Hot take: I stopped using pre-mixed joint compound and started mixing my own mud

Used to swear by the pre-mixed buckets from the hardware store for drywall work. It was easy, just open and go. But after doing a big basement finishing job 2 years ago, I noticed the pre-mixed stuff shrinks way more and takes forever to dry between coats. A old timer at the lumber yard told me to try mixing my own from powder. Now I do it for every job. It's cheaper too, like $12 a bag vs $20 a bucket. Plus I can make it stiffer for the first coat and looser for the top. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed less cracking?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason_jackson24d ago

My brother-in-law is a commercial drywaller who does hospital jobs with fire codes and all that, and he told me the big crews won't touch pre-mixed mud for exactly this reason. He said they even have a formula they use with hot mud mixed with all-purpose for different coats (it's a whole science). The shrinking thing is the real killer, especially if you're doing anything with texture or trying to match old work. I think a lot of the cracking people blame on the house settling is actually just the pre-mixed stuff drying out and pulling apart.

karenw2324d ago

@mason_jackson nailed it - hot mud mixed right saves so many headaches later.