I do mostly remodeling and sanding drywall in someone's house makes a MAJOR mess. I learned a trick from an 80 year old man who worked as a drywaller for probably over 60 years or more. He never sanded. So I asked him how he did it and why. He really only sanded his final coat before painting primer to seal everything. It was a light sanding only. Very little dust. So I worked with him a bit and found that if you do several light coats with thinner mix, you really only need to scrape in between coats with a drywall knife where you get little stripes. Other than that, the next coat covers any bubbles or imperfections. Green, all-purpose mud for base coats, Plus 3 for the top coat. I do 3-5 coats total and only do a short, light sand on the final coat. I have very little drywall dust in my projects and it really helps keep customer homes cleaner as we're doing projects for them. Now, for new construction, where the mess isn't as much of a problem, we tend to use thicker coats and fewer coats with a lot of sanding. But for remodels, this is a big advantage and my customers REALLY appreciate me doing it this way.
Hey Ben, I watched a whole bunch of your videos before (and during) tackling my first DIY drywall install. Took me a bit of time and some rework, but i couldn't imagine what it would have taken if not for all your throrough and helpful videos. Massive help!
0:28 Bubbles over paint 2:45 see tape, more mud allows for sanding 5:20 avoid large tools in corners, use smaller 7:36 apply any way, only results matter 10:24 knife with curve allows technique 11:18 sequence corners, one side at time 14:04 6" knife can do larger 16:40 spills on carpet, let dry, scrape up with vacuum 17:25 bucket handle 18:00 corners: prep each side before tuning 18:58 no exact method, unique spots 20:22 clean trowel edges 21:26 stop fussing, sanding resolves
I agree with your last tip. as a self taught DIY plasterer my tip is to slap it on, skim it off and walk away. obviously don't leave huge globs and humps on the wall but don't play with it too much. pure frustration and you will ruin you 95% perfect work. Much easier to touch up or sand off, as much as sanding sucks!
If you're coating something that is nasty, the first coat doesn't need to be pretty. The first coats are to get it full and covered. The last coat is to make it pretty and easy to sand
I''ve been mudding drywall on my jobs (i'm a woodworker) since i saw your video 3 years ago, i'm way better now because of your tricks and i like to do that. Thanks, from Montréal!
Don't even need to finish this video to know it's going to be a good one. Your videos have really helped me get better with finishing and patching. I work with drywall atleast twice a week on repairs and/or finishing.
Taping and coating painted surfaces is always tricky. I was hoping to see if anyone here would comment about the hair spray trick. And I am really glad I heard about it only a couple years after I got into the trade...15 years ago. Hair spray has silicone in it. Spray it on the painted side of the repair prior to applying the coating mud. Leave it to dry a few minutes. The silicone in the hair spray creates a barrier between the mud and the original paint, reducing the pinholes to almost nothing. Also; use thicker mud to apply to that painted part of the repair. I know it is harder to push with the trowel, but you will like the results. Thicker mud allows you to make multiple passes over the area without removing too much at each pass; as each pass helps removing a good number of bubbles. Also; go back to that area after a few minutes, and if there are a lot of bubbles , go over it again, but this time , I always use a 12 inch blade. I find that the better flex of the 12 inch performs better than the trowel....just my opinion. After the sanding, I always use a wide paintbrush to clear the dust off the area, and whatever pinholes I see, I prefill them prior to applying the second coat. if you don't have a paintbrush, but you have a sponge in your water bucket, wring it and use it to wipe the area. That will also reveal the bubble holes. One added bonus is that when you sand the area; you get the smell of the perfume within the hairspray.....quite pleasant I might add. I have hear many times that drywall finishing is an Art. Something true with that statement.
@@MolloRelax I just know alcohol fumes can get you high or light headed. I have gotten light headed from just using to much rubbing alcohol to clean a surface. I wouldn't say it is allergies but the alcoholic fumes.
Just wanted to say since I started my home renos I started to watch your videos. I absolutely love them. You've given me so many new tools to finish my projects instead of highering the only drywaller in a 50km area. He tends to show up drunk or stoned and my project looks like a first year student did it when he has 30years experience. Now I just take the reins and do it. Thank you so much for your informative videos.
Consider hiring a high-school student who shows interest in learning your trade. Not all children are cut out for college and likely are more intelligent spatially than intellectually. In other words they are way better using their hands than reading. Sort of like being 'mechanically inclined' .
I surprises me how many of your videos I can watch and still learn new things. Been taping (and many other things) for about 15 years, but always seems like there's plenty of room for improvement.
I just want to let you know that I REALLY like your videos. I think you ROCK and please keep them coming. I am almost done tearing my kitchen out; and once I remove the framed piece of ceiling that was added to put a soffit above the cabinets; and get the electrical updated and new insulation put in; (I’m sure I’m missing a lot- but I am definitely going to be watching a few of these again bcuz I like your technique- I’m pickin up what your puttin down O.G.!!
I was wondering what I have done wrong when I got bubbles in my drywall mud. Thanks for the tips on mudding. I have done drywall over the years and have learn by trial and error. The tips you have shown today will help a lot in the future. Thank you very much.
Just found your videos a couple of weeks ago and have watched dozens, over and over again! About to start repairing all plaster and lath walls and ceilings. I've kinda got a good idea on trowel pressure but not completely. Would love to see a short video where you go into more detail on trowel pressure (which side has more pressure than the other) while smoothing out heavy texture on large surfaces. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for your explanation in every tiny details to help beginners, by your experience which took years and generously share the dos' and don'ts. I really appreicate very much. I am a senior, trying to renovate a rental suite, have no idea how to build a room adding 2 panels of drywalls. Finding your tutorials are so informative and practical to follow along, it is a huge blessing. By the way, I am a Vancouver,BC, living in Surrey. Now I feel more confident to get start.
Thank you for your videos. Husband and wife team DIY'ing drywall installs to try to save money in this crazy world of inflation and rising maintenance costs. The details help so much!
An excellent video bro🙌🏻 been plastering for the past 2 years and you really helped me with my technique, despite the fact that I work with a gem of a plasterer. You really reconfirmed what we are actually doing here.
Ben, your videos are so valuable to me, I’ve actually started to watch the advertisements with the hope that it helps you make a few nickels. I’m a bit of anti ad freak, as in some videos I’ll actually close the video and restart it 3 times in order to skip the ads. Which actually takes longer, but I hate ads. In your case though, I’m happy to watch them. Thanks for your excellent content and tutelage.
Dude, awesome videos, really helped me do much better work than in the past. Almost done this job but kinda hooked on the content. Love how you keep it light and still informative
Video a skate video. We would love to see a skate video. Even maybe skate and drywall at the same time. lol only you could do that being as great a Sheetrocker that you are
Dam I wish I would have seen your videos before I started a home repair due to a flood. I’ve done a lot of concrete finishing but this is totally different. Thanks I have learned a lot from your videos
Have you a video on setting up the lighting and type of lights you use for the work? Not necessarily for video production, for doing the job to see the lines, and humps.
I’ve found that setting up lights parallel to the area you’re working on will create shadows that show where the problems are. I place the light close to the wall and shine the light down the wall. I use the Dewalt LED light on adjustable stand. It’s expensive but ultimately saves lots of time.
Thanks for sharing these videos. I’m learning how to keep the mud looking flat and smooth, but I’m still having trouble keeping the mud flat. I appreciate your advice and suggestions. 💯🙏💯🙏
Another brilliant and very helpful video, thanks. I wished I'd watched the section about sequencing the coating in the corners before I started! I'll know for next time. I've watched quite a few of your drywall videos and they have been really helpful, thanks.
If you file the edges square to your blade on a 4” knife you can coat both sides of an angle. Takes a lot of practice but it’s worth it. Saves a bunch of time. Just be careful the corners of the blade will be really sharp and can tear the tape
I just put the level on my shop wall that I patched. Had a heck of a valley. So, I used the level and a bunch of mud to rough fill it. It might be dry by the weekend. Lol
on the 6 inch knife subject, I whole heartedly agree I am retired now after injuries in a head on collision. I started finishing using knife/pan, but slowly learned to use hawk/trowel, I found using a trowel was much faster for me, and much easier on my wrists. Anyway back to the 6 inch knife, yes buy good ones, use newer one for taping (helps break it in) older one for finishing. P.S. I always hated breaking in a new knife. I can tell that the trowel and hawk you are using are relatively new, the curve hasn't been worn in yet heheh
The six is my favorite also lol. Its always in my pocket. I just had to fix a really tricky area behind a faucet under a window today and i could only use a six bc of how tight it was
I am so glad I found you! I am learning and having to DIY EVERY finishing thing on a remodel to my fixer home. I made the deal for the builder to just get the frame and walls up, and I would finish myself. In addition to taping and mudding new drywall, I have to patch holes made by squirrels and Rocky Raccoon's family and bad patch jobs that have been painted over by glossy paint. I'm so glad that I stopped right now to look for a way to fill a sink in a wall where the drywall isn't the same level. I am HOPING that I understood how to do that. The left side is about 12" wide the right is 4' and that 12" side is about 1/4" higher than the right. I was afraid to put mud on wider than 8" over the area, but maybe it will come together if I just fill the sunken area and work 12-14 inches over the tape or back to the corner on the left (It's behind the door. I'm going to school on your channel. I enjoy your teaching style!
Thanks. I have a six inch like yours and I find it very handy. Thanks for the tips because they will help me do a better job. I am 82 and still learning.
This is a crafty trade and you need to learn from a master car-painter. Thanks for keeping these coming. Reno-ing my bathroom is requiring some new techniques. You never fail Hot mud is fun and fast. Mix in some plaster repair for good measure.
I grew up in Europe so I learned from my father how to do bricks/ytong+plaster system. When I came to Australia dry wall was weird. Now I know from the videos that many many Australians do not apply enough mud treating plasterboards applying paint on it.
I have learnt a ton from this channel to even be a pro drywaller if given the chance, as I do have the natural talent to feel the mud and now gained the knowledge on how to apply it properly....lol Thank you!
Very beautiful work; it's like ASMR for me. Great tips too thanks! Question; it is way easier to use the concrete trowel and hawk vs box? Guess it depends on how thick the mud is and specific job.
Thanks so much! Now I'm ready to tackle my wall again with your great pro tips! I really didn't understand what I was trying to do before I watched your video--just had a general idea that I wanted to try to get the joint compound on the wall and smooth it out. Your comment about filling bubbles by wiping in both directions will be very useful. Also, I keep opting for the 6" knife, and after watching you use it, I see how versatile it can be. Although I am having trouble seeing the curve in the knife that you were talking about...
I'm not a sheetrock guy, I'm a plumber, but built a cabin back in the woods, made the mistake of using fiberglass tape and lite joint compound on ceilings, between extremely high humidity in the summer, SC, and very dry in the winter from wood stove, seams started detaching from sheetrock.
I use tape on inside metal for most jobs if not using tape machine, it allows you to run both inside edges on first coat, especially if you are a beginner. Thanks for the videos, you the man.
Here’s one for ya. Storing buckets inside each other, put¹ bucket handle inside bottom when stacking and won’t have to deal w/ vacuum/suction of removing a bucket. Cheap trick😉 Thx Ben and have good one ✌🏻 ¹ edited for typo, as fyi that changed comment
It’s actually pretty easy. You just gotta find the right size thumper brush…..roll the area with thinned mud, and thump it. Important to “train” or flatten the brush before using. Some come stapled to a rigid cardboard, so they’re pre-trained.
My project is in my attached garage. Every ceiling joint tape is falling down. Not sure how to verify but I think the drywall error was using multi purpose mud to set the tape. It pulls off with very little resistance and leaves a perfect channel the width of the paper tape. Don’t think I’m going to tackle it until spring. I have so much stuff in my garage it will take the better part of a day to clear it out for access. Plus I have a 55 Chevy that’s show quality and I can’t leave out. Plan right now is to pull the rest of the tape down, clear the compound off the joint the width of the tape, bed fiberfuse tape with quick set and topping with all purpose mud and finish well enough to texture.
"11th thing I wish I knew about finishing drywall when I started is that when you are protecting the floor make sure you mark or cut out around any vent registers so you know where they are don't end up putting your platforms through them" hahaha, all good brotha happens to the best of us , still love ya man your great ! oh and 12th thing I personally wish I knew when starting out is that I found your videos to learn from !
Great Tips! -Thank You. . . . . . Also, appreciate the humility. There is too much Ego in our industry. Your approach, attitude, and skill level is fantastic. -Cheers!
I commented on another video that i think i met you and you just said time to go skate and now im certain ive met you 😂 well thanks for the tips man, great content. Ive avoided drywall mud as much as possible in my life and now im actually looking forward to doing it on this small job
Keep up the great work. I bet you wish you started with a pan and knife instead of a hawk and trowel. The benefits are tremendous like holding a ton of mud and a knife or two under it with same hand lots of versatility. Tight spaces, the fact that you can set it down without spilling mud to name a few. I use my Hawk and trowel for stucco mostly. Great videos that you're cranking out
I started out pan and knife. I do agree that they are more nimble but I think trowels are way faster and spread more efficiently making it easier on the body. But I don’t think this job is easy in the body no matter how you do it.
You could try to simply wet those surfaces where there are bubbles before coating... and spread over this the opposite way you gonna scrape finish... 100% efficient (water & brush and wet those bubbles...:)
A true LOL moment … Ooh, some seagulls in here! And you could not be more correct. It looks and feels just like gull-poop 100%!!! Great video all around. Glad to see VC is back in action. 👊
I really appreciate all of your videos as I am just starting out. Super beneficial! The lighting in the videos is a bit dark. On my television and phone. I have ocd so pls don't take it personal. I'm just trying to see and pay attention to every detail. Thanks again for your videos!
DUDE. I wish I would have known about the curve in knives. I watched this yesterday. Today I put a slight curve in a 6 inch knife and put a skim coat down on about 15 sq ft of wall and 6 sq ft of ceiling without even trying. I'm telling everyone about that tip.
I learned it by accident. I bought a new knife one day and didn’t look at it when choosing it. Got back to the job and noticed a substantial curve in it. I actually didn’t like it at first because I thought it wasn’t supposed to be that way but over time I realized how useful that knife was and would choose it over my other knives.
@@vancouvercarpenter I am uncertain what "curve" you are talking about. Do you mean if you put the knife perpendicular to the wall it curves away on the edge or when you lay the knife blade flat against the wall it is bowed?
Ben, why didn't you put this video out a week ago before I spent 5 days "playing" with mud! LOL This is the most useful advice for getting a bit more into the art of mudding--thank you! Oh, and your previous advice about using Wet n Set tape was a real time saver.
Ive re- sheetrocked my entire house and have done various projects and i have never experienced these "bubbles" you and others talk about. The only products i have used are "pro form" all purpose drywall mud and "sheetrock brand" all purpose drywall mud. Oh ive also used 20 minute hot mud. I use both a trowell and knives to apply the mud. Am i just lucky? Or is something else going on? Dont get me wrong i dont want to get bubbles ,its just weird ive never got them. Lol! Anyways thanks 😊
gotta tell you man, you are a fortunate fellow. Im not saying you were not attractive in your youth, you look to be a handsome man in the photos i see, but the years have aged you wonderfully. I hope i only get better looking like you! finishing my first drywall today wish me luck.
Not a pro waller. I am ex datacom, telecom, electrical. And yeah, I know us telecom and datacom guys are premedanas. I was liasan for the electricians cause I had the patience. First I learned from electricians was stop making small holes and cut what you need then save it next to your work area so the drywall guys already had a good patch. That was a start on drywallers and me getting along. If I had to end up opening more than I planned, I let the GC know so he could tell the guys it was going to need a cut patch. Also learned to just tell they guys I am looking to hacking up their wall so not to finish that area yet, also appreciated by them. As a guy working on my dwelling, I learned to stop going for making it as thin as possible. Cover it and sandpaper is your friend (not an inch thick of course, but being reasonable). I start with covering my tape and fill in the valley. Then I feather it. But, i am coming from a DYI guy perspective here. Extra steps doesn't make or break my job since my job is me. So not a pro way, but as a guy that hated to do this work cause I sucked at it and watching a few channels, I end up will good results even if it is extra work. This channel and a couple of others (all Canadian content providers while I am in the US LOL) got me to feel ok with cutting open walls and running network wiring and electrical and ended up with a finish that maybe not pro, but has gone unnoticed (which is what I want). So, thanks to this channel and the guys that helped me out to not be intimidated.
Great tips on the corner I'm definitely gonna try that I always struggle with the corners not that I can't get it to look nice just that it's a lot of work ur way definitely seems to flow a lot better!
There are not many things I hate more than doing drywall. As a remodel contractor, drywall is part of the job, also part of the huge addition and remodel I’m doing at my house. I learned some new tricks, I will no longer fear the 6” blade and I got some reminders here as well.
@@mangore623 not sure who you’re lashing out at here, but when I say “doing drywall,” I include all the stages of it. No! Not everyone can do drywall. Most people can do it, but mascot them that can, can’t do it well. Very few people can actually do a nice drywall job start to finish!
Mix some (cup of coffee) powder of “Cover coat” to all purposes mud and soap , u can coat painted surface with no bubble , try it, or after 15 years later u will do the same things i said! :)
Despite being a plasterer in England where we skim the whole wall or ceiling, I still love watching these videos. I seldom tape and joint (am pretty horrible at it actually), but when I do I have used Vancouver Carpenters advice and tips. As much as I think that plastering is more skilled of a trade, i definitely respect a skilled tape and jointer, it’s ridiculously difficult to loose the joins and edges and when I see a decent one they’re few and far between
@@vancouvercarpenter mate you could definitely do it with your ability with tape and jointing. Dunno about in Canada but here we use multi finish, mix up a bucket 25kg bag plus 12 litres of water, double that if 2 bags etc, apply it, flatten it and leave it 15 mins or so, repeat, then give it 3 trowels to remove lines and imperfections etc. it’s more timings that you have to master rather than application. But to be fair you done really have much plastering there do you
Could you use food colors to notice the application difference pls specially 2nd and final coat. Coz applying white on white I’m unable to notice how much creases lines are to be left. Thanks to you Your video is really helpful and I’m doing my home muddying myself.
Carpenters chalk works well and won't mess up your paint like some oil containing dyes can. I add some red or blue line chalk to my thinning water bottle a shake it up before mixing it into mud.
Really appreciate the videos. Wondering how you deal with the little crumbs of dried mud that seem to form on the tools after a few minutes. Your tools seem to stay pretty clean. Do you wash them in bucket of water every so often or keep wiping them with a rag or other method? I always have trouble with this.
😂 yes me too. Buttt I’m splitting two rooms so tons of joints and new board and I’ve finished one room. That room doesn’t look the best. After beginning the rest of the work I feel more confident and have muscle memory forming. Taking forever but I’m speeding up the more I do it. The next room I split will be faster and easier.
Loving your videos! Please keep them coming!! I’m learning so much from your knowledge and quick tips. Thank you! Do you have any recommendations for drywall services in Victoria, BC? Cheers, Bry
My a-ha moment was when I realized that sanding can salvage almost any ugly mudding work. Then it became all about minimizing sanding. And once you get that, you don't fuss. Oh yeah, and clean your tools and keep the mud moving, constantly!
I do mostly remodeling and sanding drywall in someone's house makes a MAJOR mess. I learned a trick from an 80 year old man who worked as a drywaller for probably over 60 years or more. He never sanded. So I asked him how he did it and why. He really only sanded his final coat before painting primer to seal everything. It was a light sanding only. Very little dust. So I worked with him a bit and found that if you do several light coats with thinner mix, you really only need to scrape in between coats with a drywall knife where you get little stripes. Other than that, the next coat covers any bubbles or imperfections.
Green, all-purpose mud for base coats, Plus 3 for the top coat. I do 3-5 coats total and only do a short, light sand on the final coat. I have very little drywall dust in my projects and it really helps keep customer homes cleaner as we're doing projects for them.
Now, for new construction, where the mess isn't as much of a problem, we tend to use thicker coats and fewer coats with a lot of sanding. But for remodels, this is a big advantage and my customers REALLY appreciate me doing it this way.
That’s awesome! 3-5after tape? So your level 1-4? Asking as I’m finishing my basement and would like the absolute best dust control solutions.
Hey Ben, I watched a whole bunch of your videos before (and during) tackling my first DIY drywall install. Took me a bit of time and some rework, but i couldn't imagine what it would have taken if not for all your throrough and helpful videos. Massive help!
You are very welcome. And thank YOU so much for the generous super thanks!!!
0:28 Bubbles over paint
2:45 see tape, more mud allows for sanding
5:20 avoid large tools in corners, use smaller
7:36 apply any way, only results matter
10:24 knife with curve allows technique
11:18 sequence corners, one side at time
14:04 6" knife can do larger
16:40 spills on carpet, let dry, scrape up with vacuum
17:25 bucket handle
18:00 corners: prep each side before tuning
18:58 no exact method, unique spots
20:22 clean trowel edges
21:26 stop fussing, sanding resolves
@17:25 That bucket handle trick was slick. I am on lunch break right now, but when I get back to work I’m going to try that on out first thing.
You forgot "stuck" *chuckles
Horse Semen.
22:05 don't set your ladder on an air vent
I agree with your last tip. as a self taught DIY plasterer my tip is to slap it on, skim it off and walk away. obviously don't leave huge globs and humps on the wall but don't play with it too much. pure frustration and you will ruin you 95% perfect work. Much easier to touch up or sand off, as much as sanding sucks!
If you're coating something that is nasty, the first coat doesn't need to be pretty. The first coats are to get it full and covered. The last coat is to make it pretty and easy to sand
I''ve been mudding drywall on my jobs (i'm a woodworker) since i saw your video 3 years ago, i'm way better now because of your tricks and i like to do that. Thanks, from Montréal!
Don't even need to finish this video to know it's going to be a good one. Your videos have really helped me get better with finishing and patching. I work with drywall atleast twice a week on repairs and/or finishing.
I like the tip about letting dropped mud dry then cleaning it up - I used the same technique when the kids played with play-doh
Taping and coating painted surfaces is always tricky. I was hoping to see if anyone here would comment about the hair spray trick. And I am really glad I heard about it only a couple years after I got into the trade...15 years ago.
Hair spray has silicone in it. Spray it on the painted side of the repair prior to applying the coating mud. Leave it to dry a few minutes. The silicone in the hair spray creates a barrier between the mud and the original paint, reducing the pinholes to almost nothing. Also; use thicker mud to apply to that painted part of the repair.
I know it is harder to push with the trowel, but you will like the results. Thicker mud allows you to make multiple passes over the area without removing too much at each pass; as each pass helps removing a good number of bubbles. Also; go back to that area after a few minutes, and if there are a lot of bubbles , go over it again, but this time , I always use a 12 inch blade. I find that the better flex of the 12 inch performs better than the trowel....just my opinion.
After the sanding, I always use a wide paintbrush to clear the dust off the area, and whatever pinholes I see, I prefill them prior to applying the second coat. if you don't have a paintbrush, but you have a sponge in your water bucket, wring it and use it to wipe the area. That will also reveal the bubble holes.
One added bonus is that when you sand the area; you get the smell of the perfume within the hairspray.....quite pleasant I might add.
I have hear many times that drywall finishing is an Art. Something true with that statement.
Sounds like a good idea but I know if use hair spray I will definitely get light headed.
@@michaelmedeiros2089 I guess i neglected to mention that some people might be allergic to hair spray, anyway the trick works.
@@MolloRelax I just know alcohol fumes can get you high or light headed. I have gotten light headed from just using to much rubbing alcohol to clean a surface. I wouldn't say it is allergies but the alcoholic fumes.
Sounds like using clear spray would work too
The cheapest hairspray does the job just fine. No need to spend more than a minimum
Just wanted to say since I started my home renos I started to watch your videos. I absolutely love them. You've given me so many new tools to finish my projects instead of highering the only drywaller in a 50km area. He tends to show up drunk or stoned and my project looks like a first year student did it when he has 30years experience. Now I just take the reins and do it. Thank you so much for your informative videos.
Consider hiring a high-school student who shows interest in learning your trade. Not all children are cut out for college and likely are more intelligent spatially than intellectually. In other words they are way better using their hands than reading. Sort of like being 'mechanically inclined' .
I surprises me how many of your videos I can watch and still learn new things. Been taping (and many other things) for about 15 years, but always seems like there's plenty of room for improvement.
I just want to let you know that I REALLY like your videos. I think you ROCK and please keep them coming. I am almost done tearing my kitchen out; and once I remove the framed piece of ceiling that was added to put a soffit above the cabinets; and get the electrical updated and new insulation put in; (I’m sure I’m missing a lot- but I am definitely going to be watching a few of these again bcuz I like your technique- I’m pickin up what your puttin down O.G.!!
I was wondering what I have done wrong when I got bubbles in my drywall mud. Thanks for the tips on mudding. I have done drywall over the years and have learn by trial and error. The tips you have shown today will help a lot in the future. Thank you very much.
Just found your videos a couple of weeks ago and have watched dozens, over and over again!
About to start repairing all plaster and lath walls and ceilings.
I've kinda got a good idea on trowel pressure but not completely. Would love to see a short video where you go into more detail on trowel pressure (which side has more pressure than the other) while smoothing out heavy texture on large surfaces.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you for your explanation in every tiny details to help beginners, by your experience which took years and generously share the dos' and don'ts. I really appreicate very much. I am a senior, trying to renovate a rental suite, have no idea how to build a room adding 2 panels of drywalls. Finding your tutorials are so informative and practical to follow along, it is a huge blessing. By the way, I am a Vancouver,BC, living in Surrey. Now I feel more confident to get start.
Thank you for your videos. Husband and wife team DIY'ing drywall installs to try to save money in this crazy world of inflation and rising maintenance costs. The details help so much!
An excellent video bro🙌🏻 been plastering for the past 2 years and you really helped me with my technique, despite the fact that I work with a gem of a plasterer. You really reconfirmed what we are actually doing here.
Anybody else crouch down a little while watching this? I kept waiting for the head reveal with plaster bits in it. That is super close. Great video!
Ben, your videos are so valuable to me, I’ve actually started to watch the advertisements with the hope that it helps you make a few nickels. I’m a bit of anti ad freak, as in some videos I’ll actually close the video and restart it 3 times in order to skip the ads. Which actually takes longer, but I hate ads. In your case though, I’m happy to watch them. Thanks for your excellent content and tutelage.
Man skim coating is so hard. Takes me like 14 passes and so much sanding you wouldn't believe
Dude, awesome videos, really helped me do much better work than in the past. Almost done this job but kinda hooked on the content. Love how you keep it light and still informative
This may be one of your best videos. So many practical tips, so well explained! Thank you!
Thanks 😊
Wearing a black shirt is a brave statement when applying drywall mud. Or just another rag, afterwards.
There is no middle ground here. You either have to be supremely confident or supremely stupid. Ben knows he's 😊
Oh thank you so much. I thought I was terrible at drywall until you told explained bubbles from paint. All the work I did was on painted surfaces.
Have a great Friday skate and weekend Ben. Cheers as always for the great content - the perfect segue into my weekend of DIY drywall finishing
I did have a great Friday skate. That was two weeks ago but I had a great one today too😃
Video a skate video. We would love to see a skate video. Even maybe skate and drywall at the same time. lol only you could do that being as great a Sheetrocker that you are
Always good tips. Be kind to each other. Stay safe. Love to all
Dam I wish I would have seen your videos before I started a home repair due to a flood. I’ve done a lot of concrete finishing but this is totally different. Thanks I have learned a lot from your videos
Have you a video on setting up the lighting and type of lights you use for the work? Not necessarily for video production, for doing the job to see the lines, and humps.
I’ve found that setting up lights parallel to the area you’re working on will create shadows that show where the problems are. I place the light close to the wall and shine the light down the wall. I use the Dewalt LED light on adjustable stand. It’s expensive but ultimately saves lots of time.
Thanks for sharing these videos. I’m learning how to keep the mud looking flat and smooth, but I’m still having trouble keeping the mud flat. I appreciate your advice and suggestions. 💯🙏💯🙏
Another brilliant and very helpful video, thanks. I wished I'd watched the section about sequencing the coating in the corners before I started! I'll know for next time. I've watched quite a few of your drywall videos and they have been really helpful, thanks.
If you file the edges square to your blade on a 4” knife you can coat both sides of an angle. Takes a lot of practice but it’s worth it. Saves a bunch of time. Just be careful the corners of the blade will be really sharp and can tear the tape
I just put the level on my shop wall that I patched. Had a heck of a valley. So, I used the level and a bunch of mud to rough fill it. It might be dry by the weekend. Lol
It cracked didnt it
@ actually it didn’t, surprisingly enough. But then, I also had to work it several times.
on the 6 inch knife subject, I whole heartedly agree I am retired now after injuries in a head on collision. I started finishing using knife/pan, but slowly learned to use hawk/trowel, I found using a trowel was much faster for me, and much easier on my wrists.
Anyway back to the 6 inch knife, yes buy good ones, use newer one for taping (helps break it in) older one for finishing.
P.S. I always hated breaking in a new knife.
I can tell that the trowel and hawk you are using are relatively new, the curve hasn't been worn in yet heheh
The six is my favorite also lol. Its always in my pocket. I just had to fix a really tricky area behind a faucet under a window today and i could only use a six bc of how tight it was
For the air bubble portion, I simply use a pump spayer filled with water. Spray, wait 5 minutes, start your final coat.
I am so glad I found you! I am learning and having to DIY EVERY finishing thing on a remodel to my fixer home. I made the deal for the builder to just get the frame and walls up, and I would finish myself. In addition to taping and mudding new drywall, I have to patch holes made by squirrels and Rocky Raccoon's family and bad patch jobs that have been painted over by glossy paint. I'm so glad that I stopped right now to look for a way to fill a sink in a wall where the drywall isn't the same level. I am HOPING that I understood how to do that. The left side is about 12" wide the right is 4' and that 12" side is about 1/4" higher than the right. I was afraid to put mud on wider than 8" over the area, but maybe it will come together if I just fill the sunken area and work 12-14 inches over the tape or back to the corner on the left (It's behind the door. I'm going to school on your channel. I enjoy your teaching style!
Thanks for sharing these valuable advice. Back to fixing yesterdays taping/mudding fiasco 😊
Thanks. I have a six inch like yours and I find it very handy. Thanks for the tips because they will help me do a better job. I am 82 and still learning.
This is a crafty trade and you need to learn from a master car-painter. Thanks for keeping these coming. Reno-ing my bathroom is requiring some new techniques. You never fail
Hot mud is fun and fast. Mix in some plaster repair for good measure.
I grew up in Europe so I learned from my father how to do bricks/ytong+plaster system. When I came to Australia dry wall was weird. Now I know from the videos that many many Australians do not apply enough mud treating plasterboards applying paint on it.
Crucial video for my upstairs reno. Thank you Ben. Your channel is exceptional
I have learnt a ton from this channel to even be a pro drywaller if given the chance, as I do have the natural talent to feel the mud and now gained the knowledge on how to apply it properly....lol Thank you!
Love the ending! Thank you for sharing!😁
Very beautiful work; it's like ASMR for me. Great tips too thanks! Question; it is way easier to use the concrete trowel and hawk vs box? Guess it depends on how thick the mud is and specific job.
Thanks!
My pleasure Chris. And thank you!!!!
Wow this is fun to watch, you make it look so easy. Thanks for the tips buddy.
"some seagulls in here" 😂😂😂 I love watching you! Entertaining while being soooo informative!
Thanks so much! Now I'm ready to tackle my wall again with your great pro tips! I really didn't understand what I was trying to do before I watched your video--just had a general idea that I wanted to try to get the joint compound on the wall and smooth it out. Your comment about filling bubbles by wiping in both directions will be very useful. Also, I keep opting for the 6" knife, and after watching you use it, I see how versatile it can be. Although I am having trouble seeing the curve in the knife that you were talking about...
Your blade might not have much curve. Like I said, I look for ones with a big curve when buying them.
"Some seagulls in here" 🤣
Thanks for all the great tips and info. Love this channel and I'm just a simple homeowner doing some diy
I'm not a sheetrock guy, I'm a plumber, but built a cabin back in the woods, made the mistake of using fiberglass tape and lite joint compound on ceilings, between extremely high humidity in the summer, SC, and very dry in the winter from wood stove, seams started detaching from sheetrock.
I use tape on inside metal for most jobs if not using tape machine, it allows you to run both inside edges on first coat, especially if you are a beginner.
Thanks for the videos, you the man.
Here’s one for ya.
Storing buckets inside each other, put¹ bucket handle inside bottom when stacking and won’t have to deal w/ vacuum/suction of removing a bucket. Cheap trick😉
Thx Ben and have good one ✌🏻
¹ edited for typo, as fyi that changed comment
I'm a simple man: I see a new Vancouver Carpenter video, I click like
Thanks 🙂
I've never been disappointed by any of his videos.
Word.
I do it while watching intro adds 😂
It's only going to take you a week do that room.
Would love to see a video of matching stomped texture repair.
YES!!!! Agreed!
We don’t have that texture here. I’ve never seen it in the wild
@@vancouvercarpenter Hah! Okay. Keep the videos coming, they are great.
It’s actually pretty easy. You just gotta find the right size thumper brush…..roll the area with thinned mud, and thump it. Important to “train” or flatten the brush before using. Some come stapled to a rigid cardboard, so they’re pre-trained.
My project is in my attached garage. Every ceiling joint tape is falling down. Not sure how to verify but I think the drywall error was using multi purpose mud to set the tape. It pulls off with very little resistance and leaves a perfect channel the width of the paper tape. Don’t think I’m going to tackle it until spring. I have so much stuff in my garage it will take the better part of a day to clear it out for access. Plus I have a 55 Chevy that’s show quality and I can’t leave out. Plan right now is to pull the rest of the tape down, clear the compound off the joint the width of the tape, bed fiberfuse tape with quick set and topping with all purpose mud and finish well enough to texture.
Great videos! I'm doing my first full addition in an old house. I don't think I have a single even joint and these tips are really helping.
Amazing video, bro. Thank you.
"11th thing I wish I knew about finishing drywall when I started is that when you are protecting the floor make sure you mark or cut out around any vent registers so you know where they are don't end up putting your platforms through them" hahaha, all good brotha happens to the best of us , still love ya man your great !
oh and 12th thing I personally wish I knew when starting out is that I found your videos to learn from !
If you sand the painted wall then it wont bubble.
Great Tips! -Thank You. . . . . . Also, appreciate the humility. There is too much Ego in our industry. Your approach, attitude, and skill level is fantastic. -Cheers!
European stores have wide knives. It's super convenient for leveling ceilings and avoiding the speed-bump humps
I commented on another video that i think i met you and you just said time to go skate and now im certain ive met you 😂 well thanks for the tips man, great content. Ive avoided drywall mud as much as possible in my life and now im actually looking forward to doing it on this small job
I learn something every time. Really appreciate your style, cadence, and tempo. You really make it look easy
Watching your videos have made my work look better and better as time goes on. TY for sharing your talent. I continue to grow. 👏
Keep up the great work. I bet you wish you started with a pan and knife instead of a hawk and trowel. The benefits are tremendous like holding a ton of mud and a knife or two under it with same hand lots of versatility.
Tight spaces, the fact that you can set it down without spilling mud to name a few. I use my Hawk and trowel for stucco mostly.
Great videos that you're cranking out
I started out pan and knife. I do agree that they are more nimble but I think trowels are way faster and spread more efficiently making it easier on the body. But I don’t think this job is easy in the body no matter how you do it.
@@vancouvercarpenter True that!
Thanks for the reply. Many blessings
You could try to simply wet those surfaces where there are bubbles before coating... and spread over this the opposite way you gonna scrape finish... 100% efficient (water & brush and wet those bubbles...:)
I randomly and unexpectedly cackled when your trowel got stuck to the ceiling early on 🤣
Great video. Your'e like the Bob Ross of drywall. thanks for sharing all of your knowledge
could you please make a session on finishing and the tools best for this purpose? Thanks
You rock! I appreciate all your videos! Did someone say "Keep on Rockin?" Hell Yes! Thank you!
A true LOL moment … Ooh, some seagulls in here! And you could not be more correct. It looks and feels just like gull-poop 100%!!! Great video all around. Glad to see VC is back in action. 👊
Thanks 😊
I really appreciate all of your videos as I am just starting out. Super beneficial! The lighting in the videos is a bit dark. On my television and phone. I have ocd so pls don't take it personal. I'm just trying to see and pay attention to every detail. Thanks again for your videos!
DUDE. I wish I would have known about the curve in knives. I watched this yesterday. Today I put a slight curve in a 6 inch knife and put a skim coat down on about 15 sq ft of wall and 6 sq ft of ceiling without even trying. I'm telling everyone about that tip.
I learned it by accident. I bought a new knife one day and didn’t look at it when choosing it. Got back to the job and noticed a substantial curve in it. I actually didn’t like it at first because I thought it wasn’t supposed to be that way but over time I realized how useful that knife was and would choose it over my other knives.
@@vancouvercarpenter I am uncertain what "curve" you are talking about. Do you mean if you put the knife perpendicular to the wall it curves away on the edge or when you lay the knife blade flat against the wall it is bowed?
Ben, why didn't you put this video out a week ago before I spent 5 days "playing" with mud! LOL This is the most useful advice for getting a bit more into the art of mudding--thank you! Oh, and your previous advice about using Wet n Set tape was a real time saver.
Ive re- sheetrocked my entire house and have done various projects and i have never experienced these "bubbles" you and others talk about. The only products i have used are "pro form" all purpose drywall mud and "sheetrock brand" all purpose drywall mud. Oh ive also used 20 minute hot mud. I use both a trowell and knives to apply the mud. Am i just lucky? Or is something else going on? Dont get me wrong i dont want to get bubbles ,its just weird ive never got them. Lol! Anyways thanks 😊
The bubbles will look like little craters after the bubbles pop. Only happens on repairs over gloss/satin paint I guess.
22:00
Least didn’t step off ladder/platform into your bucket of mud, have done and seen, not fun🤣
I’ve done it. I was using my bucket as a step and didn’t have the lid on firmly. Shin deep in mud😂
gotta tell you man, you are a fortunate fellow. Im not saying you were not attractive in your youth, you look to be a handsome man in the photos i see, but the years have aged you wonderfully. I hope i only get better looking like you! finishing my first drywall today wish me luck.
I love when he makes the mudding vidoes such as these..
Pretty good for you is great for us rookie out her. Seriously thx for all your help
Love your videos. Really informative and to the point. Plus your little tips, help a lot.
Not a pro waller. I am ex datacom, telecom, electrical. And yeah, I know us telecom and datacom guys are premedanas. I was liasan for the electricians cause I had the patience. First I learned from electricians was stop making small holes and cut what you need then save it next to your work area so the drywall guys already had a good patch. That was a start on drywallers and me getting along. If I had to end up opening more than I planned, I let the GC know so he could tell the guys it was going to need a cut patch. Also learned to just tell they guys I am looking to hacking up their wall so not to finish that area yet, also appreciated by them.
As a guy working on my dwelling, I learned to stop going for making it as thin as possible. Cover it and sandpaper is your friend (not an inch thick of course, but being reasonable). I start with covering my tape and fill in the valley. Then I feather it. But, i am coming from a DYI guy perspective here. Extra steps doesn't make or break my job since my job is me. So not a pro way, but as a guy that hated to do this work cause I sucked at it and watching a few channels, I end up will good results even if it is extra work. This channel and a couple of others (all Canadian content providers while I am in the US LOL) got me to feel ok with cutting open walls and running network wiring and electrical and ended up with a finish that maybe not pro, but has gone unnoticed (which is what I want).
So, thanks to this channel and the guys that helped me out to not be intimidated.
Great tips on the corner I'm definitely gonna try that I always struggle with the corners not that I can't get it to look nice just that it's a lot of work ur way definitely seems to flow a lot better!
You are a great teacher. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Cheers!
There are not many things I hate more than doing drywall. As a remodel contractor, drywall is part of the job, also part of the huge addition and remodel I’m doing at my house. I learned some new tricks, I will no longer fear the 6” blade and I got some reminders here as well.
Drywall is easy, mudding is hard
For Christ's sake, stop splitting hairs; any idiot can install drywall.
@@mangore623 not sure who you’re lashing out at here, but when I say “doing drywall,” I include all the stages of it. No! Not everyone can do drywall. Most people can do it, but mascot them that can, can’t do it well. Very few people can actually do a nice drywall job start to finish!
I only listen to your videos! Very clear and precise! I just wish I was 15 yrs younger 😂 for the stamina up n down ladders
You're tips helped me so much time, thank you so much
Great show Mr. Ben, thank you for sharing
Mix some (cup of coffee) powder of “Cover coat” to all purposes mud and soap , u can coat painted surface with no bubble , try it, or after 15 years later u will do the same things i said! :)
One of my biggest problems is too many ridges and thinking “I’ll come back and sand it” and then I end up with a lot of sanding.
Keep up the amazing work Ben you always do and amazing job on your work and your videos. Your videos never disappoint.
Despite being a plasterer in England where we skim the whole wall or ceiling, I still love watching these videos. I seldom tape and joint (am pretty horrible at it actually), but when I do I have used Vancouver Carpenters advice and tips. As much as I think that plastering is more skilled of a trade, i definitely respect a skilled tape and jointer, it’s ridiculously difficult to loose the joins and edges and when I see a decent one they’re few and far between
I would love to learn to plaster and I respect it a ton but I will probably never have opportunity to really learn it.
@@vancouvercarpenter mate you could definitely do it with your ability with tape and jointing. Dunno about in Canada but here we use multi finish, mix up a bucket 25kg bag plus 12 litres of water, double that if 2 bags etc, apply it, flatten it and leave it 15 mins or so, repeat, then give it 3 trowels to remove lines and imperfections etc. it’s more timings that you have to master rather than application. But to be fair you done really have much plastering there do you
Never know what you're into until you apply the mud and size up what's needed. 6" knife or flat trowel. Trial and error develop the skill.
Could you use food colors to notice the application difference pls specially 2nd and final coat. Coz applying white on white I’m unable to notice how much creases lines are to be left.
Thanks to you Your video is really helpful and I’m doing my home muddying myself.
Carpenters chalk works well and won't mess up your paint like some oil containing dyes can. I add some red or blue line chalk to my thinning water bottle a shake it up before mixing it into mud.
Great video! Always wanted to know how to remove / repair those curtain valences
Thank you. You are awesome brother.
Really appreciate the videos. Wondering how you deal with the little crumbs of dried mud that seem to form on the tools after a few minutes. Your tools seem to stay pretty clean. Do you wash them in bucket of water every so often or keep wiping them with a rag or other method? I always have trouble with this.
I'm always washing mine in a bucket of water.
One thing I wish I knew before mudding drywall as a beginner a week ago. Just pay someone else to do it.
😂
Amen!
Hahaha
😂 yes me too. Buttt I’m splitting two rooms so tons of joints and new board and I’ve finished one room. That room doesn’t look the best. After beginning the rest of the work I feel more confident and have muscle memory forming. Taking forever but I’m speeding up the more I do it. The next room I split will be faster and easier.
Thank you very much. Your vids are very informative, clear and enjoyable. Greetings from Israel :)
Loving your videos! Please keep them coming!!
I’m learning so much from your knowledge and quick tips.
Thank you!
Do you have any recommendations for drywall services in Victoria, BC?
Cheers,
Bry
The tears in your eyes with that vent 😂, great video man thanks
My a-ha moment was when I realized that sanding can salvage almost any ugly mudding work. Then it became all about minimizing sanding. And once you get that, you don't fuss. Oh yeah, and clean your tools and keep the mud moving, constantly!