Finisher Spotlight: Matt Arey

Some drywall finishers got into the trade because it was a family business. Some may have picked up a taping knife because they felt some kind of artistic calling. But Matt Arey of Arey Drywall first became interested in the profession for more practical reasons — it was a cold day, and the drywall finishers on his jobsite got to work in warm, cozy rooms.

“About 23 years ago, I was a remodeler, and I was outside looking in on a job,” Matt told us when he visited Trim-Tex HQ in May 2025. “I saw drywall guys in the winter with heaters going. I thought, ‘That's something I want to do.’ … This is what I do now. I'm good at it. I enjoy it. I enjoy the climate because, like I said before, I'm toasty in the winter and in the summer, I'm inside out of the sun.” 

Matt got his start in the trade by partnering up with an experienced drywaller (“a really, really fast finisher,” Matt says) who taught him the ropes, especially about how to do great work in less time. After a few short years of working for him, Matt began running the company with him. Then, about four years ago, Matt moved to Tennessee, where he began his own one-man crew, Arey Drywall. 

By going into business for himself, Matt is able to do what he does best: highly efficient work, from hanging to finishing, with zero compromises on quality. (This dedication to high-quality work extends to using only the finest materials, including Trim-Tex corner beads and accessories, which he says, “has always been a reliable product — it's strong, I can count on it.”) 

Drywalling, for Matt, is more than just something he needs to accomplish as quickly as possible so he can move on to the next job. Matt transforms empty spaces into flawless rooms with flat walls, straight corners and a long-lasting finish. And that’s not just his source of income — it’s his source of pride.

“I would like to see more people that are coming into this industry be more concerned about the quality of work,” Matt told us. “I think it's important that no matter what you do, you're proud of the job you do. It's not a race to see who can get it done first. It's not all about money. You have to put out a good product, and you have to be proud of yourself.”

Thank you to Matt for making the trip from Tennessee to Illinois to visit Trim-Tex HQ! You can see more of Matt’s work, and watch all his great videos, on his Instagram page. For more contractor spotlights like this one, use the button below to sign up for Trim-Tex’s monthly newsletter to never miss a new story!