Another week, another job. This foray took us to the St. Francis Apartments on NW 21st for an apartment turnover. Upon inspection the ceiling in the bathroom underneath the tub drain upstairs was wet and spongy. Obviously a plumber was going to need to get up there to take a look and that meant opening up the ceiling.
Tip #1 Cut the hole to fit the sheetrock.
Many people are tempted to cut the hole first and then cut the sheet rock to fit. This is actually backwards. You will get a better fit, faster by cutting the sheetrock to the appropriate size and then tracing it and cutting out the existing lathe and plaster or other wall board. Make sure to put an arrow on your new piece to orient it quickly once you're ready to install it.
Tip #2 Use mesh tape for flat joints and paper tape for the corners. The type of putty knife you use is important. I typically use a 3" joint knife to apply the first coat, then a 6" knife to even and thin the joint. Paper joints require compound underneath the paper and on top of it. I prefer the paper for the corner because it folds easily in half to get a crisp joint.
Tip #3
Use mixable 'hot mud'. In this case I applied two coats of 20 minute joint compound. I've found that the mixable 'hot mud' (mud that hardens chemically instead of through the evaporation of water) is easier to get smooth and of course dries more quickly. Don't expect the mud to dry in 20 minutes just because that's what it says on the bag. That's an indication of how long you have to actually work with the compound. When you apply it let it set up 5-10 minutes and then return with an 8-12" knife to gently smooth out the coating. This last step dramatically improves the finish, reduces sanding and increases the chances you will be able to get excellent results in two coats instead of three. Coat 1 and 2 are pictured above.
And as always, the results speak for themselves.
