HHDave

A publication like Fine Homebuilding should always stand for doing things better. That's why I'm a little disappointed to find this video on ready-mix compound when setting-type compounds are so superior and SHOULD be what you promote. Granted, ready-mix is convenient being already mixed and coming in its own bucket. Beyond that, it sucks. It's slow to dry, very soft and easily damaged, and it shrinks as it dries, resulting in cracking, tape separation, and the need for more coats.

I can't begin to tell you how many "professional" drywall jobs I've fixed over the years that were done using conventional ready-mix and tape. I switched to lightweight setting-type compound many years ago and have converted everyone who has ever worked for me to the product. It is as easy to sand as all-purpose ready-mix, but offers a number of advantages. Firstly, it sets chemically, so it begins to harden even before the water in it dries. This means that it becomes firm to the touch (and thus impervious to pedestrian damage) sooner than ready-mix. Since you mix it yourself, you can also vary the consistency to create a thicker filler coat followed by thinner finsih coats. You can do this even as the earlier coats are still wet. In this way, I can put a first coat of heavier mud on a seam, then, as it firms-up, spray it with water and apply a thin finish coat to feather it out and fill pinholes. Once all that is dry, a very quick sanding and I'm ready to prime.

Since the product doesn't really shrink, it holds better to tape. You can skip the 3 step process for taping an inside corner when you use setting-type compound. Now, a lot of people try to do that with ready-mix and it results in the tape separating from the compound. But with setting-type, you can bed the tape, then build the mud right over it without waiting between coats.

For all these reasons, my crews know never to buy the ready-mixed junk.

Just finished 300 ft of 9 1/4 MDF crown in new construction with some painful waves in the ceilings and imprecise corners. I coped everything. Granted, MDF won't expand and contract like solid wood, but there is no way mitering would have looked nearly as good nor been as fast and forgiving.

Coping can also be used when butting different crown profiles together. For example, when your ceiling crown meets cabinet crown in a kitchen. A simple jig and 3 step process make it possible (and with small pieces you can cope your edge by holding it perpendicular to a table saw to make it really easy.)

Brilliant! Whether one likes the style or not, one must applaud the creativity. I'd never envision a deck like this myself and love it when someone else gives my imagination a little kick! I too want to know more about the railing construction and how the mesh is secured. Also, what are that horizontal bar and lumber extensions off the back of the seat? Just for looks?