c/drywall-installers

Unpopular opinion: Hand-sanding drywall gives a better finish than any power tool

Honestly, everyone seems to use electric sanders now, but I stick with a simple hand block. Tbh, I started out with guys who did everything by hand, and their walls were always super smooth. For example, on a big living room job, I hand-sanded the whole thing and got zero swirl marks or gouges. Ngl, power tools are faster, but they can mess up the paper face if you're not perfect. I see the rush to use new stuff, but I think we lose some craft when we skip hand work. My way might add a bit of time, but clients love how even the seams turn out. Looking back, the old methods just feel more reliable to me.

The way some guys tape joints without cleaning their knives first drives me up the wall.

Drywall waste then and now: What I've seen over the years

I've been putting up drywall for over two decades. Back in the day, we just threw all the cut-offs into a dumpster at the end of the job. Now, on every site I work, we have separate bins for gypsum recycling. We use boards that come with recycled stuff in them, which means less new mining. The sanding dust gets sucked up by strong vacs instead of filling the room. It adds a bit to our day, but I like knowing we're cutting down on trash. Sometimes I think about how easy it was to just toss everything, but this way feels right. Our trade is slowly getting greener, and that's a win in my book.

My whole crew laughed when I ditched the banjo for hand taping.

I used to think speed was everything and that tool was a must, but watching seams fail on a big job changed my mind. Now I hand tape every corner and my work holds up without a single callback.

After a tough repair, mesh tape is my new go-to

I always thought mesh tape was for amateurs. Tbh, a job in a wet basement proved me wrong. The old paper tape was peeling off after a few months. I put up mesh tape with setting mud instead. It stuck fast and stayed put. Ngl, I had to admit it worked better. Now I use it all the time for problem spots.