Rant: The new lightweight mud is a game changer for ceilings

Last week I was doing a popcorn scrape and retexture job on a whole house in Tempe, Arizona. The homeowner wanted smooth ceilings everywhere, which meant a ton of mud work overhead. I grabbed a box of the new lightweight joint compound from my supplier, the kind that says it's 30% lighter. I was pretty sure it was just a marketing thing. But after finishing the first bedroom, my shoulder and neck felt way better than they usually do after a full day of overhead work. Three years ago, on a similar job, I would have been wrecked by lunchtime. This stuff doesn't seem to shrink as much either, so I got by with just two coats on most of the seams. It does set up a bit faster in the heat, so you have to work a little quicker. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a real difference in how you feel at the end of the day?

3 comments

3 Comments

derek6562d ago

Honestly, 30% lighter sounds like a lot on the box, but is it really that big a deal? It's still wet mud you're holding up there for hours. Maybe you just had a better day or did more prep work.

henderson.wesley1d ago

Ever notice how the smallest weight change feels huge by the end of the day?

parkera222d ago

So it actually works for overhead work? I figured it was just for big wall patches or something. What brand did you use, and did you have to change your mixing routine at all for the Arizona heat?