Used to be a 'fill everything first' guy on screw dimples, now I do it as I go

For the first 5 years hanging drywall I would do all the screws first on a whole wall, then go back and mud the dimples. Took forever and the mud was always drying out by the time I got to the far end. Last year on a big job in Albany my partner showed me he does a row of screws, then immediately muds that row before moving on. He said the mud stays wet and you get way less bubbles. I tried it and honestly my taping got faster even though it feels like you're doing more back and forth. Has anyone else changed their dimple order and seen better results?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_ben5d ago

Stick with mudding as you go, it keeps the compound workable and cuts down on sanding later. Your partner's method saved my butt on a humid job last summer, really helps avoid those pesky bubbles.

emerycarr5d ago

My buddy Mike tried doing all his sanding at the end on a big garage job last fall. He spent three extra days just knocking down ridges and smoothing out dried lumps. He told me he'd rather mix small batches as he goes from now on, even if it means more trips to the bucket.