When looking into drywall compound there’s a couple things to consider: what kind of compound is best suited to your job, and how much of it you’ll need. Estimating the right amount of compound the first time is the best way to avoid waste and second trips. How can it be done? Luckily, where there’s a problem, there’s a solution!
First, determine what kind of drywall compound you’ll need. These are the three main categories:
PRE-MIXED
Pre-mixed compound is ready to go right out of the box! Thin it down for automatic taping tools or just pour and go.
- Excellent for taping, filling and finishing joints
- Smooth/easy application
- Very strong taping bond
- Long working time
- Smooth finish coat
LIGHT-WEIGHT
Light-weight compound is easier to sand - perfect for finishing coats!
- Easy to use and san
- Smooth application, long working time
- Low shrinkage
- Weighs up to 15% less than conventional weight compounds
- For taping, filling and finishing
- Less airborne dust for faster clean-up as dust binds together and falls to the ground
- Lightweight formula weighs up to 15% less than conventional weight compounds
- Easy working and sanding; (aluminum oxide paper recommended to prevent clogging)
- Excellent bond, smooth application, long working time
- For taping, filling and finishing
- Ideal for machine or hand application with little or no mixing required
- Less air entrainment - less craters equals fewer passes to achieve a smooth finish
- Excellent bond for taping
- Lightweight for easier sanding and less shrinkage
- Smooth and easy application
QUICK-SETTING (HOT MUD)
Quick-setting compound needs to be mixed with water before use since it comes in powdered form. This is a good choice for small patch work.
- For interior gypsum panels and exterior gypsum ceiling boards
- Unique humidity resistance
- Exceptional bond, low shrinkage
- Unusual check-crack resistance in heavy fills
- Choice of setting times
- Easy to mix, apply, and sand to a smooth finish
- Exceptional bond with low shrinkage
- Permits one day finishing with next day decoration
- Excellent for patch and repair work (deep fills and/or large cracks)
- Sets in 85-130 minutes
- Easy to mix, apply, and sand to a smooth finish
- Exceptional bond with low shrinkage
- Permits one day finishing with next day decoration
- Excellent for patch and repair work (deep fills and/or large cracks)
- Sets in 30-80 minutes
- Easy to mix, apply and sand to a smooth finish
- Exceptional bond with low shrinkage
- Permits one day finishing with next day decoration
- Impervious to humidity
- Excellent for patch and repair work (deep fills and/or large cracks)
- Sets in 20-30 minutes
CALCULATOR
Once you’ve picked your compound type, it’s time to do the math!
- For pre-mixed compounds, multiply the square footage you’re working with by 0.141 to get the total pounds of compound you’ll need.
- For light-weight compounds, multiply the square footage you’re working with by 0.073, and,
- for quick-setting compounds, multiply the square footage you’re working with by 0.053.
For example, if you want to cover a room of 500 square feet using:
- pre-mixed compounds:
- multiply sq’ x 0.141 = amount of compound you’ll need in pounds
- 500 sq’ x 0.141 = 70.5 lb of pre-mixed compound
- light-weight compounds
- multiply sq’ x 0.073 = amount of compound you’ll need in pounds
- 500 sq’ x 0.073 = 36.5 lb of light-weight compound
- quick-setting compounds
- multiply sq’ x 0.053 = amount of compound you’ll need in pounds
- 500 sq’ x 0.053 = 26.5 lb of quick-setting compound
Or, for those whose favourite school subject wasn’t math you can use this calculator.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
Don’t forget to get the other tools you may need to apply compound to your drywall: joint tape, a bucket, a mixer, joint putty knives, and sanding sponges.
Once you have your compound and the tools you need, you’re ready to finish your job like a pro! As always our customer service team is ready to help. Give us a call or send us a message with any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!
CONTACT US
Call us Monday to Friday between 6 AM and 4 PM at (905) 761-5611
Email us anytime at info@csrbuilding.ca
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RESOURCES
https://danthedrywallman.com/drywall-mud-calculator/
https://drywall101.com/articles/types_of_mud.php
https://www.inchcalculator.com/drywall-calculator/
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-estimate-drywall-step-by-step-tutorial-844379