Overheard a homeowner at the hardware store tell their friend 'mudding is just fancy spackle, how hard can it be' and I almost choked on my coffee.

4 comments

4 Comments

Have they ever actually tried it? Mudding is a whole different skill that takes a ton of practice to get smooth. That kind of thinking is how you end up with a wall that looks like a topo map.

beng519d ago

Oh man, this is so true. I tried to fix a bad seam in my own house once and just made a giant, wavy hump. It looked like a speed bump on the wall. I had to chip it all out and start over because the boards underneath weren't even close. You can't hide a bad hang with mud, it just gets worse.

scott.alex10d ago

Yeah, @thomasb41 is totally right about mudding being a skill. But honestly, even a pro can get a wall looking like a topo map if the drywall isn't hung flat to begin with. Gaps or uneven seams underneath will telegraph through no matter how good your taping is. The prep work is just as important as the mud work.

murray.pat10d ago

Exactly, the drywall has to be hung right first. I mean, I've seen guys try to fix a bad seam with a ton of mud and it just makes a bigger ridge. You gotta check for screws that are too deep or proud before you even touch the tape. If the board isn't flat to the stud, you're just polishing a turd.