What drywall mud should i use

Quick setting mud is rarely used as a finish coat. Quick setting mud is more difficult to sand than "lightweight all purpose" mud which makes it very difficult to create truly smooth surfaces. Even when hot mud is used for coating patches , a skim coat of lightweight all purpose mud is often used to finish the patch.

There are several brands of quick-setting drywall mud. The pros all have their preferred brands and different reasons for each. Why is it called "hot" mud? We cannot be dogmatic as to the reason but there are a couple of possibilities. As the mud hardens, the chemical reaction creates a small amount of heat which may be a reason some people call it hot mud.

On the other hand it could be just an idiomatic description emphasizing that you have to move quickly once mixed because it will harden up on you if you don't finish within its specified time. It was one of the first types of quick setting drywall mud that was used extensively in the workplace and for this reason the name became ubiquitous with quick setting drywall mud. The other main category of drywall mud is pre-mixed drywall mud. It is what most people think of when referring to drywall mud.

Pre-mixed drywall mud is sold in either 4. Most often, the boxes of mud are also 4. Therefore, if you see a box of drywall mud that seems cheeper than most, make sure to check the volume. Pre-mixed drywall mud is, as the name indicates, pre-mixed and ready to use.

Pre-mixed drywall mud is almost always thinned with water before using. The amount of water used depends on how the mud will be applied. For example, bedding in tape requires a thinner than normal consistency. A thin consistency is also needed when using automatic taping tools to allow a smooth flow of mud through the drywall mud pump. However, if it is too thin, it will be difficult to spread and will shrink back, creating voids.

Texture mud is the thinnest of all. It takes time and training to understand what consistency of mud should be used with each application. When shopping for drywall mud you may notice different types of pre-mixed mud. The three most commonly used are "all purpose", "lightweight all purpose" and "topping". There are of course several other types of joint compound available however these are the most common.

All purpose drywall mud, as the name indicates, is made for all applications. Follow the same procedure for beveled joints and corners as before. On butt joints, apply a thin coat of mud over the previous swaths and the original mud joint.

When the mud dries, apply one last thin coat only over the butt joints. Feather out the edges very well and let the mud dry.

Don your respirator mask and goggles prior to sanding. Sand all joints and nail indentations until the wall is perfectly smooth. Unlike paper tape that requires bedding in wet mud, self-adhesive mesh tape is applied over seams and then, when mud is applied, an adequate amount seeps through the mesh into the seam beneath. The order of taping is the same: Do screw indentations and beveled joints first, inside and outside corners next, and butt joints last.

Use pre-creased paper tape for inside corners and preformed tape for outside corners. Disclosure: BobVila. You agree that BobVila. All rights reserved. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Get a pro to do it for you. Receive free, no-commitment project estimates from licensed drywall installation and repair pros near you.

Find Pros Now. More From Bob Vila. With a good history of reliability and credibility, it stands out among others. It provides a superior bond which is perfect for heavy fills. Now, this is a decision-maker guide section. You know with the right drywall joint compound you can achieve your goals faster and easier.

That will give you tons of right sense to kill the problem on the spot. This special consideration applies to anything that we buy. An unusable product of a higher cost is less worthy than a cheap handy doer. Whether you buy premixed or, raw mud, either one should be easy to use. This is an important criterion. Drywall mud can take up to 24 hours to fully cure.

But for some fast-drying versions, they might cure within a few hours. Not only is the curing time a fact. But it should also be durable and come with a smooth finish. Hence you must look for durable drywall mud with high performance. And it applies to many other aspects. When the joint compound dries, it should be sturdy and easy to sand. Mostly, joint compounds can be categorized into two parts.

You will find pre-mixed drywall mud or raw sand mud that requires mixing. For the mixing process, it might be an issue for those with no experience. But the raw powder mud might still come up with some special benefits for a specific user. On the other hand, already mixed versions are just ready to jump into the mud pan. Thereupon, novices are mostly advised to invest in a pre-mixed drywall joint compound. This is basically the ready-to-use version.

It comes in buckets of different weights. And they give you a certain consistency of the density. Rather it requires you to mix with water as it comes in powder form. If you can define the project base, then you can mix the right amount of raw mud and reserve the rest.

Both of them are very useful and some people even use them interchangeably in some instances. The joint compound simply refers to a mixture of gypsum dust and water.

This mixture is easy to use and creates a smooth base for indoor wall painting projects. You can use it for minor repair works and finishing up drywall seams. Or, use it when installing drywall corner beads.

Wallboard joint compounds might retract and shrink a bit. However, you might use it to seal joints, apply edge guards and tapes, or even prepare drywall for the first paint coat. It also refers to a paste product. It comes in various consistencies, each designed for different scenarios.

Thicker grains are mainly used for significant patchwork, while thinners are used for small repair works. Thereupon, drywall spackles are used for much smaller applications like filling drywall cracks.

We highly recommend you pick your best wallboard crack and holes filler from above. We have the most flexible joint compounds for drywall taping and cracks repair. They will conceal the imperfections and no one could even make a guess. Drywall mud is what you might also call the joint compound. You can use it to fixing drywall cracks or holes. Also when installing edge guards to protect the external or internal corners.

Answer: It depends upon many criteria. With that, you can cover any uneven dents, scratch patterns, bumps, visible nails, and screws, etc. So, it makes the wall surface super flat-looking and ready to paint. Thus create a luxurious interior finish that is ready to welcome your guests. It totally depends upon a visual analysis. Apply a few other layers of joint compound.