Difference Between Scraping or Sanding Drywall Mud

Preparation

• The biggest difference between sanding drywall and scraping it is the greater amount of dust sanding creates. With both methods, you need to cover the floor area underneath the ceiling or in front of the walls you will be working on, but with sanding, you need to take extra precautions to protect yourself from the dust. That means wearing a dust mask, eye protection and possibly long sleeves to shield your arm and a baseball cap to protect your hair from the dust.

Large Versus Small Amounts

• The amount of drywall mud you need to remove also helps you determine whether to sand or scrape. If you have to remove large areas of drywall from a ceiling or wall or you need to remove large chunks of texture, scraping typically is the better choice. If you only need to remove a small amount of drywall mud -- perhaps to bring a spot on the wall surface even with the rest of the wall -- use sandpaper.

Scraping Tools

• To remove the textured drywall mud, you can use a paint scraper. When you initially apply the mud, use drywall knives to spread the mud and scrape off any excess. Apply the first coat of mud with a 5-inch or 6-inch taping knife. Use a broader taping knife that is between 8 and 12 inches in width for the second coat, and use the 12-inch taping knife for the final coat.

Sanding Tools

• Do not sand the mud after the initial coat when you embed tape in it. Sand after the second and third coats. The smoothness you achieve by sanding after the third and final coat is the smoothness that the dried drywall mud will exhibit. Use fine sandpaper with at least 120 to 150 grit. Use a pole sander, which has sandpaper on the end of a long handle, to reach high areas.