Honestly, I think the foam blocks get a bad rap sometimes. Sure, they’re not great on super rough surfaces, but for those final passes—especially after you’ve already knocked down the high spots with a hard block—they can be a lifesaver. They mold to weird contours in old plaster and don’t gouge as easily if your hand slips. Yeah, they fall apart eventually, but by that point I’m usually ready to move on anyway.
That trick with the angled light is spot on though. I’ve seen folks spend days sanding only to realize in daylight that the wall still looks like a topographical map. A cheap LED work light and a dark room tells you everything you need to know about your mudding skills...or lack thereof.
As for pros, half of them just know what’ll show through paint and what won’t. The other half really are just faster at hiding their sins. But hey, nobody’s staring at your walls with their nose an inch away—sometimes “good enough” really is good enough.
- Foam blocks are underrated for those tricky spots—totally agree. I use them for curves and corners where a rigid block just can’t get in there without making a mess.
- Angled lighting is a game changer. I’ve literally caught myself thinking a wall was perfect, then hit it with a flashlight and... yikes. It’s humbling.
- One thing I’d add: primer hides less than you think. If you can feel it, you’ll probably see it after paint, especially with any kind of sheen.
- “Good enough” is real, but I always tell clients: if you’re going to stare at it every day, spend the extra 10 minutes now. Your future self will thank you.
Getting Smooth Drywall Joints Without Losing Your Mind
“Good enough” is real, but I always tell clients: if you’re going to stare at it every day, spend the extra 10 minutes now. Your future self will thank you.
That’s the truth right there. I’ve lived in my old place for almost twenty years now, and I still catch myself running my hand along a wall or staring at a seam I rushed through back when I was younger and more impatient. There’s a spot in the upstairs hallway—right by the light switch, of course—where I thought, “Eh, it’s fine, nobody will notice.” Guess who notices every single time? Me.
I’ll second the angled lighting tip. I learned that one the hard way, too. Thought I’d done a bang-up job on a patch in the dining room, then the afternoon sun hit it just right and suddenly it looked like a relief map of the Rockies. Ended up re-sanding and feathering it out again, muttering the whole time. It’s humbling, but it does make you better at spotting trouble before it’s too late.
Foam blocks are a lifesaver for those weird old corners and curves you get in these historic houses. The walls here are anything but straight, and a rigid block just chews things up. I’ve even wrapped sandpaper around a kitchen sponge in a pinch—works surprisingly well for those gentle curves.
I do think there’s a balance, though. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, especially if you’re dealing with plaster over lath or walls that have seen a century of settling. Perfection can drive you nuts in an old house. But if it’s somewhere you’ll see every day, or if you’re the type who’ll always notice that one little ridge, it’s worth the extra effort. Future you will definitely appreciate it.
Anyway, hang in there. Drywall finishing is one of those things that gets easier the more you do it, but I don’t think anyone ever really loves it. Just feels good when it’s done and you can’t spot your own work.
You nailed it with that “relief map of the Rockies” description—been there more times than I care to admit. Angled light is brutal, but it’s the best reality check you can get before paint goes on. I’ve learned the hard way that if you rush a joint, you’ll be staring at it forever (especially if you’re flipping or selling). That little extra effort pays off big time, even if it feels like overkill in the moment. And yeah, foam blocks and flexible sanding tricks are lifesavers for those old wavy walls. It’s one of those trades where patience really does pay off... eventually.
That angled light is the ultimate snitch, isn’t it? I thought I had a wall looking perfect until late afternoon sun hit it—suddenly every ridge and dip was on full display. I’ll admit, I used to think “good enough” was fine, but now I’m obsessed with feathering out those joints way farther than I thought necessary. It’s wild how much difference a couple extra passes with the sanding block can make. Still not convinced flexible sanding blocks are magic, though—I end up with more dust on myself than the wall half the time...
