How reasonable is it to apply 3 coats of mud in one day? I assume that the only way to do this is to use the setting type compound for one ore more coats. Is that correct?

Background: I recently hired a taper to tape some sheetrock that I hung in my basement. The owner has some workers do the first 2 coats where he gives very minor supervision, then he comes in to do and closely supervise the final coat and to make sure everything is nice and finished.

So far, it seems they have done a reasonable job overall. However, for a variety of circumstances, they have done no taping in my bathroom (a 6X6 room with 1/2 green board and 1/2 durock). The owner said he is not able to come in until Saturday, and he won't be sending anyone the next few days because the first 2 coats are all done. This is clearly not the case, so I want him to send someone to get started on the bathroom (and a few other small areas that have only gotton one coat).

I have a feeling that he will resist and say they can do all 3 coats in the bathroom on Saturday. Hence my question: Can 3 coats be done well in one day?

 

Yes, a complete finish job can be done in 1 day by using durabond or other setting compounds. Usually the 1st 2 coats will be durabond with joint compound on the final coat......... but setting compounds can be used for all coats. J/C is just easier to sand

 

Thanks. So, the issue is not quality, but that it may be more work for them if they decide to do 3 coats of setting compound.

 

Correct, the quality should still be fine. I probably ought to mention that although a setting compound will dry in short order, it should be given time to cure [24-36hrs] before priming and painting. Hot mud paintied too soon can burn the whatever [technical term ] out of the fresh paint and make you think you forgot to paint it

 

Doing three coats of mud in one day can and cannot work. small repairs yes. But in your case i can assure you it is not a great idea. Why? SHRINKAGE! That first coat should be given 24 hours to settle in. I have many times forced three coats only to be disappointed when i see the work a few days earlier. This new drywall work would fall into this. There is just too much mud in this time. But if adequate is ok for you....this is really a situation if the light will bring it out.

 

Turns out the taper only did one coat in the bathroom. So, at most he will only need to do 2 coats in one day (probably today).

There are some small areas to be patched, and some small areas that won't get many eyeballs (ie, in some closets) that may get 3 coats in one day, though. But it sounds like consensus is that that will be OK.

 

Not sure if it is method or product problems, but I have successfully mudded 3 coats in a day many times without shrinking problems. I use the 90 minute setting compound in small quantities in thin coats. If the coats are thin enough it doesn't require striking until the last coat, which Marksr alluded to using JC for it, since it isn't quite as hard and easier to sand.

 

The problems I have had are on deep fills. Taping a crack without cutting it open....no problems then. But a few times cutting it open 1/4 inch or more has shown it to flash the next time I see it weeks later. If I do a one day repair cutting in a piece of new drywall, I will be careful it pieces in tight. Then I am good to go for three coats in one day. But if this piece has a 3/8" gap or more, this is where I see it flash days later.