DIY Drywall Finishing

Taping or mudding would be common job site names for the art of applying joint compound to sheetrock or gypsum board. This is a tradesmen’s art form that with the materials today can be used on the predated interior finishes of plaster. Lath and plaster created smooth interior finishes very beautiful but cant compete with technology today. Button board nailed to walls under 3 coats of plaster , created a 4 application procedure for even the professionals. But with drywall installed in 4×8 sheets then 2 coats of mud, essentially cut building and labor costs in less than half, made everyone happy.
Drywall tools often only consists of a mud tray, 3 sizes of drywall knives, a sharp utility knife, a drywall saw and a sanding block. Fairly rudimentary to say the least, the fine art of drywall finishing for the average DIY’er can be obtained after only a few small home improvement projects.
Rumor has it that some Chinese drywall has taken a bad rap and has a toxic aftermath, we can not condone this exactly but post installation of any type has a rare occurrence that unless being cut and sanded there is little to fret, so once anything has been finished even when working with any drywall we should use a mask and keep the area sealed as best we can.