When you’re renovating your home and need to patch up some cracks or holes, easy sand is the way to go. This versatile material is perfect for a variety of applications, from filling and smoothing drywall to finishing interior concrete ceilings.
What is Easy Sand and what are its benefits?
Easy Sand is a setting-type joint compound that allows same-day joint finishing and usually next-day decoration. It’s a white powder that is made of calcium sulfate and vinyl, and when mixed with water it forms a pliable paste that hardens through a chemical reaction.
This compound, which is also known as hot mud, is ideal for heavy fills since it doesn’t shrink much when it dries. It’s easy to sand and provides a smooth finish.
In addition, Easy Sand is resistant to humidity, making it perfect for use in damp weather conditions. It weighs 25% less than conventional setting-type joint compounds, making it easy to handle.
What is Easy Sand used for?
It can be used for a variety of applications such as filling, smoothing, and finishing interior concrete ceilings, walls and drywall. Other examples are finishing panels in bathroom areas and finishing joints in protected exterior soffits.
I personally, as a professional painter, use it when I need to spackle twice in a day and when I need to fill in larger holes. It’s easy to use and easy to clean up afterward.
Easy Sand is perfect for when repairing holes in drywall.
Can I tape with Easy Sand?
Yes, Easy Sand can be used for taping and finishing drywall seams. It’s popular with professional drywallers for its easy application and fast dry time which means that they can tape and finish in one day.
Can you use Easy Sand for texture?
It can be used for texture but since it has a fast drying time you need to work quickly, you should consider using a different product if you want to add texture to your walls.
Can you skim coat with Easy Sand?
It’s possible to skim coat with Easy Sand. Although if it hasn’t been mixed properly then lumps will form which makes it unfit for skim coating.
If you’re going to skim coat twice in one day, then you could apply the first layer with Easy Sand and the final layer with a joint compound.
How long does Easy Sand take to dry?
Easy Sand comes in 5 different formulas that all have different drying times. The fastest version dries in about 10 minutes while the longest version can take up to 2,5 hours to dry.
The different versions are:
How long before you can paint over Easy Sand?
When the hot mud is drying you will see that parts of the surface of the hot mud are darker than the rest. When the whole surface is an even color, it’s ready to be painted over.
Keep in mind that the core of the mud can still be humid which can affect the paint, so to be sure you should wait until the next day when doing the finishing job such as painting.
Use the same tools you would for joint compound.
How to mix and apply Easy Sand
The process is relatively simple, but it requires a bit of practice to get the perfect consistency. Just mix the powder with water and stir until you have a creamy consistency. I usually add the powder to the water to minimize the dust.
Don’t inhale the dust since it is carcinogenic and can be harmful to your lungs trough prolonged and repeated exposure.
The goal is to add just enough water to create a thick, creamy consistency that is easy to apply. You don’t want it to be too runny or too thick.
Once you’ve mixed the easy sand, apply it to the surface with a putty knife or drywall knife in a suitable size.
Smooth it out as best as you can and then let it dry. Once it’s dry, check if you need to apply a second coat. You can do this by holding the drywall knife at a 45-degree angle to the surface.
If you do, then repeat the process. Once you’re happy with the final result, sand it down until it’s smooth and then paint over it or whatever you have planned for the surface.
What is the difference between hot mud and joint compound?
Hot mud and joint compound are both used in drywall applications but they have different properties.
Hot mud is a setting-type joint compound that dries quickly and doesn’t shrink much. Hot mud is also resistant to humidity which regular joint compound is not.
Joint compound takes longer to dry and usually shrinks a bit when it dries.
Conclusion
As you can see, easy sand is a versatile material that has many uses. It’s easy to apply and dries quickly, making it perfect for a variety of projects. Give it a try the next time you need to fill, smooth, or finish a surface. You won’t be disappointed!
