Introduction to Drywall Repair Materials

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There’s a catch to drywall repair that everyone should know before attempting to “do-it-yourself” for the first time. Drywall repair is easy to do, but it is also easy to do a tremendously bad job. For this reason, a simple introduction to drywall repair materials and tools is a great place to start on your path toward patching and painting your property’s interior structural damages. But remember, it’s not just practice that makes perfect, it is also knowledge, especially in terms of drywall repair. So continue your research and learn all that you can about drywall work before getting started on your personal projects. Continue reading to review some common industry knowledge for drywall repair.

Drywall Compound

Also called Drywall Quote “mud”, there are two common types of joint compound used to repair and patch: light-weight and all-purpose. Both are easy to work with and retain a room-temperature shelf-life of 9 months. The most important tip for buying drywall compound is to buy enough. For large projects, expect to purchase 4.5 gallon bucket of material.

For smaller projects, you can get away with a one gallon bucket, but you may be paying close to the same amount for a larger bucket. If you think you might have future work in the next 9 months, it is more cost-effective to go with the larger bucket. If not, go with the smaller amount so to not waste any material.

Spackle and Plaster

Many people are confused about the difference among drywall compound, spackle, and plaster. The differences are subtle, and hardly noticeable to the average layperson, but they do exist. Compound, joint compound, or drywall mud all refer to the same product, and used mostly for larger drywall and gypsum board projects that require more durability, namely to cover joints between panels.

Spackle is very similar to joint compound, but used mostly for small household repairs for plaster and drywall. Plaster is a type of wall material found mostly in older or historic buildings. It is a more time-consuming approach to wall repair in comparison to spackle.

Drywall Repair Tools

You can purchase drywall repair kits that come with virtually all the essentials for drywall patching and repair. Kits range in quantity, size, and price, but common ones generally include 2-3 flexible knives, a utility knife, an insider-corner knife, hammer, screwdriver, saw, drill, nails, and screws. But drywall repairs also require additional materials depending on the needs of the project, including:

  • Compound
  • Self-Adhering Mesh Tape
  • Paper Tape
  • Drywall
  • 1×4 Block of Pine Wood
  • Hand Sander
  • Nail Bar
  • Level
  • Hack Saw
  • Sandpaper
  • Miter Box
  • Primer
  • Paint
  • Paint Brush or Roller

You can purchase all of the above-listed materials at any local hardware or home improvement store. Ask a store attendant to point you in the right direction, and give advice on the most reliable products. Talk to a licensed drywall contractor for expert advice on household drywall repairs, drywall projects, drywall replacement, and more. They can even take the weight off your shoulders by getting the job done faster, better, and at a price that won’t make you think twice!

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