Spackling sucks!

[TOK]

Sorry, I just had to tell somebody.

[ChadTower]

I've found it gets a lot easier once you think about it a bit more like Bondo or wood filler.  Don't try to put too much on at once and concede that to get it smooth and strong it will take 2-3 applications and sandings.

[TOK]

I'm getting pretty good at it, but unlike most things that doesn't seem to be making me hate it less.
Just about at the final sanding.

[Mauzy]

In our case, there is no final sanding... We'll think it done then BOOM! random screw hole got missed. Okay. Thats fixed. BAM! Seam edges still rough. Alright. We're good. BA ZOW! Outlet holes are slightly too big. IT NEVER ENDS! 










Surely it has nothing to do with our lack of experience and slight haste....

[boykster]

I'm not a fan of spackling, mudding, drywall finishing, etc.....

I've gotten good at it over the years, but damn I really dont like it.

[Blanka]

Well walls should not by gypsum board anyway! There is just one option that is the best:

This finished with white stucco. It will hold for 300 years without a single crack, and no hazardous solvents coming out like from chipboard, concrete or some insulation systems.

[TOK]

In our case, there is no final sanding... We'll think it done then BOOM! random screw hole got missed. Okay. Thats fixed. BAM! Seam edges still rough. Alright. We're good. BA ZOW! Outlet holes are slightly too big. IT NEVER ENDS! 


Surely it has nothing to do with our lack of experience and slight haste....

That sums up my experience perfectly, thank you.

[TOK]

Well walls should not by gypsum board anyway! There is just one option that is the best:

This finished with white stucco. It will hold for 300 years without a single crack, and no hazardous solvents coming out like from chipboard, concrete or some insulation systems.

Nobody told me I could build my house out of Legos! 
That actually looks kind of cool. I doubt its in the US, but I'd like to read up on it. You stucco interior walls?

[shardian]

In our case, there is no final sanding... We'll think it done then BOOM! random screw hole got missed. Okay. Thats fixed. BAM! Seam edges still rough. Alright. We're good. BA ZOW! Outlet holes are slightly too big. IT NEVER ENDS! 

When I did my basement, I learned a neat new trick to help with patching inconsistencies - Use a 1" heavy nap roller to apply your basecoat primer. Sanded patch areas always show up as a bit smoother in the paint. The heavy nap will hide/blend all of the transitions.

[ChadTower]

I'm still leaning towards using pine tongue and groove planks anyway... I'm not sure I want to be managing drywall by myself.

[CheffoJeffo]

I'm not a fan of spackling, mudding, drywall finishing, etc.....

I've gotten good at it over the years, but damn I really dont like it.

Agreed.

When we bought this house, it had pretty much become a biker crash pad sitting in the middle of a beautiful old neighbourhood. Made for a nice purchase price (and I could have been an axe murderer and would have still been welcomed by the neighbours), but had been deemed unsuitable for living and, hence, ineligible for a mortgage.

It took me 6 weeks to repair the walls and over 200 lbs (!!!) of mud to get them ready for paint.

Never again.

[ChadTower]

Damn... what happens if you bump those walls with something pointy?  Does all that compound dent easily?

[CheffoJeffo]

 

It wasn't all compound -- I did replace lots of drywall and ended up retaping almost every joint in the house.

Although you would have been amazed at the places that there were holes.

[Hoopz]

Those holes were for hiding the biker's joints.   

[CheffoJeffo]

Those holes were for hiding the biker's joints.   

I had the same thought and checked ... 

[Hoopz]

(and I could have been an axe murderer and would have still been welcomed by the neighbours),

He's got an axe. 

He's got Bud Light!

Hilarious commercial!

[TOK]

I'm still leaning towards using pine tongue and groove planks anyway... I'm not sure I want to be managing drywall by myself.

I did OK. The half sheets for the ceilings were the toughest part. This is a pretty small bathroom and I think I would have preferred wrestling with full sheets vs. all the half sheets with cutouts and corners. I want a nearly maintenance free main bathroom when I'm done, so I put in a fiberglass tub/shower with a 6' high surround. Used all mold resistant drywall and put in a mega vent fan.

This is my first total room gutting and re-do. The gameroom will seem easy in comparison since it only involves drywall and electric, no plumbing.
 

[ChadTower]

Fortunately I'm not doing a ceiling like that.  It's too low - if I do anything it will probably be just stapling some thin rails between the joists and putting up thin ply like a drop ceiling but not lowered.  Plus I like real wood paneling better than drywall anyway.  The main issue may be the difference in cost.  Stuff like that is going up even faster than drywall.

[boykster]

If you're ever doing more than 1/2 dozen sheets at a time for walls or ceilings, I heartily recommend you rent a drywall lift.  It makes the job SOOOO much easier.  I sheetrocked our vaulted ceiling in the livingroom and there's no way I could have done it otherwise.  I did the job solo - no helper whatsoever.  I'll post a pic later if I can find one.

[ChadTower]

Sadly renting equipment doesn't work for me.  Get home, make dinner, cut a couple framing members, give the kids a bath, mount the members, repeat next day.  I rarely get more than 90 straight minutes to work on anything.  I've been known to mask stuff the night before I knew I was going to paint it because I know I won't get a full amount of time to do both in the same morning. 

[Blanka]

That actually looks kind of cool. I doubt its in the US, but I'd like to read up on it. You stucco interior walls?

These "lego's" are pretty nifty. They hold 5 stories with ease, they damp temperature change a lot (less airco needed). And yes we stuco them inside. Not the grainy-german-lederhosen-house-look way of stuccoing, but just fine grain like gypsum painted white without board-lines. And regarding the LEGO, you order them with a building plan and all blocks CNC'ed to perfect fit.

[TOK]

Pretty cool. Those same ones are used for both interior and exterior walls? The idea of a trouble free wall and surface is appealing, but how do you handle any post-wiring?

[Blanka]

No, these blocks are construction/interior only.
Next layer is 65mm Kingspan Kooltherm (RC=4!), same insulation as 250mm rockwool!
Then 20mm air.
Then this

I like these modern black bricks 200x200x70mm.
They are pretty precise in measurements, so they can be glued as well. It will give you 1mm seams only.

Pipes are inserted with this before stuccoing:

The two blades cut a slot for the plastic pipes.
Mostly we insert some empty pipes as well for future wiring.