Talking to a homeowner changed how I approach butt joints

I was finishing up a basement in a older house last Tuesday and the owner kept watching me work. He asked why I was staggering my butt joints the way I was and I gave him the usual spiel about strength and avoiding long seams. Then he says 'but you're creating a bigger flat spot problem down the road' and I realized he was right. I always just did it the way my first foreman showed me without thinking about the finish coat. Has anyone else had a customer point out something that actually made you work better?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_alice16d agoTop Commenter

Isnt the flat spot issue more about how it messes with your tape bed though? Like if you stagger too tight you end up with a little ridge that you gotta sand way more than a normal joint, and then the finish coat sits different. I mean maybe its just me but Ive had to go back and feather those spots out way more than I should have.

emmawood16d ago

Wait, what exactly is the "flat spot problem" he was talking about - are you saying staggering creates unevenness in the mud that shows up later under the finish?

carter.gavin16d ago

Emmawood, you're close but staggered joints actually help prevent a flat spot from showing up later.