PetrosA
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Ahh! but how long does it take to learn these tricks? I have done that pictured install many times, but now I always try to do exactly what you said, whether a hole saw or I'm into the dremmel now. Like you said it doesn't take a lot longer, you put the piece you cut out back, it looks better and you tell the customer (which hopefully you told him already he would have to do some patching) that a little compound and a quick sand he's ready to paint.
I keep 20 minute mix on the truck (it doesn't freeze) and I don't let my customers do the first coat. I generally leave it so all that needs to be done is a skim coat over what I leave (no sanding required). Some more tricks are to shave the cut edges of the drywall hole and plug so they don't pop out through the mud and to mix the mud no thinner than peanut butter. I just did a kitchen where I had to channel all the walls for my wires. I packed the mortar mix back in but before I could get to it, the "drywaller" took my bag of 20 minute mix and slapped it in. Now half of the covers don't fit right, there are bubbles that need filling, gaping holes around some of the boxes, but the painter was already through and it's a done deal unless the inspector fails it. I hate it when incompetents follow behind me :rant:
