Tried a different mud consistency for a patch job and it backfired

I was fixing a hole in a bathroom ceiling and decided to mix my joint compound a bit thinner than usual, thinking it would feather out smoother. The whole thing sagged overnight and I had to scrape it all off the next morning. My buddy in Kansas City said he always keeps it thick for overhead work, which I should have remembered. What's your go-to mix for patches on ceilings?

3 comments

3 Comments

angelamurphy12d ago

Thick and sticky, like peanut butter... that's the only way for ceilings. Thin mud just can't fight gravity. I use the pre-mixed stuff straight from the bucket for overhead patches, maybe just a tiny splash of water if it's dried out a bit. Learned that lesson the hard way on a closet ceiling, had the same sagging mess. Your buddy in KC has it right.

karenc2012d ago

Oh man, @angelamurphy, you nailed it. I see this everywhere now, like with glue or cake frosting. If the mix is too thin, it just won't stick where you need it to. Gravity always wins. Getting that right thickness is the secret for so many little fixes around the house.

scott.alex12d ago

Reminds me of trying to patch a hole in my old apartment wall. I used spackle that was way too runny and it dripped down the drywall like tears. Ended up with these weird streaks I had to sand for an hour. The right paste makes all the difference.