My contractor hung the drywall leaving wide gaps between sheets, some I'll have to replace but can I tape and mud gaps that are 1/4" or less than 1/2" without it cracking later? This is in 2 room. Thank you.

I would not pay a contractor who did such a poor job. Which way did he hang the drywall verticle or horizontal. Drywall should butt with no gap at all. Back to you for more info

Contractor is gone-this is one of those grey areas-he did what he was hired to do but left one of his workers to hang the drywall as a favor. This large room has lots of windows, several doors and built-ins. Lots of drywall cuts-poor job. But I'm hoping to not have to redo all of it. I have hung drywall, taped and mudded before with success. Anyway the question was if I can tape and mud gaps a 1/4" or so wide without it cracking later? Thanks for any suggestions.

Do not use readi-mix mud, it will take days to dry and shrink. Get a few bags of the 45 minute compound and mix yourself. It will bridge better, not shrink and dry hard as a rock so don't allow too much build up. I'd use this for the first coarse coat only and then the final coats with readi-mix.

I have joint compound, easy sand, '45' is that the 45 minute compound? Do you use 2 or 3 coats? Thanks for your suggestions.

The 45 I am talking about is a dry mix that you add water, mix and must use in 45 minutes because it sets up like plaster of paris as opposed to drying like readi-mix compound. I do 3 coats with the first being coarse filling 90% of the seam, not for screw holes. The next two coats are readi-mix and the final is intended to be nearly perefct as I can get it. I then allow to dry, scrap any bumps and wipe with wet sponge, not sanding screen.

If you aren't experienced with powdered quick mud, don't use it. Use the premix. A 1/4 " gap should be fine if you lay the tape bed right. If it's 1/2", mud in a strip of drywall.

If you do the first coat right, you only need one more coat.

Fire the contractor.