One-Day Taping
When you're pressed for time, fast-drying setting-type compounds are the answer.
The standard method of taping can take anywhere from 48 to 72 hours to complete (from the application of the first coat to the thorough drying of the third coat). That’s fine when you’re working through an entire house, but there are times when it’s desirable to do all the taping in one day. Fortunately, fast-drying setting-type compounds allow you to do just that.
Setting-type joint compounds harden chemically in anywhere from 20 minutes or 30 minutes to 4 hours or 5 hours, depending on the type used. The compounds with the shortest setting times are ideal for one-day finishing. All three coats can be applied in the same day; if the taper is skilled enough, only two coats are necessary (the compound can be applied more heavily, because there is very little shrinkage as it sets up). Proper temperature, humidity, and airflow help complete the taping process in one day. The sequence of steps for one-day taping is as follows:
- Embed the tape on seams and in corners, and cover any corner bead.
- Apply the first coat to the fasteners.
- Apply the second coat to all taped areas as soon as the first coat has set up.
Steps 1 through 3 should be complete by the middle of the working day. Use a compound that sets up in 2 hours or less, or mix the joint compound before you need it, to shorten the setting time after it is applied. (If that isn’t fast enough for you, there are liquid and powder accelerants that speed up the setting time. They can turn a 90-minute compound into a 20-minute compound.)
- After the second coat has hardened, apply the third coat. Use an all-purpose ready-mixed compound or a topping compound for this thin, final coat. These compounds are easier to work with and sand when the third coat is dry.
