PSA: An old pro told me I was overworking my mud and it changed everything

I used to spend like 10 minutes troweling each joint trying to get it perfect, until a guy with 30 years in the trade watched me and said 'you're just pushing it around, let the tape do the work.' Now I do two quick passes per coat and the finish is actually smoother. Has anyone else had to unlearn a bad habit that was just making more work?

2 comments

2 Comments

fiona9851mo ago

Read somewhere that overworking the mud actually pulls the compound out from under the tape, so you end up with weak joints. Seems like the old-timers all know a little goes a long way.

blair_martin1mo ago

@fiona985 beat me to it but yeah, that's exactly what happens. Overworking mud is like trying to fix a drywall screw hole by hitting it harder with the hammer. You just make everything worse. Old guy I worked with years ago would just do one smooth pass and walk away. Said if you're working it more than 10 seconds you're doing it wrong. His joints never cracked either.