Drywall & walls
Sanding drywall mud after taping
Two grits. The whole ceiling. No regrets.
Drywall sanding is a confidence game. Pole sander on the flats, sponge in the corners, and a fine grit final pass that catches what the eye missed.
The climb
The exact sequence, in order.
- 1 120
Knock down the bulk of the mud
Pole sander on walls and ceilings. Even pressure, overlapping passes.
- 2 220
Final smoothing before primer
Hand sponge or pole sander with a 220 screen. Spot-check with a raking light.
Reach for
3M Angled Sanding Sponges (6-pack) — Wet or Dry
Watch out for
The things that quietly ruin the job.
- ·Use a raking light — a work light held parallel to the wall shows every imperfection.
- ·Don't sand the paper face of the drywall. Once you fuzz the paper, primer will telegraph the texture.
- ·Mask the room. Drywall dust is the finest, most invasive dust in construction.
Questions people ask
The practical part.
Wet sponge vs sandpaper?
Wet sponging reduces dust but tears up the paper if you go too hard. Use it on small patches only — full rooms are faster with dry abrasive and a dust extractor.
Do I sand between coats of mud?
Lightly, with 220, to knock down ridges. Don't go heavy — you'll just have to re-mud.
Keep going