Mixing drywall compound whether it is ready mixed or in powder form is a very important step in your project that can make applying the compound much easier and much more effective. Different consistencies have different ideal uses. Knowing how to acquire said consistency and when you need it can save you time and headaches later on. At Filadelfia Construction we want to help our clients as much as we can, and so here for you a guide on how to mix drywall compound.
To make the process a little easier we’ve divided the process into three main phases of the typical project requiring compound.
Filling
Whether you are leveling poorly installed drywall, filling gaps, corner beads or anything in general where you may need to apply and leave more mud on the wall, we recommend using a thicker consistency in your ‘mud’ (compound). When the compound is thicker it won’t run or drip.
For corner beads your first coat of compound should fill most of the gap. By leaving the first coat nice and full the surface is mostly flat and the next two coats will be much easier, requiring less mud and allowing you to focus more on that perfect finish.
Sometimes your repair requires joining new and old drywall. This can often cause a large unlevel in the wall. Before you apply any tap to the joint, we recommend filling the gap (Pre-filling) so that the tape can sit over a flatter area and prevent cracking the future. This again can sometimes require plenty of Durabond 90 compound and so a thicker consistency will help fill the gap with more ease. To get this ideal filling consistency add very little water and mix, slowly adding more water until you reach the ideal consistency. Try for a consistency somewhere between pudding and play-dough. Ready-mixed compound will also require some water and mixing in order to get rid of air bubbles in the compound and reach a more uniform smooth consistency.
Taping
Once your joints are leveled they are ready to be taped. (How to Tape) When you are taping, we recommend using a more liquid consistency. This will make it easier to clean the excess mud from underneath the tape and also allow for the mud to spread evenly under the tape with less pressure. This is important because you want to clean excess mud from underneath the tape, not remove all of it. If you are using an automatic taper this consistency will be helpful as well.
Coating
Once your joints are taped you can begin to coat. (Coating Joints) Here is where you will be applying most of the mud in terms of surface area. Whether you are covering a small patch, large areas or coating joints in a room, you want the mud to be easy to move and spread, but not so liquid where its running. A good way to test is picking some up with your knife, it should begin to drip but not quite fall off your knife. This is a good consistency to coat. When you are going to skim (final coat) you can make your mud slightly more liquid. Be sure to add some “No-Pock” on this skim to avoid pock-holes (fisheyes) in your last coat.
When mixing large quantities we recommend using and electric mixer and mixing thoroughly until your compound looks smooth and without air bubbles.
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