This article may contain affiliate links, How To Graft a Fruit Tree [Your Garden Will Thank You], How to Waterproof Plywood [4 Best Methods], A Guide to Wood Finishes That Are Food Safe. Technically, all other similar pastes used to fill holes are called spackling paste. However, the brand is so popular that now we call all the pastes spackle.. You need time to work with the joint compound and that would not be possible with the spackle. How to Build a Boardwalk: A Step-by-Step Guide, How to Kill Weeds in Your Lawn Without Using Chemicals. It can also be bought in a pre-mixed tub. You might be wondering when you will be working with drywall, but unfortunately, if there was a fire in the home, the drywall must be replaced due to smoke damage and you will be using joint compound to hold the boards together. There are a lot of things to like about spackle. The Best Home & Commercial Property Inspection Company in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, & Maine. It can be used for smaller tasks, of course. This one-gallon bucket is enough for 18 square feet of drywall, plus a little extra for patching over nails. However, if you can only purchase one for whatever reason, we recommend stocking up on spackle at the very least. However, on the surface, it can be hard to tell the difference between these two compounds. When undertaking such projects and repair you certain have some joint compounding, sealing and other such requirements. The same goes for the dry compound. It will give you time to work on the mud and you will not be stressed with the worry that the whole thing will become dry. Spackle that comes in tubes is usually less messy to use than the kind in the tub. Because of this, most homeowners should have some on hand for those quick and easy repair jobs. Make sure you have a rag, water, a mud paddle, and a taping knife handy. If youre not familiar with drywall, check out this article. Youre trying to fix the dent but dont have any spackle on hand. Youll need a lot of it to cover drywall joints. Gypsum is the main ingredient used in drywall, so joint compound is just spreadable drywall. Modern-day homes are constructed with the help of walls that are built using a wall-board. Most homeowners will need spackle for their average repairs. A quality paper tape will make this projess easier but still takes time. Perlite is a volcanic glass. The difference between the two perhaps lies in the scale in which they are used. In the end, you should choose spackle for your average home repair. When using that reinforcing mesh, the key is to make it as flat and level as possible. You should not breathe them in when possible. Fascinated by all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market. Theyre both examples of a genericized trademark when we use a brand name to describe all brands of the same product. When dealing with drywall or fixing larger issues in a home, it can be difficult to do on your own. An exclusive Crash Proof Retirement System provides you an option BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES IN ARIZONA:SEE THE 8 CITIES THAT MADE THECUT 2022! There are two commonly used materials to get the job done: joint compound and spackle. Hi, Im Brandon and I cant express how excited I am that you chose The Saw Guy as your resource for project ideas, tool reviews, and all-around guide to the world of DIY. We now have a reasonably good idea about joint compound. Spackle and joint compound are both about equally safe. Established in 1914 in Akron. You may also need a wet rag and sandpaper. Here are two great examples from each category so you can make an informed choice when it comes time for some DIY home repair. Theyre quite inexpensive as well, so there is little reason not to purchase them. It is a means to protect your retirement fund from market crashes. 1. It could be used for sealing joints, for prepping drywall before the first coat of paint and so on. This requires taping compound of two dry coats spread on the wall. Yes, you can! Lets take a closer look at the applications for both. Joint compound is actually a versatile material. Yes, they are both used in the home for wall repair, fixing imperfections, or construction. The simplest explanation is that spackle is used for smaller applications whereas joint compound is used in greater volume. Joint compound comes in buckets of a pound or more. POPCORN WALLS: HOW TO REMOVE THEM (QUICK GUIDE), Genius Home Repairs YOU MUST Know to save $$$ (2021, Effective Ways to Seal your House from Mice, Locate Studs in walls (16" or 24" apart) - Find with tools, 5 Best Paints for Garage Walls: Amazing Paints to Give Your, How to Make Use of Space Under the Stairs? Once its dry, it provides a durable underlayer. Whether youre building or repairing walls, some sort of joint compound or spackle is essential. Even a little too much exposure can lead to a change in texture and ease of use over time. You should preferably wear a mask. Joint compounds are available in ready-to-use mixes. You can find it in white, beige, and four colors in between. When you buy joint compound, you purchase several pounds at once. It can come premixed in a bucket or as a powder in a bag. To help you choose the best option for your current project, we wrote this complete guide. That means being able to sand it and paint in a shorter period of time than you would with joint compound.

If youre considering which one to stock up on, spackle is likely going to be used more often. It is about the consistency of cake frosting, which makes it easier to lather walls and other materials. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing. You can use it to fill nail holes, dents, and scratches in walls like this. Also known as drywall mud (or simply mud by professionals), it is similarly comprised of gypsum dust. It is not as spreadable as the joint component. If they arent, the joint compound application will not look very good. If you have a home inspection done on a house you are looking to buy, and see that there are cosmetic issues with the drywall, unless the drywall is unsafe, it is not required to be fixed. However, if you want high-quality results, you need to choose the perfect option for your project in particular. Youre much more likely to need spackle than joint compound, which should be reason enough to stock up on it. Joint Compound easier to sand down, more dense and durable, and doesnt dry out as fast as spackle. For smaller projects, go with spackle. Productivity hacks. However, when in doubt, consider how much you need to use. Lets break down the pros and cons of using spackle. If you have a dent, ding, nail hole, or any other small imperfection in your walls, spackle will take care of the job in short order. Not only that, it is way more cost-effective compared to buying a joint compound that basically equates to overkill. Joint compound contains limestone and perlite. You also might require some spackling work. Now, lets look at what sets joint compound and spackle apart from each other. Its also used to cover any nail holes or blemishes, so theres a smooth surface ready for the first coat of paint or primer. If you are looking for cost-effective solutions, then plaster or joint compound could be the best option. trim and fastener works and corner beads. Have questions about either product or need assistance with a project in the home using joint compound or spackle? Plus, it dries too quickly. Spackle is used to fill in dings and dents like holes in the wall, nail holes, or where you tried to hang a ceiling fan and put it in the wrong place. The second is that, when not in use, the product should be properly covered. Hence, we will try and understand the difference between joint compound vs. spackling and also look at other important points. Then, use the tool to scrape the excess away. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. Using spackle would be very difficult and take quite a long time to get the job done. Wipe excess off the knife. But there are some differences between the two that can make each different from one another. Using spackle is something the average homeowner can do, but dont be afraid to ask for help. Header image credit: Virrage Images, Shutterstock. It is meant to cover those small imperfections, drying quickly along the way. Reading the directions on the label is always important to be safe and to use the product effectively. We are sure that the above would have given our readers a reasonably clear understanding about joint compound and spackling. It is meant solely for the purpose of smaller patchwork jobs because of the rapidness in which it dries. If youre sitting in a room right now, chances are theres joint compound under the paint right next to you. Copyright 2022 House Grail. The compound is used with drywall tape. But how do you know when to use joint compound vs. spackle? Spackle tends to dry a bit quicker and has less shrinking than a joint compound would. Can You Substitute Joint Compound for Spackle? Things like dents and dings, small nail or screw holes, or even combined with drywall patches that are 2 x 2 or greater. It functions as a cosmetic tool, not a structural one. However, youre going to use quite a bit of it at a time so that the cost can add up after extensive use. So, to ensure you know which tool is the right tool, lets dive into these two substances. It comes in various consistencies and each one of them cater to different situations. You will need to apply several coats of joint compound for a smooth finish.

Joint compound is mostly used for larger projects. The second difference is their primary uses. 2. As mentioned above, when you have heavy-duty sealing, filling and other such works, spackle will not be suitable. Having both joint compound and spackle in your toolbox is a great idea, as you never know which one you will need. The average homeowner is going to be doing small wall repairs, which is exactly what spackle is used for. Joint compound is also known as mud because its about the same consistency. New drywall installations, larger area, the whole wall, Smooth surface and smooth finish with thin layers of gypsum. When I'm not creating life hacks I'm teaching my kids how to fix stuff after their dad breaks it. Spackle dries quicker than joint compound in less than 30 minutes. Lets say you have some leftover joint compound and notice some nicks, dings, and dents in your walls. Joint compound is for large projects. There are joint compounds that come in a lightweight formula. If you have sinus and respiratory conditions, you should be extra careful. Also, you need to make sure those seams are taped properly. How to Adjust Door Closer: Why Is My Door Slamming? Joint compound is typically used during drywall installation. Spackling has its own features and benefits. So whats the difference between joint compound vs. spackle? You may see it in its traditional white color, though there are brands that spread on pink before drying to the familiar white. Joint compound is water, limestone, perlite, polymers, and a few additives. Learn more. Both have their own features, uniqueness and versatilities and users should choose the one that suits their specific needs and requirements. However, most are sold premixed. This will keep it from falling apart, Let it dry completely and then sand it after following the manufacturers directions. However, you also use less of it, so the cost usually balances out. Moreover, joint compound can take as long as 24 hours to fully dry, dragging out a small repair job for far longer. The joint compound comes in 1 quart to 5-gallon sizes. Can you Substitute Spackle for Joint Compound? Just take a little bit of it and use a palette knife to press it into the hole.