Description
Prepare drywall surfaces for painting or final finish by taping, coating, sanding, and texturing joints, corners, and fasteners. Install and finish corner beads and trims; patch and repair gypsum board. Mix and apply joint compounds to achieve specified finish levels and textures, coordinating with hangers and painters to deliver smooth, uniform surfaces.
- • Read blueprints, finish schedules, and specifications to determine finish levels, textures, and materials.
- • Inspect installed drywall for alignment, damage, and fastener placement before finishing.
- • Mix and prepare joint compounds to required consistency and set time.
- • Embed paper or fiberglass tape in compound over joints and inside corners using taping tools.
- • Apply successive coats of joint compound to joints, corners, and fastener heads, feathering edges for a smooth transition.
- • Install and finish metal or paper-faced corner bead and trims on outside corners and returns.
- • Skim-coat entire surfaces for Level 5 finish when specified.
- • Sand dried compound between coats and at completion using pole or power sanders with dust control.
- • Match and apply wall and ceiling textures such as orange peel, knockdown, or smooth finish.
- • Patch holes, cracks, and surface defects; repair nail pops and resecure loose fasteners as needed.
- • Treat control joints, reveals, and expansion joints per specifications.
- • Perform fire-taping or smoke-sealing of joints in rated assemblies as required.
- • Mask and protect adjacent finishes, floors, and fixtures; maintain a clean work area.
- • Erect and work from ladders, stilts, scaffolds, or lifts safely.
- • Coordinate sequencing with drywall hangers, painters, and other trades to meet schedules.
- • Measure, estimate, and stage materials such as compound, tape, bead, and abrasives.
- • Use automatic taping tools, finishing boxes, corner rollers, and hand knives to increase productivity.
- • Check surfaces for flatness and defects with straightedges and lights; correct imperfections.
- • Mix and apply setting-type compounds for quick turnarounds or high-moisture areas.
- • Prime or seal finished drywall when specified to verify surface quality.
- • Perform final touch-ups after primer or between trade inspections.
- • Clean, maintain, and store tools and equipment; dispose of debris per site rules.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
