The pre-fill vs. on-site mud debate: does pre-filling screw holes actually save time in the long run?

I've been at this for about 8 years now, and for the longest time I was a strict on-site guy. Mix up the mud, fill every screw hole by hand, tape, then coat. But last month on a 2,500 sq ft new build out in Maple Ridge, I tried pre-filling all the screw holes with a fast-setting compound before taping the seams. It cut my taping time in half, but I ended up with more sanding on the second pass because of some tiny bubbles in the pre-fill. So here's the debate: do you pre-fill all screw holes first, or do you just tape and fill as you go? Which gives you a cleaner finish with less sanding headaches? I'm leaning towards pre-fill but I'm not sold yet. Has anyone else tried switching and stuck with it?

3 comments

3 Comments

owens.cameron20d ago

Pre-fill all day long. But you gotta use the right mud for it. @anna_ross19 mentioned bubbles - that happens when you use topping compound for pre-fill instead of a hot mud. I switched to Easy Sand 45 for pre-fill and those bubbles basically disappeared. Screw it in a hair deeper than flush, dab the mud on, scrape it flat with a 6 inch knife, move on. Takes me maybe 2 hours longer on a 2500 square foot house but I save double that on taping day because I'm not stopping to fill every damn hole. Worth the trade off for less sanding hassle.

anna_ross1923d ago

Yeah, didn't you find it bubbled up more than you expected too?

henderson.vera23d ago

Oh man, my friend made a batch and it totally spilled over her stove and made a huge mess!