Drywall Tip For Smooth Flat Walls and Ceilings

During a lunch break at work yesterday I took a walk around the lumber isles at Homedepot.  One of the employees asked if I needed anything and I told them I was looking for inspiration for my kitchen remodeling project.  I also explained that I just finished my first round of taping and muding the new drywall.  

The Homedepot employee then suggested that I shine a light down the side of the wall because it will show where there is any unevenness in the wall or ceiling.  

When I returned home this evening I rigged a bicycle light to the end of an extension pole to shine down the wall.  Then I wedged the pole between the ceiling and the floor next to the edge of the wall I was about to sand.  After I adjusted the light to shine down the length of the wall I was amazed to see how much of the unevenness it revealed.

Here is a picture of the bicycle headlight rigged to the extension pole

Here is another angle that shows just how uneven the dried mud is on the wall

. . . and I thought I had done such an awesome job of aplying the mud.  The side-lighting causes any unevenness to cast a longer shadow thus making it much easier to sand things smoothand flat.  Here is the same section of wall and ceiling.

and here is the same wall after the final mudd

Much better, eh?

I still have one more sanding to do before I prime for painting.

It's also worth pointing out that the dust from the joint compound is really nasty stuff.  Don't breath it and don't let it get on your skin.  I find the little face masks inefective against the dust so I wear a full face mask, eye protection over my glasses, a hat, long sleve shirt, and gloves.  Here I am, all outfited for sanding down drywall.

I'm taking the day off from work tomorrow so I can have two full days to get the walls ready to prime and the ceiling ready to texture.

I'm wondering if I should prime the ceiling first then texture or visaversa.