Great Finishing Starts Long Before the Mud Comes Out
When people think about drywall finishing, they usually picture taping knives, buckets of mud, and sanding dust that somehow finds its way into every corner of the house. What most homeowners don’t realize is that a truly great drywall finish starts long before the drywall ever gets hung. It starts with the framing.
As a drywall company serving Detroit Lakes and the surrounding lakes area, we see it all. Some homes are a pleasure to finish, while others take extra time and effort just to get walls looking straight and clean. The difference almost always comes down to the quality of the framing.
Framing Sets the Stage for Everything That Follows
Drywall is a finish material. It’s designed to go over a solid, straight structure. When walls are framed plumb, studs are crowned properly, and openings are square, drywall lays flat the way it’s supposed to. Seams land where they should, corners stay tight, and finished walls look crisp once paint goes on.
When framing is rushed or sloppy, those issues don’t magically disappear. Bowed studs, uneven walls, twisted corners, and inconsistent spacing all show up later; usually right when drywall is going up or being finished.
That’s when drywall crews are asked to “make it look right.”
Yes, Drywall Finishers Can Fix a Lot; But It Comes at a Cost
A good drywall finisher can correct plenty of framing problems. We can float walls, build out low spots, hide slight waves, and clean up corners that aren’t perfectly square. That’s part of the job, and it’s something experienced finishers do every day.
But here’s the reality: fixing framing issues with drywall takes more time, more material, and more labor. Extra coats of mud, wider floats, and more sanding are often required just to get walls looking straight to the eye. While the end result can still look good, it’s not the most efficient (or cost-effective) way to build.
In extreme cases, drywall can only do so much. If framing is severely out of plane, no amount of mud will make it perfect without noticeable build-ups or compromises elsewhere.
Better Framing Means Better Results
When framing is done right from the start, everyone benefits. Drywall hangs faster, finishes cleaner, and requires less correction. Corners are sharper. Ceilings look flatter. Trim installs cleaner. Even paint looks better on a well-finished surface that didn’t have to be “forced” into shape.
In our experience, the best drywall jobs always come from projects where trades work together and take pride in their part of the process. Framers who take the time to straighten walls and address issues early make a huge difference in the final appearance of the home.
What Homeowners and Builders Should Keep in Mind
If you’re building or remodeling a home in the Detroit Lakes area, don’t underestimate the importance of framing quality. It’s not just about structural integrity; it directly affects how your finished walls will look for years to come.
Addressing framing issues before drywall is installed is always easier than trying to hide them later. A quick check with a straightedge or laser during framing can save time, money, and frustration down the line.
The Bottom Line
Drywall finishing can fix a lot, but it shouldn’t have to fix everything. The best results come from good framing, quality drywall installation, and careful finishing working together as one system.
At the end of the day, smooth walls and clean corners aren’t an accident; they’re the result of doing things right from the very beginning.