Pro tip: a guy in Denver told me to stop rushing the second coat on high ceilings

I was finishing a big living room job last month, and the homeowner's friend, who used to hang board, watched me work. He said, 'Kid, you're putting that second coat on while the first is still shiny. Let it get good and dull first, or you'll just drag it.' I waited a full 45 minutes longer than I usually do before going back over it. The mud laid down so much smoother and I had way less sanding later. Anyone else have a simple timing trick that made a big difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

owens.nancy19d agoTop Commenter

Oh man, that's the golden rule right there. It's not just about waiting for it to dry, it's about waiting for it to cure all the way through. If the first coat is still soft underneath, your knife pressure will just mess it up and create ridges. I learned to go by touch, not just the clock. Wait until it feels dry and hard, not just looks dull. That extra patience saves you hours of sanding later.

elizabeth_bailey2619d ago

But how much does it really mess it up? I've slapped a second coat on when it was just dry to the touch plenty of times. Never had a huge problem, maybe a few lines to sand out. Seems like overkill to wait for a full cure every single time.