically placed art as a shortcut.
At some point, I just started calling it “character.”
Honestly, “character” is what keeps me sane during any drywall project. I’ve tried the sanding sponges and they’re decent—less dust flying everywhere, but I always end up with a few weird spots I missed. My trick is to dim the lights and squint a bit... suddenly, everything looks smoother. And yeah, wider knife for the last coat helps, but I swear my “final pass” turns into three more passes every time. At some point, you just gotta hang a picture and move on.
I hear you on the “final pass” turning into an endless loop—been there more times than I care to admit. I swear, my walls have more “character” than some of my relatives. I tried chasing perfection once, but after spending way too much on fancy joint compound and those mesh tapes, I realized it’s just not worth the headache. These days, if the couch covers the seam and nobody’s squinting at it with a flashlight, it’s good enough for me. Life’s too short to stress over invisible bumps.
These days, if the couch covers the seam and nobody’s squinting at it with a flashlight, it’s good enough for me.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve found a few tricks that make the process less maddening. Thin coats are key—don’t glob it on. Feather out each layer wider than you think you need, and let each one dry fully before sanding (I know, patience is tough). I use a bright work light at a low angle to spot trouble spots, but yeah, at some point you just have to call it "done." Perfection’s overrated unless you’re installing gallery lighting.
I keep hearing about the “thin coats” thing, but I always end up with ridges or weird dips no matter how careful I am. Maybe I’m just not sanding enough between layers? Or maybe my mud is too thick? I’ve tried using a wider knife for feathering, but then I feel like I’m just spreading the mess further out. Is there a trick to knowing when you’ve sanded enough, or do you just go by feel? Also, does anyone actually use those mesh sanding pads, or are regular sanding blocks better for this? I’m starting to wonder if I’m overthinking it, but I can’t help noticing every little imperfection once the paint goes on...
