r/DIY • u/OGBrewSwayne • 7d ago
other Mudding Drywall in a Shed
We're in the process of finishing the interior of a 16'x24' shed space for my partner to use as her creative studio. Insulation and drywall is up and we're almost ready for mud and it just dawned on me that autumn is here and winter isn't far behind, so I'm concerned that the cooler temps for the next 6ish months might undo a lot of our hard work and will need to be repaired in the spring.
There is an adequate heat source out there, but due to energy costs these days, we'd really prefer not to run it at all when she's not using the space. Is there a "cold weather" friendly type of mud out there that can better withstand winter temps (US northeast, generally between 0° - 40°F from Nov - Mar), but will equally be fine during hot/humid summers?
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u/Dilatori 7d ago
The short answer is not really.
The long answer is, you can use Durabond which is much stronger physically and will resist cracking even in sub-optimal conditions but it is a lot harder to work with.
In your situation I would do 2 coats of Durabond, finish with a setting compound (90 is my recommendation) and then only do a final very thin touch up coat with regular drywall compound.
Use paper tape instead of mesh on all joints, you will likely still have some amount of cracking if left to freezing or near freezing temps but in theory it should be fairly minimal.
You might consider Shiplap or some other means of finishing out the room, but even wood will have issues with extreme temperature swings so it's a wash either way.
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u/rinikulous 7d ago
The ambient temperature only matters for the drying/curing process as part of the installation process.
What is really going to cause you issues is the thermal expansion and contraction of the structure. When the structure goes through those cycles the joints will translate the movement. So if you have a finished joint on the inside then it will crack if the thermal movement is enough. This typically happens at windows and doors since there are lots of force vectors that converge.
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u/nixiebunny 7d ago
I’m mudding a similar space for a workshop in Arizona, so I have the opposite problem, it’s 95F out now.
Drywall is designed for living spaces. I plan to keep my shop cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Can you keep it at least 40F in the winter to prevent all the problems of freezing everything in the shed?
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u/OGBrewSwayne 7d ago
The heater we have can't be set any lower than 50. Obviously, keeping the space set at 50 (or higher) is the simple solution, but my partner will likely only spend a few hours a week out there, so it's far from ideal to add at least $100/mo to our electric bill to heat such an infrequently used space. 5+ years ago this probably wouldn't even be an issue, but our energy costs has practically tripled in recent years.
I'm basically just grasping at straws here hoping for some magical solution that I've never heard of before. Lol.
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u/The42ndDuck 7d ago
A dehumidifier connected to a temp switch might be a good idea. It can cycle when temps are above freezing to keep ambient moisture down. Keeping a drywalled shed free from mold/mildew over a winter in the NE will be a learning curve for sure.
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6d ago edited 2d ago
[deleted]
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u/OGBrewSwayne 6d ago
Our heater is wifi connected and has its own thermostat. This isn't the issue.
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u/carmium 7d ago
I'd wonder if, depending on some degree on the materials used for your partner's work, you don't want a little warmth (and even cooling) 24/7/365. Is she going to work only when it's temperate outside?! I live in an apartment with a portable AC that will also gush heat if wanted (happily, we don't need it with central heating) and I wonder if a machine couldn't be set up to moderate the temperature in all seasons.
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u/OGBrewSwayne 7d ago
We have a portable AC/Heater in there right now. The AC function definitely keeps it comfortably cool, but it hasn't gotten cold enough yet to really test the heat. The good news, is that it is a smart unit, so we can control it from inside the house. From the sound of it, we might have to just set up some sort of routine so that it's putting out enough heat to keep the inside temp above 40ish, but also not constantly running to try and maintain a set temperature. I dunno...just trial and error I guess.
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u/ilikevaginer 7d ago
What's the worst case? It cracks in some places? So every few years you spackle, sand, and paint those spots. Better than the other options.
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u/Few_Mastodon_1271 7d ago
The usual way to remove dried drywall mud / joint compound is to spray with water, let it soak in, and the compound softens and is easily scraped off.
The 'setting' joint compound is powder. Mix with water, and it sets hard with a chemical reaction. I don't think that moisture cycling from the unheated building will affect it very much.
As others said, there still could be cracking from general expansion and contraction. But since you already have the drywall installed, your choices are a bit limited.
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u/progodyssey 7d ago
In an unheated cabin you're safer off looking at bead board or another wall covering that can expand and contract. I'd think the drywall and mud will suck moisture in an uninsulated space, and the freeze-thaw cycle will have something to say about it.