What are the different levels of drywall finish?

Level 0: Only construction crews see this. At this level, there is no tape, no finishing coats of mud and no corner bead necessary. This is typically requested if the setup is temporary.

Level 1: These areas are not typically seen either. All joints and angles are taped, but there’s no need to cover the tape with another layer of mud. Level 1 areas include places like an attic or service hallway.

Level 2: Joints are taped, followed by a skim coat of mud. Corner bead and all exposed screws are covered with one coat of mud. The excess is removed.

This level is applied to places where the view of the walls are not priority, such as a garage or warehouse.  Level 2 finish in places like garages and warehouses, where the look of the wall is not of high priority, or in a spot where the plan later would be to add tile.

Level 3: This level requires taping and an extra layer of mud on the joints and angles after the initial coat. Screws and corner bead are covered with two separate layers of mud. The surface will be a little rough, and not idea for a smooth wall or light texture. Medium to heavy texture finish is best for level 3 walls.   

Level 4: The drywall will be taped, all joints and angles will have a skim coat applied, and two additional layers of mud applied for flat joints. Plus, one extra coat of mud will be applied on interior angles. Screws will receive 3 separate mud coats. All walls will be sanded.

This is the perfect level for interior walls that will be painted (flat or enamel paint recommended) or light texturing.

Level 5: This is the top-notch finish in drywall! At level 5, the drywall has a smooth, uniform surface. It looks good under any lighting.

Level 5 drywall finishing includes all steps in Level 4, with an additional skim coat of mud applied evenly across the entire surface of the sheetrock.

If you’re wanting a high level of sheen (high-gloss paint), level 5 is the way to go.