Drywall mud, also called joint drywall compound, comprises primary gypsum dust. It is mixed with water to form a cake-like frosting consistency and used for drywall installation.
It helps repair holes and cracks in drywall and plaster and strengthen drywall and drywall joints.
It also protects in-wall structures such as wiring and plumbing from moisture, insects, rodents, and other damages.
It is fire-resistant due to the gypsum. When the drywall is properly taped and sealed, it stops fire from destroying your home.
If your drywall mud is not properly taped and sealed, it won’t work as a fire suppressant. It will also make your painted space look unattractive.
Are you looking for how to make drywall mud dry faster? This article will provide detailed steps to making drywall mud dry faster.
How to Make Drywall Mud Dry Faster
Method 1: By Applying the Drywall Mud in Thin Coats
One way of making drywall mud dry faster is by applying the layer in thin coats. This way, it takes less time to dry.
The thinner the coat is, the less time it takes to get completely dried.
When the layers of drywall mud are too thick, there will be more water content to be absorbed, which will increase the drying time.
The first coat you apply has to be very thick to fill the joints between the drywall sheets and cover the screw holes.
After the first coat, make all other layers thin for quick drying.
Method 2: By Using a Ceiling or Standing Fan
Another trick to make drywall dry fast is to increase air circulation by using a ceiling or standing fan.
Set your standing fan to rotating mode so that air will be effectively circulated in the room.
Open the windows and put on your fan to decrease the humidity level of the room. Increased humidity increases drying time.
Method 3: By Providing Heat for the Drywall Mud
Heat speeds up the drying time for any substance with water content. Clothes are a good example; they fry faster when the dryer is put on hot mode. Any sense dries faster when it’s put under heat.
Using heat is a drywall mud speed increase method. Turn on the furnace or put space heaters in the room to increase the temperature.
Increased temperature lessens the drying time of the drywall mud.
Method 4: By Using a Dehumidifier
You can make the drywall compound dry faster by setting up a dehumidifier in the room.
A dehumidifier is a device used to remove moisture content from the air in the area it is set up.
The device will remove water content from the drywall, which will lessen the drying time of the drywall mud.
Method 5: By Using a Heat Gun
As mentioned earlier, heat accelerates the drying time of any moisture-contained substance.
A heat gun, often referred to as a hot air blower, is a hand-held device that emits flameless steam of hot air.
It is used to speed up any drying process for softening paint for removal. It is a must-have tool for DIYers and professionals.
If you want to dry a small wall patch, you can also use a hairdryer but ensure you keep it far away.
Method 6: By Using Hot Mud
If you’re in a hurry, you can use hot mud to make your drywall mud dry faster. Hot mud dries within a short time, usually twenty to sixty minutes.
The disadvantage of using hot mud is that it does not give you much time to fix errors.
If you’re using hot mud for the first time, ensure to use it on a small wall patch to learn how it works first.
You can only use it in more extensive areas when you have learned the trick and become a professional.
In your mud pan, quickly mix the powder because it could dry up even before using it. Immediately you’re done mudding, wash your tools thoroughly to avoid the mixture drying on them and get rid of residual mud.
This residual mud on the pan can also affect the setup of mud the next time you use it.
Method 7: By Adding Salt to the Mixture
Some DIYers have reported that adding salt to the mixture of gypsum and water will lessen the drying time of drywall mud.
Salt is a drying agent used to preserve substances, especially food with water content. It dries out the moisture content in the substance, thereby preserving it for when you need it.
Adding salt to your drywall mud mixture can decrease the drying time since salt can remove water content from any substance.
Types of Drywall Mud
There are various types of drywall mud. Some of them have their own drying time. You can choose any drywall mud you would prefer.
All-Purpose Drywall Mud
This type of drywall mud is pre-mixed and sold in buckets. It is lightweight and very easy to work with, so it’s the most preferred option for DIYers. It is ideal for coating seams and corner beads.
All-Purpose drywall mud is difficult to sand. However, it’s not as strong as other types of drywall mud.
Topping Drywall Mud
It is sold in dry powder form, and you’ll have to mix it yourself. It is not recommended for taping joints. Its bonding power is top-notch.
Quick-setting Drywall Mud
It is also known as hot mud. As the name implies, it is quick. It is mostly used by professionals. DIYers might find it difficult to use this type of drywall mud for their drywall installation.
Topping Drywall Mud
As the name implies, it is used for embedding joints before finishing the drywall joints. It is more difficult to sand compared to All-purpose and Topping drywall mud. It is ideal for covering cracks and filling gaps.
Conclusion
How long does drywall mud take to dry? The drying time for drywall mud is 24 hours.
But with some tricks and shortcuts, you’ll be able to reduce the drying time of this compound by half or even less.
There are various methods you can use to lessen the time of drywall mud. If you want to mud a drywall or repair cracks, use any method mentioned above to quicken the joint adhesive drying time.
Use any drywall mud of your choice, preferably the best for the situation. For example, you may be in a hurry and can’t wait for twenty-four hours for your drywall mud to dry.
Quick-setting drywall mud is the ideal option for that situation. It dries within twenty to sixty minutes.
And finally, make sure you properly tape and mud drywall joints before you paint.
By following one of the above-mentioned methods, you’ll be able to make the drywall joint compound dry faster.
