Get matched with top drywall pros in Menomonee Falls, WI

You can skim coat plaster, but it’s better to repair the plaster itself. A skim coat is a thin coat of drywall joint compound spread over the surface of a wall. The result is a flat finish that looks pleasing, but part of the appeal of plaster is its imperfections and aesthetic. Skim coating is best when limited to drywall applications.

Drywalling a garage is a smart decision if you want to protect your garage from fires, moisture damage, and exterior noise. Most garages have flammable supplies that could result in serious damage in the off chance of an accident. Drywall is fire resistant, helping to prevent fires from spreading. Not to mention, drywall can improve the appearance of a dingy, old garage.

You should stagger drywall sheets to help prevent cracking. The joints between drywall sheets are the weak spots, so if you install drywall with seams aligned, you’ll create weak lines that run across the length of the wall and extend from floor to ceiling. But when you stagger drywall, the solid sections of panels will support the joints. This can prevent seams from cracking or separating due to fluctuating temperature and humidity, vibrations from movement inside the home, and gravity.

Although they have similar applications, spackle and joint compound are not the same. Their primary differences lie in their composition, consistency, and ideal use cases.

Spackle is composed of gypsum and binding agents, making it thicker than joint compound. It dries quickly and is easy to sand, which makes it ideal for small wall repair projects like filling nail holes or patching minor damage.

Joint compound, also known as drywall mud, consists of limestone and gypsum. It is primarily used for large-scale projects, such as taping and finishing the seams on newly installed drywall. It tends to shrink more than spackle and can be more difficult to spread.

While both products can be used to fill small depressions and cracks, spackle cannot replace joint compound for taping and mudding new drywall. Conversely, you can often use joint compound for small patching jobs typically done with spackle.