There is nothing more disappointing than noticing mud lines after you are done painting drywall. When installing drywall, everyone hopes to get a seamless and smooth finish.
Unfortunately, there are times when mud lines may show through the paint. If you have found yourself in such a situation, there is no need to lose your mind.
I will be sharing a couple of solutions for this problem. But first, let’s start with why mud lines may show through the paint.
What Causes Mud Lines to Show Through Paint?
The main cause for this problem is incorrect mudding or taping when installing drywall. It’s an issue that mostly affects newbies or inexperienced drywallers.
If you use insufficient or too much mud when installing drywall seams, mud lines will be visible after you are done painting.
Also, if you incorrectly apply drywall tape, it will still show through the paint. You can also expect a similar result if you don’t sand bumps formed by joint compound on drywall seams.
Any mistake that occurs during taping or mudding can cause visible lines to show through the paint. This is why you need to be careful when installing drywall seams.
If you don’t know how to go about this process, you are better off hiring an expert drywaller than having to deal with mud lines showing through the paint.
How to Fix Mud Lines Showing through Paint?
There are two main methods of concealing mud lines showing through the paint. These two are ideal for various scenarios. Therefore, you should go through each method and identify if it applies to your situation.
1. A Layer of Skim Coat
This is the best and most effective method of fixing mud lines showing through the paint. It’s also the ideal option if the mud lines are too big or too visible. Start by preparing the joint compound.
I highly recommend the premixed option. If you prefer to use the regular joint compound, make sure that you thin it so that you get a light coat.
Using a putty knife, run the joint compound over the mud lines. Go for a bigger putty knife, preferably one that measures around 6 inches wide.
Ensure that you are applying it in even layers. Skim the joint compound to get rid of any excess product. Run the knife along the edges of the joint compound to even it out. The thinner the compound the better.
Give it time to dry and the mud lines should be fully covered. If they are still visible, you will need to sand them off. A 150-grit sandpaper should be coarse enough to get rid of any mud lines left behind.
2. Primer and More Paint
For mud lines that are a bit smaller, you can cover them up with primer and more paint. Even the most experienced drywallers struggle with fully concealing mud lines.
However, some primers and paints do a commendable job of hiding these imperfections. Please note that this method will only work on tiny mud lines. If they are big, go with the skim coat method.
In this method, start with the primer and paint it over the mud lines. Latex primers are better at creating an even finish.
I recommend at least two coats of primer. That should be enough to hide mud lines. Once it dries, you can add several coats of paint. Ensure that the new paint blends with the rest of the area.
How to Prevent Mud Lines from Showing Through Paint?
Mud lines showing through paint often look hideous and can affect the overall aesthetics of your home or office. Also, it’s better to prevent mud lines from developing later on than having to deal with them after painting.
For your next drywall installation project, here are some of the ways you can prevent mud lines from showing through the paint.
• Properly Tape and Mud Your Drywall Seams
Mud lines usually develop due to incorrect taping and mudding. To prevent that, you have to perform these two steps carefully and correctly.
First, you need to create a bed coat on the drywall seam before applying the paper tape. It’s better to use paper tape than mesh tape because the former is less likely to show through the paint.
It should be followed by at least three thin coats of joint compound. You should also give each coat sufficient time to dry.
• Never Forget to Sand the Joint Compound
When applying joint compound, there will always be raised bumps or lines over drywall seams. It can be difficult to skim these imperfections using a drywall knife.
But sandpaper does an excellent job of smoothening joint compound. After every coat of joint compound, you should use 120 or 150-grit sandpaper to even out the surface. This will guarantee a seamless finish.
• Go for a Bigger Drywall Knife after Every Coat
Mud lines are more likely to develop when you use the same-sized putty knife for all three coats. The same-sized knife will create buildup on the edges of the seam.
These eventually develop into mud lines. Begin the first coat with a 3-inch putty knife, follow the second coat with a 6-inch knife, and finalize with an 8-inch. This will ensure the ridges created are fully skimmed.
• Remember to Prime Before Painting
Some people usually go straight to painting after applying joint compound. However, primer helps with creating a uniform texture over drywall seams. As a result, it minimizes the chances of mud lines showing through the paint.
Another perk of priming is that it gives you a glimpse of how the wall will look after painting. In case you spot any mud lines, you can skim-coat or sand them before painting. This will save you a lot of time and effort.
Is It Okay for Mud Lines to Show Through the Paint?
Absolutely not. In a drywall seam that was correctly taped and mudded, lines shouldn’t be visible even before the first coat of paint.
So, if you are seeing mud lines after painting, there is a huge chance that the taping or mudding wasn’t done incorrectly.
When you go through various DIY forums online, there are claims that it’s normal for mud lines to show through the first coat of paint.
These are misleading claims. And you may end up applying five coats of paint and the mud lines will remain visible.
To get rid of mud lines, the best solution is to either apply a skim coat or primer and then paint it.
Does Paint Hide Mud Lines?
As mentioned earlier, some people assume that more paint makes mud lines disappear. But that is far from the truth.
Paint accentuates mud lines. If there are imperfections on drywall, they will be more visible once you paint over them.
If you discover mud lines, know that more paint is not the answer. However, it’s important to note that certain types of paint are most likely to show imperfections than others.
For instance, high gloss paints will easily show mud lines than their matter counterparts.
Should You Ignore Mud Lines Showing Through Paint?
No matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to ignore mud lines showing through the paint. Mud lines can make your walls look terrible, especially after they have been accentuated by paint.
Also, there is no reason to ignore them because there are several ways you can fix this problem.