Drywall sanding trips up a lot of people, mostly because it’s hard to tell when a joint is finished. Using a flat coated once, Lydia Crowder, a drywall professional, breaks it into three outcomes: not enough, too much, and just right. Under-sanding leaves visible lap lines and ridges that show through paint. Over-sanding cuts through the compound to the tape and roughs up the paper face. The sweet spot is a smooth, feathered, tapered edge with a thin layer of compound still in place. The video covers touch as a way to check high and low spots, a light hand with a sanding sponge, softer compounds that sand easily, and when power sanders or detailed finishing come into play.

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