Guide to Drywall Finishing Levels and How to Pick Which One is Right For Your

If you are installing drywall, it’s important to decide what level of finishing is appropriate for your project. All drywall installations require a finishing process in order to prepare the new drywall for paint, wallpaper, or some other finish. Since each layer of finish requires more time and money, you will need to make some decisions about how many layers of drywall finish you require before you begin.

Levels of Drywall Finishing

There is a well-defined process for finishing drywall. After each application of joint compound, you must wait until that level of finish dries before applying another, so this process is usually spread out over a number of days.

Here are the standard levels of drywall finish that a contractor will go through when installing drywall:

No Finish
The drywall is hung and fastened without any tape or mud.

Level 1
The drywall is taped at the seams and embedded in joint compound to create a smooth finish.

Level 2
A thin coat of joint compound is applied over the tape and the screw holes.

Level 3
Another thin coating of joint compound is added over tape and screws.

Level 4
A third coat of joint compound is applied followed by sanding the areas of drywall coated in joint compound for a really smooth finish.

Level 5
A skim coat is applied. This coat can be applied with a roller, a taping knife or a sprayer.

What Level of Drywall Finish Do You Need?

Level 1 & Level 2

In many instances, you may not need all the layers of drywall finish. For areas that do not need a complete finish, you may wish to stop at Level 1 or Level 2. These areas might include service passageways, basements, or garages. The important consideration is whether the people who go into these areas are going to care about what they look like. A garage or service corridor can be relatively unfinished and still be acceptable.

Level 3

If you are installing some kind of tile or highly textured finish, like a knockdown texture, then you might settle on a Level 3 finish. This is also where you would stop if you are going to put wainscoting or paneling over the drywall. Since you are going to cover the drywall, you don’t need the finish to have an even texture so you can skip the last two levels.

Level 4

In rooms where you are using flat paints or low-level lights, a Level 4 finish is required. Since these conditions tend to cover up surface variations, you will not need to worry about eliminating all variation in the drywall surface. Your surface will be just fine with a Level 4 finish. However, if you wind up installing brighter lights, surface variations will become visible with a Level 4 finish.

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