Adventures in Drywall: Snowblind

Posted on January 4, 2025

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
"The face you’ve shown me scares me so
I thought that I could call your bluff
But now the lines are clear enough
Life’s not pretty even though
I’ve tried so hard to make it so
Mornings are such cold distress
How did I ever get into this mess?"

These lyrics, from Styx’s ’80s hit Snowblind, depict struggles with a certain illicit white substance. But for me, the term Snowblind conjures memories of an entirely different white powder—one that’s legal but just as challenging: drywall joint compound.

With a little creative license, I reimagined those lyrics to reflect my drywall finishing days:

Spackle, Spackle on the Wall
"The catface and scratches you’ve shown me scare me so
I thought that I could sand you off
But now the lines are not clear enough
Drywall’s not pretty even though
I’ve tried so hard to make it so
Sanding in the dark is such cold distress
How did I ever get into this mess?"

The Struggle of the Drywall Finisher

Every drywall professional knows the pain of trying to achieve a flawless finish. After a long day dragging droplights through dimly lit spaces, searching for scratches, pinholes, and imperfections, your eyes betray you. Eye fatigue sets in, and "eye boogers" (technically known as rheum, but let’s keep it fun) make seeing those tiny trouble spots nearly impossible.

In low light, like overcast days or dark corners, the challenges multiply. Sanding and touch-ups take more time than the initial taping and finishing, leaving even seasoned pros frustrated.

Enter Never-Miss: A Game Changer

One day, I stumbled across Never-Miss by Tuberville Enterprises LLC. This product transformed how I approached touch-ups. It’s a colorant gel that mixes with joint compound, available in blue, yellow, and white. Unlike chalk additives, it doesn’t compromise the compound’s integrity. Instead, it improves coverage and reduces issues like joint flashing or paint bleeding.

Real-World Benefits

On a recent job site, finishers used yellow Never-Miss for their final skim coat. In the overcast light, scratches and low spots appeared as darker shades of yellow, acting as a guide coat. This method, long used in auto bodywork, helps identify areas that need more attention.

By sanding until the joint reaches a uniform shade, finishers avoid over-sanding or leaving under-sanded areas. The result? A faster, more efficient process focused only on problem spots.

When it’s time for final touch-ups, switching to blue Never-Miss makes identifying those areas effortless. Instead of sanding everything again, you just look for the blue spots.

Level 5 Finishes Made Easy

Many projects now demand a Level 5 finish, and Never-Miss adds a new dimension to achieving it. Adding white Never-Miss to a skim coat improves the compound’s hiding ability and reduces wall porosity, preventing joint flashing and photographing.

Contractors have also found creative uses for Never-Miss. By using different colors for each coat, they can track progress and ensure even coverage in tricky areas, reducing callbacks and ensuring quality work.

Affordable Peace of Mind

The cost of Never-Miss adds only a fraction of a penny per square foot but offers significant time and money savings. The manufacturer provides helpful resources, including videos and photos from high-profile jobs in New York.

The Next Generation of Drywall Dogs

As I write this, I’m proud to share that my oldest son has followed in my footsteps, slinging mud just like I did for years. Life truly comes full circle, and perhaps he’ll teach me a few tricks along the way.

To all my fellow Drywall Dogs out there: keep innovating, keep rocking, and remember—mud can be more than just white now!

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newcomer to the trade, products like Never-Miss prove there’s always room for improvement. Don’t let the mess blind you—embrace the color and make your job easier!