Hot debate: Pre-filling screw dents vs. wiping compound over them on the first coat

I've been going back and forth with a guy on my crew about this for weeks. He swears by just skimming over screws without pre-filling, says it saves time and he's been doing it 15 years. I'll admit, it does go faster, but I've noticed on our last two jobs here in Phoenix that I get way fewer nail pops when I take 10 extra minutes per room to hit each screw with a 6-inch knife first. The difference really shows after the second coat dries too, less sanding and fewer ridges. He argued my way is just more labor for the same result, but I pulled three of his pops last Friday on a ceiling run and that shut him up quick. Has anyone else tested both methods side by side on a big job and seen a clear winner?

2 comments

2 Comments

blakem371mo ago

The screws you actually pulled were probably just set too deep, not a mud issue.

wright.lisa1mo ago

Set too deep... so how do you find the sweet spot?