Hit 100 drywall patches this month without a single crack

I've been fixing up my old house in Phoenix and the walls are basically made of paper and bad decisions. Last month I counted and I patched 100 nail pops and screw holes from previous owners. Not one of them has cracked yet even with the 110 degree heat making everything expand. I used hot mud instead of premixed and that made a huge difference. Has anyone else noticed hot mud holds up better in crazy temps?

2 comments

2 Comments

benbrown2d ago

Hot mud definitely sets faster but I've had it crack just as much as premix when the house shifts with this AZ heat. The real trick is making sure you're not putting it on too thick and letting it dry completely before sanding. I'll take a clean patch that needs a second coat over a cracked one any day.

grant1302d ago

@benbrown makes a good point about letting it dry completely. I've heard from a couple old timers that hot mud actually has a different chemical reaction in extreme heat compared to premixed stuff, like it kicks off faster but also bonds tighter if you give it the full dry time. A second coat is way better than having to dig out cracked mud and start all over.