Waiting for the drywall joint compound to fully dry before other layers of mud or paint are applied can take many hours. If the conditions are poor, it can take days.

Unpainted wood and drywall can pose huge adherence problems for coatings without primer. With fresh drywall, the substrate actually absorbs a coating really well, like a sponge. However, because it absorbs so well, without a primer coat, you'll experience uneven coverage, especially along drywall seams.

If it's your first DIY project that involves painting drywall, you're probably wondering if you can paint it without mudding. The short answer? It's not recommended. The general rule of thumb is to properly tape and mud drywall joints before painting.

After the skim coats have dried, the entire surface will be gently sanded once more – to smooth out and remove all tool marks and blemishes. Once this process is over, the drywall is ready for the priming and painting service.