How to Dry Drywall Mud Faster

Dry drywall mud faster – Is there any way to increase the curing speed of drywall mud during drywall finishing? Most people don’t realize that allowing the compound to cure for 2-3 days or more is one of the most critical aspects of drywall installation.

The greater your drywall mud will be at dealing with any shocks or scuffs that may occur in the future if you allow it to air out slower.

To speed up the drying of drywall mud, install a dehumidifier in the area to lower moisture levels. Instead, use less thick coats or run a drying gun to shorten the drying time of your drywall compound. Use hot joint compound for your installations.

How long does drywall mud take to dry?

When the temperature is around 70°F and humidity is around 70%, it takes roughly 24 hours for a coat of drywall mud to dry.

The thickness of the joint compound, how deep it’s applied, humidity levels, and temperature all influence how long it takes to cure. Before applying a new coating, allow the mud to dry.

Before sanding, painting, or applying the next coat of drywall mud, allow each coat to cure for at least 24 hours. Setting compound, rather than regular joint compound, may cure quicker if you prefer, depending on the type. It may dry as quickly as 5 minutes after application.

Since it might raise the shrinkage of the joint compound, avoid painting over wet drywall mud. Fortunately, as I discussed in the following section, there are a few ways to reduce the drying time by up to half.

If you’re applying multiple coats, your joint compound might take a long time to cure. How long it will take for the next coat to be safe to apply may also be affected by the type of compound. The bad news is, there are a few tricks you can do to speed up the mud curing.

The following is how to drywall mud faster:

1. Apply light coats (thin layers)

Joint compound applications that are thinner dry quicker than those that are thicker. Apply thin layers to allow for better ventilation and drying speeds.

The thickest layer should be allowed at least 24 hours to dry before the first coat is applied. If your purpose is to dry the joint compound faster, subsequent coats may be reduced in thickness.

It’s worth noting that by combining the compound with less water and applying latex primer or adhesive to connect joints, you might reduce drying times for certain mud types from over 30 hours to around 12 hours.

2. Run a dehumidifier in the room

Running a dehumidifier in the home for at least 10 hours will considerably decrease the drying time because drywall mud contains moisture. For dryingwall mud, the optimum relative humidity range is 20-40%.

You may prepare the area for mudding a few days before by installing fans to improve air circulation if you don’t have a dehumidifier. The humidity levels will be reduced by the fans’ breeze.

When using artificial or natural bree (opening windows) to boost ventilation and drywall mud setting speed, take care. When low-temperature circumstances are present, such forcefully expelled air may prevent the joint compound from curing. Over time, painting partially frozen joints may cause structural issues such as bulging drywall panels.

3. Use hot joint compound

Drywall mud is a powder that cures inside 20 to 60 minutes when combined with water. Drywall mud can take up to 24 hours to dry, so this is a rapid drying period.

The fact that it cures so quickly makes it difficult to make mistakes correction.

Mix a little of the hot mud on your mud pan as you go along since you don’t want it to dry up before applying it. Finally, to prevent residual hot mud from setting on your mud pan after you’re done with the application, wash it.

4. Using a drying gun

A drying gun is a gadget that directs electric heat to surfaces, assisting with the drying procedure.

You’ll need joint compound in your taping knife or roller, and then apply it lightly over the surface of one side of the tape line in order for it to work. Before drying guns have a chance to cool down, cover each drywall panel with mud if there are numerous around a corner.

Point the heating nozzle at the location until the required temperature is achieved, which may take from 30 seconds to 60 minutes depending on the size and shape of the room, after it has been applied to both sides of taped joints.

If a fan is available, employ it to assist evenly distribute air around the space while using traditional techniques; otherwise, leave thespace to dry out naturally after you are done with results.

5. Sand each layer properly before applying a new one

Before applying a new layer of mud, you should sand each sand. Since sanding smooths out air pockets that hold water vapor from the curing compound, this will help the drywall resists damage better in the future and reduce drying time.

What temperature does drywall mud need to dry?

When the temperature in the room is between 65°F and 80°F, joint compound dries fastest. Because the joint compound will take much longer than 24 hours to cure, avoid mudding your drywall if it’s too cold. The panels’ edges soften when drywall mud stays wet for too long.

In order to set the appropriate room temperature for the mudding process, you’ll need to install an artificial heating system if you’re installing drywall sheets in cold weather. Temperatures exceeding 95-degrees Fahrenheit, on the other hand, may cause the following issues if overheated:

The moisture content in the gypsum crystals will evaporate as a result of the high temperatures, damaging the boards’ structural core.
The surface of the drywall panels is poorly bonded by joint tape.
Due to the drywall mud setting too quickly, the joint compound has excessively shrunk. Because of this, some drywall applications will crumble later.

In winter weather, when applying sheetrock mud, you may want to use the proper room heating methods in light of the above safeguards. Space heaters should be positioned away from the drywall, for starters.

Moreover, for two days before mudding, heat the area and drywall surface to a temperature of no less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Surface prep helps to speed up the drying process.

Lastly, leave the joint compound in the room for at least 48 hours prior to application to acclimate it to the temperature conditions of the working surface.

Finally, ensure additional air circulation by using fueled heaters. When using these heaters, a lot of water vapor is released into the air during combustion. Since drywall mud curing is slowed by high humidity, additional air circulation compensates for the increase in relative humidity.

Note: When using temporary artificial heaters to warm your drywall surface in advance of mudding, it’s critical to use the correct safety measures. Starting a fire is not a good idea.

How to tell if joint compound is dry

While the drying rate varies depending on numerous locational variables, relying on the manufacturer’s guideline to tell whether joint compound is dry enough to paint over may be deceptive. Feel your drywall mud with your palms to determine whether it has cured.

It’s still wet if it has a chilly, clammy feel. Patches on wet joint compound are darker than the bordering shade.

Can I dry joint compound with a hair dryer?

To hasten the drying of drywall mud, use a hair dryer. When drying thin coats of joint compound, this method is particularly effective. The drying rate of thicker layers will not be dramatically improved by using a hair dryer. A heat gun is a good alternative to a hair dryer.

By blowing air for improved circulation, the hairdryer not only increases the temperature of the wall area it is targeted at, but also decreases humidity.

The application of the joint compound directly to the targeted region, which may cause it to shrink excessively and fracture, necessitating you to apply additional layers.

Note: Don’t leave your hair dryer running unattended while using this method to speed up the drying time of drywall mud because it’s dangerous. In addition, allowing the joint compound to cure naturally will give you the best results while drywall mud is drying quicker.

Additional information:

How to Dry Drywall Mud Faster – How Long It Takes

How long does drywall mud take to dry?