How to Wet-Sand Drywall in 5 Easy Steps

Wet-sanding drywall is a technique that can elevate the quality of your home improvement projects, turning rough and uneven surfaces into smooth, flawless canvases ready for paint or texture. Whether you're a seasoned DIY enthusiast or embarking on your first renovation effort, learning how to wet-sand drywall is a relatively simple task, but it can be time-consuming. However, it lets you sand drywall without creating lots of dust and debris. Read on to discover how this process can transform your walls and add value to your living spaces.

What Is Wet-Sanding?

Wet-sanding drywall is a technique contractors and DIYers use to smooth and finish drywall surfaces, including walls and ceilings. For traditional dry-sanding, contractors use sandpaper to remove excess joint compounds and create a smooth surface. In contrast, contractors wet-sand using a damp sponge, and this sanding method is less abrasive, minimizes dust, and creates a smoother surface for your remodeling project. 

Benefits of Wet-Sanding Drywall 

Wet-sanding offers various benefits for home and commercial drywall finishing. Here’s why you should consider it for your next project:

• Less dust: Dry-sanding results in fine dust that poses a risk of health issues and makes your home feel dirty. Wet-sanding uses a damp sponge instead of dry sandpaper, so it’s a cleaner and safer method because it creates much less dust.

• Smoother finish: The damp sponge helps evenly distribute drywall joint compound as you wet-sand, meaning it will fill in and smooth out small imperfections in the remaining joint compound that stays on the wall. If you do it well enough, you can make a flawless base for paint or whatever finishing wall treatment you choose.

• Less abrasive: Dry, gritty sandpaper is abrasive, whereas a wet sponge is not. So, if you want to protect your drywall and reduce the risk of scratching or damaging the paper surface, choose wet-sanding for a gentle approach. This is especially effective for finishing coats that require a light touch. 

• Easier cleanup: Less dust means less cleanup. With wet-sanding, you won’t need to vacuum and wet mop up dust and debris because most of the extra joint compound you remove will stay trapped in the damp sponge. As you rinse the sponge between rounds of wet-sanding, you’ll rinse away excess materials rather than releasing them into the air and dispersing them around the job site.

Prepping to Wet-Sand Drywall

While one of the major benefits of wet-sanding drywall is the reduction of dust and debris, you’ll still need to wear the proper protective equipment. One of the most crucial drywall sanding tips is to protect yourself with safety glasses, disposable gloves, and a dust mask. When shopping for a sponge, purchase a drywall sponge so it will deliver the exact results you need.

How to Wet-Sand Drywall 

Now that you’re ready to begin, follow these five simple steps for the smoothest outcome and best results.

1. Wet the Sponge

Fill your bucket with clean water and dip the sponge into it. Allow it to fully saturate before gently wringing it out. Drywall sponges tend to dry quickly, so avoid wringing out too much water. The sponge should feel damp. 

2. Sand Surface Spots