Working in the construction industry, I think it's fair to say that there's an unspoken hierarchy among the various trades. Since there's also a great deal of disagreement about the order of that hierarchy I won't dare to compile any sort of list here, but suffice to say that drywallers generally fall somewhat lower on that list than other trades.
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure why this is; whether it's the value placed on the work or some bias about the people who perform it. For some reason, the trade that creates the finished surfaces that we all interact with more than any other is less valued than the ones we like to watch on HGTV.
However, I've recently had the experience of doing this sort of work myself which has given me a different perspective on it's value.
When I'm mixing up the mud, or scraping it against the wall, I realize how ancient and fundamental this work really is. Even the name, "mud" evokes a time when we were using the bare materials we could readily get from the earth to create the spaces around us. The motion of applying a finish like this to a wall is probably one of the oldest trade skills in human history.
In addition to being an ancient skill, it’s also not an easy one. The ability to create a perfect surface doesn’t come automatically or quickly. It takes a lot more time than I’ve spent so far to just reach out and be able to make a finished wall that’s both level and smooth. There are a number of tricks, workarounds and special tools that help make it easier, but in the end it’s just you, the mud and a simple, straight-edged tool.
What makes this work even more important is that it’s often one of the last phases of the construction process. When someone says, “we’re in drywall” it generally means that they’re getting close to the end. It’s also the last layer of material between whatever was built before and what we’re going to see when it’s finished, which often leaves the responsibility for the appearance of the finished product at the feet of the drywaller. They have to make corrections for imperfect framing, bad details, missing supports or difficult transitions that no one took the time to consider. Understanding how this work is done is critical for everyone involved, because it’s very easy to create a situation where a drywaller can’t make a space look or function like it’s supposed to.
So, if you find yourself underestimating the skill or importance of this particular trade, (like I once did) give it a try and I think you’ll change your mind.
