Overheard a guy at Home Depot say taping is 'just mudding with extra steps'

I was grabbing some 90-minute compound yesterday in the aisle and this dude tells his buddy that finishing drywall is basically the same as hanging it, just messier. Like, has he ever tried to get a crisp corner bead or feather out a butt joint without sanding through the paper? Makes me wonder how many folks out there actually think this trade is just slapping mud on walls.

3 comments

3 Comments

dakotawood1mo ago

Man, that guy has clearly never tried to tape a ceiling after lunch.

lauras831mo ago

Ask @dakotawood what tape brand he actually uses for ceilings.

robinj2929d ago

That line about "mudding with extra steps" is the kind of thing someone says after they've only ever done one coat on a shed wall. What really kills me is people act like taping and mudding are the same skill, but taping is mostly about knowing when to stop. You gotta have a feel for it. With mudding you can just keep slathering until it looks right, but if you mess up the tape you're pulling it all off and starting over. Plus nobody ever talks about how tape shows every mistake in the light. Mud hides stuff, tape snitches on you.