— Drywall Taping Tips: How To Prepare Walls For Painting

One of the most important steps in drywall taping is the sanding process. Sanding is what prepares the wall for painting. The process of sanding can be slow, tedious and sometimes stressful. To simplify the process, you first need to invest in the right tools then learn the proper sanding technique. The last thing you want is to fill your home with dust that is very hard to get rid of. For these reasons, we will let you in on a few secrets to drywall sanding.

How To Prevent Oversanding

First things first, you need to avoid oversanding. Light sanding is key to performing proper prep work. Just apply a gentle force when sanding and make sure you choose a suitable sanding paper. Sanding paper that is too coarse can quickly rip off the surface and lead to oversanding. If you notice there are areas that have been oversanded, fill them up with joint compound.

Be Well Prepared Before You Begin Sanding

Sanding can be a really messy job. Before you know it your entire house will be flooded in dust. To avoid this, protect yourself from inhaling dust by wearing goggles, a mask and a head scarf. You should also consider sealing the room and making sure there is proper ventilation. Try and place a fan near the window so that the dusty air can be blown outside.
Other tips to prepare the property for sanding include:
• Use plastic to seal the room in the doorway. It helps to prevent dust from spreading to adjacent rooms in the home.
• Avoid opening all windows as a way of improving ventilation. Doing this will only cause the dust to circulate.
• Place a drop cloth on the surface of the room where dust can collect
• If there is any furniture in the room, cover it up to avoid dust
If you really want to minimize on the dust that is produced during sanding, you can use a sponge instead of a hand sander. You may also try the wet sanding technique where a wet sponge is used to create a nice finish. Bear in mind that wet sanding may not offer the perfect smooth finish that dry sanding does. There are also machines used commercially to make sanding less dusty. These tools come at an extra cost.

Have The Right Sanding Tools

The traditional sandpaper can be very tiring to use and may not give the perfectly smooth finish. There are some special sanding tools in the market that can make your work easier. For instance, choosing a hand sander that comes with a holder makes it easier to grip and sand smooth. Take your time to choose the right tool and you’ll finish the sanding process faster and with great success.

Inspect The Walls Before Sanding

Don’t just rush into sanding before you know the condition of the surface. It’s good to inspect the walls so as to take note of any problems like bumps that need a bit more focus. Areas that have imperfections can be visible when you use a headlight to have a closer look. Corners will need a sponge sander for a more detailed sanding. If you don’t have this you can fold your sandpaper to get a nice edge then work on the corners.

Choose The Right Sanding Technique

There are a variety of techniques which can be used to get a smooth surface ready for painting. The most common method is hand sanding where you can apply pressure on the walls to get rid of any scratches or imperfections. Hand sanding can be very tiring especially if you are working on a large surface. The other technique is wet sanding which works very well for areas like corners. It provides a smooth finish and is used when more detailed sanding is needed.

The last option is pole sanding. You will need a suitable pole sander to accomplish this. The technique can give a very good finish because you can work well on the inside corners and also switch directions. Whatever sanding method you choose, make sure you apply slight pressure and have the right gear to avoid the discomfort that comes with this kind of task.