Beginner Drywall Tips! Taping Flat Joints

Keep it simple!

[@jimhouse9961]

Wow, someone who actually knows how to tape. I usually watch these videos and cringe. As a drywall contractor of 20+ years, I can say that you are giving out valuable information for free. Good on you!

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thank you!

[@1966johnnywayne]

On a short wall like this, I'm sure it doesn't matter if you have horizontal or vertical joints, but in order to avoid butt joints on longer walls do you hang sheets so that joints are vertical?

[@tylergoodland4289]

​@@1966johnnywaynedepends on stud spacing...

[@blademargath]

It is amazing how many professional drywallers....hate that term.... still screw up flats

[@JosephDawson1986]

​@@1966johnnywayneyou should only hang vertical in commercial buildings if fire codes dictate the seam is the entire length of the framing.

[@noahlankford1]

"it just looks better, probably doesn't matter that much" knowing his work will be covered up but still cares about his tape is talent

[@TheDriveInGuys]

Not talent. #perfectionism

[@nboccanfuso]

That has literally nothing to do with talent lol, any schmuck can cut tape.

[@arthurr8670]

It gets covered but you can still see the difference if the wall is nicely flat or not.

[@Justmekpc]

You’re kidding as you can see if it’s done right or not

[@davidwilliams9386]

Craftsmanship

[@lanalovesjesus6133]

Dry walled my whole house that we renovated because of this guys videos. Never done it before and man, what great advice and tips🙌

[@tubguy7099]

ID LIKE TO GO OVER THOSE WALLS WITH A SPOTLIGHT !!JUST KIDDING,IF IT WERE MY HOME, AND MY FIRST TIME TAPING, I WOULD PERSONALLY PAY FOR A LEVEL 4 OR 5 FINISH MY FIST TIME TAPING WAS A MESS ,LIKE ALOT OF OTHER FIRST TIMERS... THIS IS WHY WHEN YOU LEARN THE ART OF TAPING,..THE BOSS WILL REQUIRE YOU TO SAND YOUR OWN WORK,.. BECAUSE 1ST TIMERS WILL DO ALOT OF SANDING,,,AND ITS NO FAIR FOR THE SEASONED PRO TO SAND THE ROOKIES MISTAKES all day.. AND THERE ARE ALOT OF MISTAKES USUALLY !!!.. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR TAPING GUYS!!

[@lanalovesjesus6133]

@@tubguy7099 I can and have gone over it with a spotlight. Even used the 12 scraper to make sure my seams were level the whole way. Vancouver carpenter did a great job teacher especially since I’ve never done it. Been 3 years here now and no cracks 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@AndrossUT]

You did the whole thing dry? No mud?

[@lanalovesjesus6133]

@@AndrossUT all his tips helped me do my WHOLE house. Been 3 years and no cracks or anything.

[@victorhardin2186]

Will you marry me ? Seriously

[@danriel4819]

I’m an electrician now, but before getting licensed I used your vids to expand my handyman skills and kept my family fed. Now, time permitting, I offer the drywall repair and professionally repair my openings. My clients love it. Made an extra couple hundred just yesterday. If I time things right, I get my openings done and wire pulled first thing and then work on all installations while each layer dries. I’ve now near perfected using 20 min mud to get a near perfect finish, often in just a couple passes. It averages maybe 40 min of extra work including cleanup. I let them know up front, I’m not staying to sand and paint, but in the end it looks better than their other patch work and they’re stoked. Took years to get polished but it lands so many jobs and great reviews! Much appreciated!!

[@danawagner5301]

I did some renovation and I decide I would never finish sheetrock again! I'll pay a pro next time! Lmao😂😢😂

[@corydonahue2340]

Skateboarders in the real world out here educating people in there careers. Awesome Ben.

[@markjohnston5831]

I like Ben he's just a cool ass dude

[@jayeye4798]

Rips on the board...gyp and skate!!

[@Quantum_Conundrum]

I knew I’ve seen him before. And now I remember him building a whole ledge out of concrete. Damn time flies.

[@kennymccormick8295]

their* Get educated.

[@jameswright7125]

joinnt compound U dink ...

[@theoriginalmonstermaker]

I had done over a dozen projects, and was nervous (rightfully so, bc i sucked) and resentful everytime i got to the mud phase... then i watched straight DAYS worth of your videos, and it completely changed my ability. Mudding is still one of those things that requires a ton of practice and a bit of finesse, but seeing it done the right way, and hearing a clear explanation, helps a great deal 👍 Much obliged!

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thanks!!!

[@mndlessdrwer]

I've found that the thing that had the most profound impact on my mudding and patching has been (1.) using the right compound and a loose enough mix, (2.) applying way more compound to the wall than I'll end up needing, and (3.) using the right size putty knife. I don't think I'll ever buy spackle again in my life after working with a pre-mix drywall mud. Sure, it takes longer to dry, but man is it just vastly easier to work with. You also need to use a putty knife that is large enough to span across the depression you're trying to fill, touching the flat part of the drywall on either side. In my limited experience, the larger you can go, the better, but the more tiring it can be and you may need to use a smaller one to apply the mud before spreading and leveling with the larger knife.

[@awholelotofnothing6456]

I've been doing drywall since I was 12. Now I run my own business and I'm teaching my brothers as well. It took me a really long time to get food at everything.

[@icarrera6969]

I take my time doing the framing right and hanging the drywall....an wait about 2 months before I hire a expert to do taping an mud ....i do sanding later ...an get the wife to paint.

[@theoriginalmonstermaker]

@@mndlessdrwer definitely good advice... if you're already struggling, trying to use cheap/ improper tools makes it MUCH worse

[@lotsoffeelings7975]

As someone who decorated cakes for a living for a while, I am amazed at how much like making a good cake drywall is! Fascinating

[@arthurr8670]

I guess you are right, I do both but neither professionally, and I do them in almost the same way.

[@jamesgifford1150]

Another reminder from a professional finisher. The tape has a crease..make sure it’s pointed into the seam and not folded out.

[@programmer6428]

@jamieandrick6541 it doesnt matter lol

[@DoD890]

​@@programmer6428How so? What do you suppose the reason would be for his suggestion?

[@programmer6428]

@@DoD890 to sound like a smartass 😂😂

[@MrSAIVIBO]

So it can be easily folded into corner joints if necessary

[@Spagapolis]

I learned in 20 seconds something I've been trying to figure out for a year. Thank you!

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Happy to help!

[@RunDMS]

Now try his tre-flip tutorial.

[@bryanpinto4051]

yeah sure. lets see you try to apply the compound. its easy to say it. You can tell a person who knows how to tape by if they keep putting the good mud back in the pan instead of on the walls. when cleaning off the tape never put the mud back in the pan. Put it on another joint. Why put it in the pan only to take it out again. this dude dont know.

[@Marco-ki2jr]

Same.

[@chrissteer6402]

​@bryanpinto4051 he's taking excess off and putting it back in to be used. This dude DOES know Internet dweller

[@Danko88]

love these pro tips, over the years of watching my fav drywaller I can actual tape a joint now.

[@1984isReal]

Ben's the best. A real contractor doing real work and running into real problems too. He calmly deals with it all, showing the good, bad, and ugly.

[@nerdly44]

Always a pleasure to watch a tradesman who is great at his craft.

[@jessmoser9406]

Great video. Straight to the point and the ACTUAL way to do this. No shortcut or "tiktok" tricks. 👍

[@eugeniodelasheras1]

I have been watching you for years, and I have learned a lot about drywalling. Thanks to your advice, I was able to renovate 3 older units that were destroyed by tenants. Cheers!

[@mitchellsittinger7430]

The Master craftsmanship that most people take for granted has always amazed me.

[@floppycheese7]

Good stuff. I have done drywall before and struggled to make it look as good as you just did in 4 seconds. I’m using this in the future for sure. Thanks for sharing

[@beckymash12]

I learned so much from this guy. Saved me hundreds of dollars repairing my parents' home. Forever grateful.

[@brandonTHEshiados]

This guy seems like a real nice guy and great to learn from.

[@duder596]

Guy is a sick skateboarder too

[@Zeddicus_Zorander]

Also a wicked dancer

[@garysmith9015]

He has plenty of videos, he is called he Vancouver carpenter. He is awesome

[@Zeddicus_Zorander]

@@garysmith9015 but foreal he is a bad ass skateboarder. Check him out. Mind boggling skills this man has. Cheers eh!

[@rtnote9394]

Shred, tape, and bed, you’re crazy man and I love all your tutorials from skating to drywall work. You’re an artist on so many levels

[@hamsanvich]

Finally someone with good technique on here. I was taught by 2 old mexican men how to tape and float and they both use the same technique as you.

[@XyzXyz-pm2rj]

Okay this was never taught to me and it makes SO much sense!! So that concave allows the layering of compound so it doesn’t create a bulge when mudding the walls. So simple yet genius

[@AnalogesConstruct]

Thank you for sharing all your knowledge. If it wasn't for people like you, I would not have been able to get my foot in the door into the construction field. Really appreciate dude!

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Glad to help

[@rolandedrummer9723]

Imagine before KZbin. Many years ago my dad spend hours figuring this stuff out on his own at his farmhouse. Poor guy did all the wrong things first but eventually got it.

[@4Leaf36]

It didn't even register in my brain that i used to watch your skatr vids. Great content in multiple disciplines!

[@cordellwalker-wn7nq]

“Just looks better, probably doesn’t matter that much”. No sir you had it right the first time, workmanship and pride ALWAYS matter that much

[@redblake66]

You’re a virtuous man; many will appreciate your teachings.

[@margehaiduc9096]

My brother and I built up our basement,at our first home, he taught me a lot about mudding, he said me to make sure mud is thin, I thought it was and ended up with a lot of sanding....lol...lesson learned, I have fixed many holes in the wall .. couldn't tell there was a hole.. Thanks Don😊

[@spectate0074]

Finally someone does it the right way, no fast method, no ego construction, just simple and easy to follow.

[@darrenmackenzie1892]

Best taper ever on you tube and hes a joiner

[@Elsa-qy9hr]

EXACTLY what i was looking for❤ THANKS & continued success 🙌

[@K3NnY_G]

Nice to see one of these videos where it's genuine info, as a painter for many years I thank you for actually wiping the tape out the right way.

[@willwesten3749]

You're a solid creator and an amazing drywaller, thanks for tips man. Having my own business is a lot easier to run, with people like you around.

[@mad13ee]

My dad drywalled for so many years when I was a kid. He was so good at it. I love him so much and just proud of the work he did.

[@AJK323]

ok

[@sasquatch5603]

It's not about you

[@mad13ee]

Seeing that this is how I am connecting with the guy who made this video, yeah, it is. Thanks though. @@sasquatch5603

[@210rocstar7]

Remodeling my entire dining and living area and learning so much, thanks.

[@dinosoarskill17]

I like the attention to detail with the tape. It's the pride in your work, regardless of who notices.

[@bradyvilhauer4445]

VC you have made so many more projects happen than you realize. I know you’re aware of your viewing numbers but I guarantee you would underestimate how many people actually went and started the project they were afraid to do, or even more so, finished their current project with flying colors all thanks to your videos. I just did touch up mud last night on my over-cut outlet holes and I have literally only ever mudded once in my life - the inside of my 12x8 room, and I feel like a beast now with the mud. I’m still a noob. But you have instilled so much confidence in me. You’ve quickly become one of my favorite KZbin creators ever haha. The other night I found myself just watching a mud video from you even though I thought I was completely done mudding like in my whole life 😆 it’s just entertaining and you can tell you’re here simply to help us out!!

[@jenniferbreidenbach579]

Working on a lot of drywall. This is definitely helpful, thank you!

[@Bigbear4224]

This is one of the hardest parts to learn with drywall. Some people get it and some definitely do not. This guy knows what he is doing, I could definitely learn a thing or two from him.

[@gnosticreverend6354]

I used to do plumbing and years ago you really helped me out so that I could offer to patch customers' drywall as well, and now I have a handyman business and do a lot of drywall patching which I was afraid to do before I saw your videos. So imagine how hard I tripped out when, as a skater for over two decades, I discovered your other videos lmao.

[@JustinBeaudoin]

You’re 100 percent the reason my first taping drywall job went well. It wasn’t perfect but for a first timer it looks damn good after sanding and painting! Thank you.

[@BlackouTTProductions]

i never knew there was a dip on the edges for the mud. awesome

[@ryanmcgowan3061]

Only on the long sides.

[@politicalfisherman540]

Do you live under a rock?

[@ryanmcgowan3061]

@@politicalfisherman540 A... sheet rock?

[@politicalfisherman540]

@@ryanmcgowan3061 lol

[@darianistead2239]

It's called a taper.. Both edges on sheets are tapered for vertical use or ceilings or you can get sheets for horizontal walls which have a tapered and a square edge with the two tapers butted in the centre..

[@andrometer2382]

side swipe is next level A lot of people can’t do that

[@politicalfisherman540]

Lmao

[@brandonjensen5292]

Im still trying

[@Asphaltaperider]

No, it's beginner. Next legal is putting it on the upper corner and l running the whole joint with one pass. That is next level. Joint this short is one pass and done.

[@jdewitt-pn9kr]

What, you mean Level 2?

[@CbrF4i600cc]

He hasn't even mastered it

[@siegegrave5829]

I don't even care about the topic, but this is a no BS tutorial that is informative and time conscientious. I wish more videos were like this. Great job!

[@BearsBetterHaveMyHoney]

I’ve never done dry wall and I still love these videos.

[@joshd108]

I do medium size jobs and patches. I’m no good with paper tape. I just get 90min hot mud and mesh tape, and I can get 2-3 coats in the same day!

[@Stefan_Smith]

I need to save this, didn't even know you could check the flat with the mud knife

[@tittyrino]

I watched you for years and have learned enough to make so much more money. I now do Drywall,Electrical,Framing,Siding,Roofing,Decking,Doors,Windows,Wood Floors Vinyl Floors,Plumbing and much more at a VERY High standard. Thank you brother.

[@TomIdelson]

Oooh! It's the way he squared the tape that really did it for me! I love highly skilled people (especially beautiful ones!)

[@dunebuggy1286]

I followed his videos three years ago to do my daughter's house. The best advice I've had in drywalling. I got the job done that looks great.

[@ronaldmunoz2411]

"probably doesn't matter that much" Thank you for your honesty.

[@JohnBender1313]

The "probably" in there implies he doesn't know. There's reasons for it. Many. I'm an insulator and don't even do drywall but this is pretty hack job.

[@lz2093]

@@JohnBender1313 Hack job?!

[@JohnBender1313]

@lz2093 yes. I kinda hate to say this but have you ever met a Mexican or south American drywaller? Like people worth more than 13 bucks an hour doing what this guy can't do for $30?

[@flippopotamuss]

For the DIY: notice he said “all purpose mud”. That was a specific type which has an adhesive mixed in with it. Its the green top mud buckets. After taping tho, switch to plus 3 mud or ultralight as they sand waaaaaaay easier

[@MagicPlants]

I love seeing the extra detail like squaring off the tape to make it look nice. I guarantee you're putting that extra detail and care into every other aspect of the build. Fantastic. Keep up the great work.

[@tps1990]

This is the guy who teached me how to renovate my walls in my entrance 😄👌🏼 Thanks

[@jimdandy6452]

Seriously? I never knew drywall was tapered like that! It does make perfect sense though

[@parkerbell4896]

I always wet the paper first, helps it stick and keep the air bubbles out

[@gillbates3104]

Thin your mud instead. You'll thank me later

[@markskirby]

I had to mud and drywall a new shop with little to no experience and I’m pretty darn impressed with how it turned out but your videos were a MAJOR help to me. Thanks :)

[@n4nn3rss]

i did this job for a week, before giving up, it is HARD work, especially the ceilings. props to you guys 👏👏

[@DouglasCottrell]

I just use fiberglass tape. Apply tape first then mud. Never had a crack or bad joint.

[@eddiewinehosen6665]

Same. No need for the first layer of mud, tape and then just mud until flush.

[@Gray84117]

Yea cool story ya donut.

[@ericdeissler209]

@@Gray84117what is a donut? Loser. Fiberglass tape all day!!!!!

[@ericdeissler209]

And hot mud!

[@JasonEllingsworth]

yeah it is faster to use mesh with 45 minute mud. You can get your block coat on in the first pass, then go right in to the premixed bucket mud on the skim coat. Then you are done much faster. Do note that you can only do this on your flat joints. No mesh tape on corners!

[@leetxjd]

You make it look so easy - but if I attempted it, it would look awful.

[@CharlesInMotion]

One of the things I find tricky is mixing the mud to the perfect consistency. Makes a huge difference when you get it just right.

[@rolfeb]

There's a ton of DIYers who've learned how to do a pretty good job by watching Ben's videos. (I'm certainly one of them).

[@alexdavis9711]

When you try, just remember this is the first step and doesn't need to be pretty/isn't supposed to be perfect (yet!)

[@BosisofSweden]

Very informative. Love seeing skilful people work!

[@rollypolly.1]

I have watched my dad countless times doing this when i was younger. Making a good job for drywall takes lots of skills. My father did jobs for restaurants and houses in all of Montreal 🇨🇦⚜️

[@woohunter1]

Rule Number one: mix your mud a little wetter than you think you want.

[@davidjasso6194]

With a little more practice you'll do a cleaner pass! Once you do butt joints that's when you can call yourself a drywall finisher 🎉🎉🎉🎉 keep up the good work

[@1966johnnywayne]

On a short wall like this, I'm sure it doesn't matter if you have horizontal or vertical joints, but in order to avoid butt joints on longer walls do you hang sheets so that joints are vertical?

[@deer8730]

@@1966johnnywayne when you hang drywall vertically you will have way more joints to mud so its not normally done

[@JasonEllingsworth]

This is incorrect. You have the same exact amount of linear feet of joint to mud. Orientation does not change this. Typically in a long hallway in commercial buildings, we do stand the sheets to avoid butt joints. We order the sheet length to be a bit higher than the ceiling height. @@deer8730

[@kaninramone6365]

Im getting housework done and you showing what these words mean makes me feel less stupid. Ty

[@lonestar2078]

this and the video about having the right depth for your screws just confirms I'd suck at putting up drywall. glad someone competent knows the trade because I sure as hell don't

[@Messael1994]

So after that layer of mud do you wait until it dries to fill up that gap?

[@garydail290]

Yes, I do the bedd coat with an 8" knife, on the flats only.

[@DaDaDo661]

You CAN also do a coat on top of the tape before the bottom dries, but most drywallers allow the taping coat to dry first. You would then follow it up with 2 or 3 more coats gradually increasing the width of the mud

[@simonmonty7171]

The reason to let it be untill it dries out is the tape will shrink and retract as moisture leaves the mud. It helps having flatter joints.

[@gerryhazelton9569]

Also depends if it properly heated . You can literally get cracks by coating tape with wet mud behind it . Might as well use mesh and easysand if your good enough .

[@fredfinks]

@@garydail290 How is the concave / depression created? (not a tradesman. In australia, the gyprock/drywall sheets are perfectly flat)

[@lostparadox8955]

it took me a second but i figured out i watch your skateboarding videos and truck reviews lol

[@tronpig]

Mans selling his work very well in this video, making sure the tape is square and such just so it looks better even though it doesnt matter, i like him

[@diy-hyrum9842]

Glad to see you started doing shorts.

[@latinobro76]

I love your drywall skills brother, I'm big fan of yours

[@Joey.Darkwoods-Studio]

Cool... a no bullshit video on how it's actually done. I didn't think some people still made these!

[@jjmoberly1117]

This guy is my favorite Canadian. I just want you all to know. From the US with love.

[@rjhooper9226]

Wow. Someone who actually knows how to mud. Good on you getting good info out there. I see so many of these where It’s just not right

[@user-ks8fv5vo7t]

I’m a concrete finisher by trade but can honestly say I love drywall. So satisfying 🤤

[@MadsWorld34]

i followed you on youtube and did my house 100% from your videos. and i think i did a pretty good job. thanks to you. so THANKS again for tips.

[@TheUnseenSoldier]

Going through KZbin shorts is wild. Just went through 20 cringy “How-to” videos of things being done outlandishly wrong. But among the pile of those garbage videos, you have shiny gems like this! 💎

[@musclegeek1991]

Finally someone who isn’t rushing it to try to look cool

[@rjensen4896]

Thank you for putting this information out there. Unfortunately there are many employers who either don't know or won't teach you but expect you to know.

[@richkroberts]

He makes it look easy. Drywall mudding takes a lot of practice to get a good result. Clearly he’s being doing it for a long time.

[@tlc2104]

I still say you have the best taping videos on the www....hi from Kelowna 😊

[@christopherhunt147]

The same way I was taught. Well, except I was taught to wet my tape before putting it in the mud. Why I don't remember but it works good. Excellent how-to.

[@boreragnarok]

i didn't know you could use mud for this, thanks for the tip

[@88oaks54]

Quality work. Awesome!

[@orfeo-7_]

I love muddin...... seriously love that he took his time in this a showed the right method. To Manny people speed run it and intimidate new kids put of an easy task. Kind of relaxing actually.

[@estusf1ask]

awesome to see a pro in their element, damn fine work.

[@RayyM2]

Okay, I never realized that drywall had that feature. It now suddenly makes sense why it seemed like drywallers had more skill than me and why a patch never looks as good as the original mud job.

[@booneprock4952]

Holy shit Ben I haven’t seen your videos in years I only watched your skateboarding ones when I was in middle school but now I’m working construction while in college

[@johntrujillo2968]

An underappreciated art form.

[@ericj4769]

Bro that is an art I am not qualified to learn....you guys are something special

[@andysavva9463]

That’s how I was taught a nice clean rip ! With sandpaper also .no one sees this stuff … it’s all about pride !! Nice mate !!

[@DrDiode-cj6fs]

As a pro drywaller that has been doing it his entire life i can confirm this is good and solid info here, basically what i do

[@FuttBucker42069]

I see them all the time. Never knew how they did it 😄 now I know! Thanks!

[@G0dspelronin]

Dude knows his business. I hate drywall, I hate taping, I hate finishing, and am very good at it. I wish I had three of him so I’d never touch mud or drywall again on a remodel or repair

[@user-cw1bt3vh6v]

He makes it look so easy. Great job.

[@lolabear6788]

loving all the drywall instructions

[@TomFooleryGaming]

Wow, somebody that doesn't just speed through it trying to look cool! Good job!

[@JustAn0rc]

Drywall’s were my favorite to work with back when I was Sherwin Williams. I remember this one crew that were the reason I got good at the fork lift … just so I could load whole pallets of mud into their pickup. The most polite, patient, down to earth dad and son team. They were just glad to not have to hand load twice. They were so cool the boss sold them our old pallet jack, so they could roll the pallets into their storage between jobs

[@uncleremus7380]

I really love when you hit the corner and little pieces of drywall gets on knife, thats fun.

[@smitty3947]

Good work. This is the first time I heard them called flat joints tho. Up north they are usually called bone joints.

[@garydail290]

Drywall shorty and wolf finishes needs to watch your videos. 😂

[@elwhagen]

Love watching good craftsmen work!