Hot take: skim coating new board is a waste of time

I was on a job in Raleigh last week and this old timer told me he never skims fresh drywall. Just tapes, beds, and does a light sand. Said he's been doing it 30 years with zero callbacks. Is that actually a thing or is he just cutting corners?

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1 Comment

jade22618h ago

The real trick nobody talks about is matching your technique to the texture of the mud. Most guys use the same all-purpose stuff for everything but the old timer might be using a setting-type compound that hardens differently, no sanding needed. Also depends on the board brand - some factory-finished drywall has a real smooth surface that just needs a thin coat if you know how to work the knife right. That's probably why he gets away with it while others would mess up.