When you’re in the midst of a renovation or building your new dream home from the ground up in Edmonton, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of choosing finishes. You’re dreaming of sleek kitchen cabinets, stunning hardwood floors, and the perfect shade of paint for the feature wall. But before any of those elements can truly shine, they rely on a silent, flawless foundation: the drywall.
Many homeowners view drywall as a simple, straightforward step just hanging some boards and slapping on some mud. In reality, professional drywall installation and finishing is a specialized craft. It’s the difference between walls that look like they belong in a luxury show home and walls that are plagued with visible seams, wavy surfaces, and constant cracking.
At Executive Drywall, we’ve been the trusted name for drywall services across Edmonton for years. We’re here to explain why investing in professional drywall work isn’t just an expense—it’s a crucial investment in the long-term value, beauty, and integrity of your property.
The Unseen Art of Drywall Finishing
What does a professional drywall crew do that makes their work stand out? It’s a meticulous, multi-stage process where each step is critical to the final result.
- Precision Installation: It all starts with properly hanging the drywall sheets. This isn’t just about getting them on the wall; it’s about strategic seam placement, ensuring tight, secure fastening to prevent “popping” screws later, and expertly cutting around outlets, windows, and complex angles. Proper installation minimizes the amount of finishing needed and creates a stable canvas.
- The Magic of Taping: This is where the illusion of a seamless, monolithic wall begins. Professionals apply joint tape embedded in a first coat of joint compound (or “mud”) over every seam and fastener indentation. The skill lies in applying it smoothly and evenly, without bubbles or excess, which can create ridges and blemishes later.
- The Crucial “Bed Coat” and Layering: After the tape coat sets, a skilled finisher applies a wider “bed coat” of mud over the seams. This layer begins to feather the edges, blending the seam into the surrounding drywall. This is often followed by a second, and sometimes even a third, coat, each applied wider and thinner than the last. The goal is to create a gradual, invisible transition that disappears completely once painted.
- Sanding to Perfection: The final, and perhaps dustiest, step is sanding. Professionals use specialized tools and lighting to identify any minor imperfections. They sand with a delicate touch to achieve a flawlessly smooth surface without scuffing or damaging the paper facing of the drywall. This step is what delivers the “baby smooth” finish that catches the light perfectly.
The High Cost of “Good Enough”: Risks of Amateur Drywall Work
Opting for a cheaper, less experienced handyman or attempting a DIY drywall project can lead to a host of problems that will haunt you for years and ultimately cost more to fix.
- Visible Seams and Joints: The most common sign of amateur work is “ghosting”—being able to see every seam and joint through the paint, especially under angled light. This instantly cheapens the look of any room.
- Wavy, Uneven Walls: Improper installation and mud application can create a “pillowing” effect, where walls look curved or bowed. This becomes glaringly obvious when you install trim or when sunlight rakes across the surface.
- Popping Nails or Screws: If drywall isn’t fastened correctly to the studs, or if the framing lumber shrinks (a common issue with new builds in Edmonton’s climate), fasteners can push out, creating visible bumps that require repair.
- Cracking at Corners and Seams: A lack of proper taping and reinforcement leads to cracks, especially in high-stress areas like door frames and where walls meet ceilings. These are not just cosmetic; they indicate a weak installation.
- Wasted Time and Money: Drywall is deceptively time-consuming. A project that takes a professional team two days could take a novice weeks. And fixing bad drywall often means starting from scratch—ripping it out, re-insulating, and re-hanging—costing you far more than hiring a pro in the first place.
Why Edmonton Homeowners Trust Executive Drywall
In a city with a climate as dynamic as ours, from dry, cold winters to humid summers, your building materials need to be installed with expertise to withstand expansion, contraction, and settling. Here’s how we deliver peace of mind:
- Expert Craftsmanship: Our finishers are artists with a trowel. We don’t just complete a job; we perfect it. We are meticulous about light standards, ensuring your walls are smooth and flawless from every angle.
- Efficiency and Cleanliness: We have the systems, tools, and team size to complete your project on time and on budget. We also understand that we are working in your home, so we take extensive measures to contain dust and leave your site cleaner than we found it.
- Knowledge of Local Building Codes: We are well-versed in Edmonton’s building standards, including requirements for fire-rated assemblies between garages and living spaces and proper soundproofing techniques for condos and townhouses.
- Comprehensive Services: We handle it all, from new construction and basement developments to repair work for water damage or simple patch-ups. We also specialize in advanced texturing techniques, from smooth Level 5 finishes to popular orange peel or knockdown textures, to match your home’s style.
Your Walls Are Your Canvas. Let Us Prepare It Perfectly.
Your walls are the largest surface area in your home. They are the backdrop for your life, your art, and your memories. They deserve to be perfect. Don’t let subpar drywall work be the flaw you notice every day. Whether you are building a new home in Windermere, developing your basement in Terwillegar, or renovating your bungalow in Glenora, the team at Executive Drywall is ready to provide the flawless foundation your project deserves. Ready to experience the Executive Drywall difference? Contact us today for a free, no-obligation estimate on your Edmonton drywall project.
