Finally got my mud consistency perfect on a big ceiling job

Three years ago, I was working on a big custom home in Asheville and I just could not get the hang of mixing mud for overhead work. It was either too thin and dripped everywhere or so thick my arms would give out halfway through. Last week, I had another big ceiling in a two story foyer, and something just clicked. I started with a full bucket of hot mud, added water slowly while mixing, and kept checking it on my knife. When it held a peak but still spread smooth, I knew it was right. The whole thing went up without a single drip or sag, and my shoulders weren't screaming at the end of the day. It's a small thing, but after all that time, it feels like a real win. What's your go-to trick for mixing mud for ceilings?

2 comments

2 Comments

norag5513d ago

Oh man, I read somewhere that warm water helps it set up better.

david_henderson613d ago

Wait, really? I always heard the opposite, like warm water can make it go weird and clumpy. @norag55, maybe it depends on what "it" actually is, you know? Like for gelatin, sure, warm water to dissolve it first. But for something like instant pudding mix, cold milk is the only way to go. I mean, I tried warm once and it just never got thick. Maybe it's just me but that ruined a whole batch.