Paper tape versus mesh tape
Paper tape is stronger on flat joints and inside corners, and it is our default. Self-adhesive mesh is only used with setting-type compound, because mesh under premixed mud is a common cause of cracked seams.
Taping, mudding and skim coating
Drywall Taping and Finishing in Fort Collins
Hanging board is the fast part of a drywall job, and finishing is where walls either look flat and quiet or show every seam the moment sunlight hits them. Fort Collins Drywall Pros has been taping and finishing drywall in Fort Collins since 2011. Our finishers have worked on everything from basement rec rooms and rental turnovers to custom homes with two-story walls of west-facing glass.
We finish board we hang ourselves, and we take finish-only work for builders, general contractors and remodelers whose crews hang their own. Homeowners come to us when a previous finisher left ridges, flashing or visible tape under fresh paint. They want it corrected properly with a skim coat instead of living with it or tearing the walls out, and they want it done by someone who will not leave the same flaws behind.
Our finishers work to the Gypsum Association's GA-214 levels of finish, so the quote tells you exactly which level you are buying and what it includes. Across more than 1,300 jobs we have learned which rooms truly need Level 5 and which do not. We will tell you honestly before you pay for a coat you do not need, and every price is in writing before we start.
GA-214 finish levels
The five levels of drywall finish, in plain English
The Gypsum Association's GA-214 standard defines six levels, from 0 to 5. Specifying the level is the only way two quotes can be compared fairly.
| Level | What is done | Where it belongs |
|---|---|---|
| Level 0 to 1 | No finishing, or tape bedded with no further coats | Attics, above ceilings, areas that will never be seen |
| Level 2 | Tape bedded plus one thin coat over tape and screws | Garages and shops, and behind tile when using water-resistant board |
| Level 3 | Two coats over joints, ready for heavy texture | Walls getting a heavy hand or knockdown texture |
| Level 4 | Three coats, sanded smooth | Most homes: flat or eggshell paint with light texture or smooth walls |
| Level 5 | Level 4 plus a thin skim coat over the entire surface | Glossy or dark paint, large windows, long walls lit from the side |
Making the call
Level 4 or Level 5: when a skim coat is worth it
With Level 4, the paper face and the compound over the joints absorb paint differently. Under flat paint and normal light you will never notice. Under semi-gloss, dark colors or light raking across a wall, the seams can show as dull stripes, a problem called joint banding or photographing.
A Level 5 skim coat gives the whole wall one uniform surface. In Fort Collins we recommend it most often for rooms with big south or west windows, where the low winter sun skims straight along the wall, and for smooth walls finished in anything shinier than eggshell.
- Level 4 for most bedrooms, basements and textured walls
- Level 5 for smooth walls with gloss, dark paint or side lighting
- Spray-applied Level 5 with primer-surfacers such as USG Sheetrock Tuff-Hide on large jobs
Tools and compounds
Materials and methods we choose on purpose
Setting compound versus premixed mud
Setting-type compounds such as USG Sheetrock Easy Sand cure by chemical reaction, harden fast and shrink little. We use them for bedding coats and repairs, then lighter premixed mud for top coats that sand easily.
Straight, flat corners
Outside corners get paper-faced metal or vinyl bead that bonds with compound, which resists the cracking that nailed-on bare metal bead is known for.
Dust-controlled sanding
We sand with HEPA-filtered vacuum sanders and pole sanders rather than dry hand sanding, which keeps fine gypsum dust out of the rest of the house.
Coat by coat
Our taping and finishing sequence
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STEP 01
Pre-fill and bed
Gaps are pre-filled with setting compound, then tape is bedded into a full layer of mud with no dry spots underneath.
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STEP 02
Corners and bead
Inside corners are taped and outside bead is set straight with a long edge so corners read crisp.
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STEP 03
Fill coat
A wider second coat fills the taper and covers screws. On big jobs, automatic taping tools keep coats uniform.
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STEP 04
Finish coat
A final, wider coat is feathered past the joint so it blends into the board face.
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STEP 05
Sand and inspect
Everything is sanded and checked with a work light held flat to the wall, which exposes ridges before paint does.
Walls showing seams after paint?
We fix flashing, ridges and visible tape with a skim coat. Call or send photos taken with light across the wall.
Common failures
Finishing problems we are called in to fix
Blisters and loose tape
Tape pressed into too little mud never bonds and bubbles after paint. We cut it out, re-bed it and refinish the joint.
Ridges and crowned joints
Joints built up too high show as a raised line. Wider feathering or a skim coat brings the surface flat again.
Flashing under paint
Shiny or dull stripes over joints usually mean the wall needed Level 5 or a proper primer-surfacer. Skim coating is the fix.
Cracks in the first winter
Compound applied in a cold house, or too thick in one pass, shrinks and cracks. We keep coats thin and the house at a stable temperature.
Scheduling
Timelines, drying and finish-only work for builders
Compound needs to dry between coats, and in Fort Collins that usually goes faster than the bucket says thanks to our dry air. Winter is the exception, when the house has to be heated to roughly 50°F or more and kept stable. A room typically finishes in three to four working days, and a Level 5 skim adds about a day.
For builders and general contractors, we finish board hung by other crews. We walk the hang first and flag loose board, missing blocking and bad butt joints before we tape, so problems get fixed while it is still cheap. Pricing is by square foot of board and finish level, and we commit to a schedule in writing.
Keep exploring
Related drywall services
Drywall Installation
New construction, additions, remodels and garages, hung, taped and finished by one crew.
Texture Matching
Knockdown, orange peel, skip trowel and hand textures matched to your walls, plus full texture changes and smooth-wall conversions.
Drywall Repair
Holes, cracks, nail pops, torn paper and corner bead, patched and textured to disappear under paint.
Commercial Drywall
Metal framing, board and finish, rated walls, ceilings and tenant finish for GCs, owners and property managers.
Service areas
Drywall Finishing beyond Fort Collins
Our crews run drywall finishing jobs across Northern Colorado. These towns have their own pages, written around the homes, codes and permit offices there.
FAQ
Drywall Finishing questions
Straight answers to what people ask us most. Have a different question? Call or send a photo with the quote form.
What is the difference between a Level 4 and Level 5 drywall finish?
Level 4 is three coats over joints and screws, sanded smooth. Level 5 adds a thin skim coat over the entire surface so the paper and compound absorb paint the same way, which prevents visible seams under glossy paint or side lighting.
How much does Level 5 add to the cost?
Level 5 adds a full coat and sanding over every square foot, so it typically adds noticeably to the finishing labor on a job. We quote Level 4 and Level 5 side by side when a room could go either way.
Do you do finish-only jobs?
Yes. We tape and finish board hung by builders, remodelers and homeowners, after walking the hang and flagging anything that would compromise the finish.
Can you skim coat walls that were finished badly?
Yes. A skim coat over the whole wall corrects ridges, flashing and uneven texture without tearing out the board, as long as the board itself is sound.
How long does drywall mud take to dry?
Premixed compound generally needs about 24 hours per coat in normal conditions. Setting-type compounds are rated by minutes, such as 20, 45 or 90, and can be recoated once they set.