Drywall finishing levels explained

[@josephsutton8817]

Thank you for this explanation. You see a lot of videos that show individual techniques or how to do specific things. You don’t see overviews like this that shows what jobs look like beginning to end. Now the whole process makes so much more sense now.

[@DrywallShorty]

Thank you!! ❤️❤️

[@luisaviles455]

gotta love when channels make quick informative videos easy to understand without making it look like rocket science..thanks a lot🙌

[@keithmcdonald2216]

After HS, I was a Carpenter for a few years (Before going to College) and mainly specialized in installing Drywall. The older Guys took the time and showed me how to Tape and Mud. These are skills that I still use to this day when remodeling. I'm not sure who she is, but I have been watching her for some time now and she knows what she is doing and talking about. The thing that blows me away, is how good and fast she works.

[@keithmcdonald2216]

I finally found out who Drywall Shorty is. At first, I really didn't care who she was, because what she explained mattered the most to me, because products changed over the years. Something told me to find out who she is. Lydia Crowder, from MT. Me and my Wife have close friends of ours in Great Falls, MT and visit often, when we are not busy remodeling. We live in the Twin Cities, near Minneapolis, and going to Montana is pure Bliss and we feel decompressed when we come back. Lydia was the one who turned me on to Level 5 Smoothing Blades and it really improved my Mudding game.

[@jenniferwendorf9003]

I just added drywall and finishing to my skill set and watching this video just to see how many levels is super informational! And I love seeing a woman explain it!

[@nikia1224]

I had to watch 6 videos from various pros before I got to this video on how to finish a drywall. Thank you.

[@DrywallShorty]

Thank you, glad it helped!!

[@nikia1224]

@@DrywallShorty Girl.. you long I've been waiting to hear from you..😆 I'm working on a pantry room... I needed your help so bad!🤣

[@dogbehavior420]

Most are on level 1 but acting level 5, its about seamless and smooth with a side of personal pride added into the mix to thin it down

[@audieallen9734]

We did lvl 5 on every job.... I'd rock it, and clean up after the plaster come wreck the places.... we go thought with a gigantic powered orbit sander on all walls and block sander in the corners.... smooth as butter, clean up any gouges or cracks with premade mud... +10 years rocking

[@-agent-47-80]

Great overview of levels... appreciate your time to make a video about it

[@DrywallShorty]

Thank you!!

[@progression_decibel]

Very professional and very informative!! We moved into a house with a level 2 (unpainted) 2-car garage it looks like. When I start fixing any blemishes and prior to prime and paint, should I bring it to level 3 or is that a waste of time and material? My plan is just for parking the cars and putting in storage cabinets and a little workshop area and epoxying the garage floor. Thanks!

[@benvance8674]

Great explanation. Great video. Great work. Thanks.

[@bruceiebconnelly7385]

I find it so addictive that you do dry wall

[@Stevej2013]

Thanks for that. A quick and simple 1-5 wrap. Cheers

[@generatorjohn4537]

Wish I knew this 36 years ago when I had my house built. The drywall contractor I hired was a disappointment. I was happy to be rid of the guy when it was all said and done. Nice video Shorty, thanks.

[@carverdahlin2728]

I do a level 4 while only coating butts and rails and beads twice and doing the screws 3 times. I box with an 8 and a 12 inch for rails, and hand coat the beads and butts. Paper bead I can get away with 2 coats, but not on vinyl or metal. You just gotta get those beads full by coating it 12 inches for each coat

[@kidjetrecon7153]

Mud on bead is the bomb especially if you know how to install with dura bond. Pre fill with dura bond not easy sand will save you thousands in the long run, I have a 5 yr warranty on all my drywall. House settling provides everything null. As a drywall contractor you can always show the difference between blisters bad insulation and poor framing. I like your comment seems like you actually care. To many sq ft that don’t care anymore.

[@robertmcgrath7788]

This is a brilliant explanation

[@cblanton42]

Your hair changed, is it a requirement to braid your hair once you reach level 4? 😉 Good video!

[@DaniMarquez71]

What is your reason you tape? You just mentioned earlier that you don’t tape…am I mistaken?

[@cesarespinal8151]

I have been doing level 4 since I have been introduced to this job 👍👍👍

[@Bizzare77777]

Does level come out pretty good or are the sanded parts usually noticeable after painting? Thinking of doing 4 instead of 5 to save money. : )

[@alonzomartii]

Not sure if only me but I can see the shadows from tapping coat at the last take. Window let's light in and it kind of pops more

[@nathangilbert1344]

Great video its really hard to Truly appreciate the skill of a craftsperson until you attempt it yourself. I'm an ignorant diy drywaller. I don't really get the level concepts. I'm attempting and more or less failing my finish of a 2,000 Sq. Ft. basement. I have taped and 3-5 coats not flat or cracked, I dug out crack re taped, 3-5 more coats still looks great but sub Professional. I have taped and 3 coats others that I painted and with a flashlight I can't see a damn thing and I'm really proud. I don't understand why some are failing trash and others would pass for professional work. I think my problems were more of hanging the drywall and the framing than the mudding itself. When you say level 2 gets 2 coats does the coat get bigger? How much bigger? Or are you just going over the same size again to make up for shrinkage? Do these levels get sanded differently? I would prefill 4 inch knife, tape and put some mud over it. Sand, 8 inch knife, sand, 12" knife, back to the 8 inch knife 2 passes makes 16", back to 12 inch knife 2 passes makes about 24" and I thought I'd sand that and it'd be perfect everything I ever wanted. Nope.

[@anothergamingchannel2656]

Idk if it helps, but generally yes, every coat you should generally use a slightly larger knife. I usually use a 6 inch for prefill, although you can use whatever you're comfortable with for that, and then I apply my tape (this is for paper tape. If using mesh tape use quik set mud and just apply the first coat when putting the tape on. Then skip a head to the instructions for the flush coat) and wipe the paper tape with an 8 inch knife, For the double (first coat) a 10 inch knife, let it dry and sand it, and then for the final coat (the flush coat) I use a 12 inch knife. Different tapers have different preferences so I'm sure someone will disagree and have a different method, but it works for me and never had any complaints. And that's what majority of the guys I work with do as well. After that last coat I sand it and go back through with my 6 inch knife and some mud and just touch it up, fix any imperfections, and call it good. I'm not the best at explaining stuff. I'm better at just showing someone, so hopefully that made sense somewhat lol

[@YagwitOG]

You’re miles ahead of me. I’m using the same knife each time and feathering out my sanding. I’m accustomed to doing this on cars 😂 I’ll try the bigger knife.

[@nathangilbert1344]

@Yagwit Haha. That's awesome. I've finally got it mostly figured it out! If you have any specific struggles let me know.

Learned something new today.

[@21gonza21]

Everything this shawty do is level 6!

[@brayanmanuelcardenasmora9072]

Me encanta como trabaja🥰 no me pierdo Sus videos en Instagram no me aburro de aprender de ella. Soy nuevo en ello pero un día seré como ella. No manejo el inglés es otra cosa q aprenderé para entenderle😅 LOve you

[@pawelkulak7133]

Can you skip from level 3 to level 5?

[@Grejegando]

Ok, I'm still confused because of the terminology. Did I hear that correctly? There are: corner beads? Butts? Flats? Corners? Did I mention them all? I'm sure I missed something and misheard something lol. Can someone explain this please. Does anyone realize DIYers don't have the lingo yet and so a full explanation would be appreciated.

[@SalTino]

Great job 👍

[@luisgarrido1098]

Beautiful explanation

[@E3thetruth]

So do you sand inbetween levels or only on the last level?

[@DrywallShorty]

Sand in between always - not after tape but after top, skim and final coat.

[@sergiomartinez6200]

I see you do a good job👍 and you are like a professional.

[@Faruk651]

If you made it to level 4 might as well coat the whole thing and do it level 5. That is of course for those doing their own work to their house or smtg.

[@happyone3084]

Great video thank you!!

[@Burritosarebetterthantacos]

Wish I had watched your stuff before I paid the mexican drywall guys i hired. They spent 1 day in my master bathroom , came in two days later and sanded once for an hour, done. When I inspected later it looks terrible. Mud all over my floor, windows, fixtures, and blisters galore. Ive spent hours at this point trying to clean up mud and will spend hours more fixing their mistakes. Also, dont get me started on the dust.

[@DrywallShorty]

Oh that sucks! I’m so sorry!

[@danielboyd4166]

Hell yeah, great job 👏

[@bmack2938]

Is level three knock down texture?

[@johnbrewi5808]

My question is do you sand after the second coat.. and the fine sand the finish coat.. In New York we call the 3rd coat the polish coat..

[@DrywallShorty]

Yes, we sand after top, skim and then a detail sand at the end

[@holleratyaboy8810]

Well you know tour stuff thats for sure i love the work

[@caezarl1444]

Can you really tell the difference after it is painted a level 4 from a 5?

[@DrywallShorty]

Sure can, especially in high light areas, dark colors or very shiny paint.

[@caezarl1444]

@@DrywallShorty ok. I can agree with that.

[@bluegrassdanq]

Nobody does level 5 where i am. I also paint and am sometimes unhappy with the texture change between the joints and paper. I guess no way to avoid this without doing level 5. @@DrywallShorty

[@BJP719]

Thanks for this. One question... between your work and the paint being applied was there a texture added? Couldn't really see it in the vid. I'm looking to finish my garage, and am just wondering at what level I can paint it without texture. Based on your description I'm thinking that's a level 4 but unclear if level 4 expects texture to be applied.

[@DrywallShorty]

That all depends on what your ok with showing. You can paint a level 3, that’s great for a garage you’ll just see imperfections. Most houses are a two coat aka level 3 in the garage with a sand.

[@BJP719]

@@DrywallShorty Awesome, thanks for the reply!

[@autumnsymphonia]

thank you, that was very informative!

[@pabloesquivel-sb6er]

thank you for the video 😍

[@adamchalkley9445]

So a level 5 is a multi finish in the UK 🇬🇧

[@jimmyfavereau]

Thanks shorty 🌹🌹🌹

[@louish.9414]

Knives vs Flat Boxes tools win every time.

[@Hamp72]

You must not know how to knife finish then

[@danielwilkinson9939]

Plastering is the best finish.

[@davidhan6152]

Amazing work.

[@keviningles5580]

Love this

[@luisbatista1103]

wow well explained 👍👍👍⚘

[@mrwolf1964]

Don’t you sand to finish?

[@Hamp72]

No but you finish to sand

[@messagefrom8749]

Good video

[@Scireforall]

you are a beautiful lady at the job site. I hope all my GC that I work with looks like you

[@christopherleesmith8618]

What's is level 0?

[@caezarl1444]

0 that means you only hang the sheetrock 😂

[@طارقأبوشقير]

خلفك ماسوره امام تركيب الجبص !!

[@handymanny1135]

Nice

[@627mojo]

I worked carpentry, drywall, finisher, painter most of my life. Freezing walls is very seldom, usually because dumb ass finishers use electric sanders and chew the surface of drywall up. All finishers should do a stint painting walls, actually so should carpenters.

[@1281983]

well done

[@johnnylavery5512]

Can't hear you

[@cliftonbrewer4025]

i like you. good job

[@bobbylocks8354]

Hot drywall chic

[@CARLOSRUIZ-pe3mo]

now i know!! 😁thanks!!

[@carverdahlin2728]

Good job though!

[@sagarharoon4438]

I am painter I like to work with you 🤗

[@kyleclemente5939]

Looks like you skip trowel with an 18" long handle curved trowel... Just my opinion

[@louish.9414]

There's are three levels to drywall Hangers Tapering then Finishers.

[@طارقأبوشقير]

و الماسورة فوقك قليلا تصل الارض ارتفاعها

[@zupskaala6639]

Bravoo

[@Abcd-hr9ot]

I do nice work.

[@enriquevillarreal6596]

hermosa

[@fisherkiev9191]

Молодец, супер

[@cpaganjr123]

Such Bullshit!!! just do the job right the first time and stop skipping levels. There should only be one standard and that’s a complete finished job done the right way and ready for paint if ever needed or wanted. Levels should never be allowed. It’s basically skipping steps.

[@DrywallShorty]

Levels are very important. They make sure the general, the architect, the designer, the homeowner and the drywall contractor are all on the same page. It creates a standard of finishing that’s the same across the entire country. And it’s professional, saves time and money if it’s only being finished to certain levels and makes sure you’re not over finishing and waiting your time. It’s incredibly important

[@joseangel4821]

You get what you paid bro

[@CathieZimmerman]

For real tho? Why am I gonna go to level 5 if I’m gonna splatter it w texture and hide the work? It’s not just a waste of time or money for all involved. It’s a waste of RESOURCES! Efficiency, professionalism while practicing conservation… that’s the professional I’ll pay (and pay well) every single time in both my business and for contractors on personal projects.

[@louish.9414]

Cheap Primer can Ruin a paint Job.

[@dalidali6371]

It’s just sad woman chooses to live a way of life exhausting and miserable instead of being with a good man who provides and you just stay home and raise good kids and just chill Women choosing careers over family and raising kids

[@hoz49]

This woman taught her husband the career and they work together...myob.

[@benjaminsinger1897]

Is she hiring?

[@terrywilliams5285]

There are no levels in drywall, there is tape, coat and re-coat and then sand, the so called levels were created to get more money, you either know how to finish or not

[@DrywallShorty]

They actually are extremely important. When finishing new construction, commercial or remodels the customer wants to know what they are paying for. There is a level 5, which is the most expensive for a reason because of the amount of time involved. I personally wouldn’t want to pay for a level 5 and get your level 3 finish 🤷‍♀️ Also creates a level of professional and consistency across the trades no mater what state you are in.

[@terrywilliams5285]

@@DrywallShorty wrong, you’re not a finisher

[@ryanjames4205]

@@terrywilliams5285 you sound like a moron. Drywall levels like she showed are widely known and accepted nation wide. Do a google search before opening your mouth

[@terrywilliams5285]

@@ryanjames4205 I’ve been in the business for 42 years, I hang and finish all of my own jobs and I’ll say it again. There are no levels in drywall, you either know how to finish or not, I bet your work looks like shit after it’s sanded and you probably have a ton of touch up because it wasn’t finished correctly the first time asshole

[@MeGustaBoom]

@@terrywilliams5285 you have no idea what you’re talking about lol apprenticeship programs have in depth explanations of level 1-5 finishes. It’s okay to be wrong.

[@dougacebedo3855]

your crazy level 5 is the only 'level' anything less is shoddy workmanship. refuse to work if your bid is too high for them. they're trying to pay less by getting you to do an inferior job, thus creating all these 'level's' of quality. there's only one outcome unless you botch it up out of incompetance. dry wall looks perfect if it's done correctly. dont do the job if it's all out of square or hung improperly. tell them to do it. dont encourage sloppy wannabee construction.

[@jamiecann2485]

Oh shut up crybaby

[@joseangel4821]

There are other different types of textures it is what a client likes, not what you think it should be, is like your tools, go buy them at Wal-Mart or buy festool, are different levels according to your pocket or what you like, nothing to do with sloppy work like you say

[@zackscott8636]

You can pay for everything to be perfect in your life than

[@Faruk651]

What kind of perfect world do you live in? Lol he says don't do the job if it is out of square. You know there is a housing crisis, right? Alright let's make every house level 5 and perfectly square.