In less than a week, all of the drywall has been hung throughout the house. Spillane choose to work with larger sheet sizes to make the job easier, reduce the amount of perforations in the walls, and minimize joints. The challenge now is to make seamless transitions between the panels so the walls and ceiling are perfectly smooth. Every seam and screw hole needs to be covered with joint compound and sanded.

Finishing drywall is a learned skill that requires eye-hand coordination and a feel for the tools. It takes experience to properly bed the tape and feather out the compound in an imperceptible edge. Sanding can also be difficult because the joint compound is soft and the paper tape can easily fray or tear. That’s why many contractors prefer to hire a professional drywall installer instead of doing it on their own.

Spillane acknowledges that in most homes, when the light shines on a wall in just the right way, drywall blemishes are usually visible. In his experience, flat or matte paint can help hide minor surface imperfections. He is discerning paint sheens and color options as he prepares for the next phase of the remodel process.