Taped vs. pre-fill on butt joints - what's the move?

Last week in Phoenix I tried pre-filling all my butt joints before taping, saved like 20 minutes per room but the finish seemed rougher than just taping directly with 20-minute mud. Am I overthinking this or is the pre-fill method actually worth it for bigger jobs?

2 comments

2 Comments

nora_barnes26d ago

My buddy tried that pre-fill method last year on a tract home job in Flagstaff. He was bragging about the time savings until he went back to sand the next day. The pre-fill had shrunk back and left tiny craters along every butt joint. He had to go over everything again with a second coat of mud anyway. Now he just tapes directly with 20-minute mud and calls it a day. The finish comes out way cleaner and he doesn't waste time fixing mistakes later.

sandraf8425d ago

Honestly, your buddy's issue with pre-fill shrinking usually happens when the mix is too wet or the mud hasn't set properly before sanding. Taping directly with 20-minute mud works fine for some guys, but it can actually trap air and cause blisters if you don't work it right. Ngl, the real trick is using a lightweight pre-fill compound that's designed to not shrink, then letting it dry fully before taping.