The joint compound, also known as the drywall mud, is an excellent option as a sealer or skim coating. With this mud, you can fill the gaps of any joints in your drywall. If you cover any area with mesh tape and you want to strengthen the joint, it could be the best solution.
But the worst part is that you cannot apply the joint compound on any wet room or wall. You can use the joint compound when the room is thoroughly dried, and the wall is ready.
Can you use joint compound on concrete or cement?
You can use the joint compound on concrete or cement. It will work under both conditions, but the room or the wall must be dried. Otherwise, the drywall compound won’t stick to the wall; it will fall and become a mess. So, the precondition of applying the joint compound is drywall.
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Drywall compound is mainly designed for strengthening the joint and works as a sealer. It works better on any drywall components. It could be concrete walls, drywall, or cement board.
Joint compound on concrete walls:
You can use the joint compound on a concrete wall if the wall is dried enough.
But you need to maintain some conditions before applying the drywall compound to concrete. The humidity is one of the biggest challenges of using joint compounds everywhere.
There should be low humidity when applying the joint compounds to a concrete wall. The compounds will not stick to the concrete walls if the humidity is too high.
It might fall off the applied area, or you won’t get a strong surface. So, get the low humidity and then apply the drywall compounds.
Joint compound on concrete floor:
You can use the joint compound on the concrete floor. But the outcome will not be as you expected. You only get better output from the concrete floor if it dries properly.
But you can’t use the drywall compounds on a dirty floor or wet floor; it will damage the entire painting or the components.
But if you apply the joint compound on a dry concrete floor, it will give you the best output once dried. It will stick to the floor firmly and won’t damage or detach from the floor.
So, the concrete floor must be dried; it will be ready to apply for the joint compounds.
Joint compound on cement board:
You can use the joint compounds on cement board. It will not become tiresome work like the concrete floors or walls.
Mostly, the cement boards are dried; you can apply the joint compounds directly on them or use the mesh tape.
The second one might be more effective than the first choice. Using the drywall compounds on mesh tape will be a good thing. You will get a durable and robust coat over the cement boards.
Will joint compound stick to concrete?
The joint compound will stick to the surface. You must, however, follow a specific procedure. When dealing with an outside foundation wall, do not even think of doing this if that concrete is damp on the opposite side.
Sand between applications of joint compound is necessary to obtain an even, smooth surface that is flush with the concrete and devoid of ridges and tool marks. Apply a final, thin compound application to the whole concrete surface.
In general, people use joint compounds to finish seams and corners in new drywall installations.
What kind of joint compound to use on cement board?
The joint compound has two major types: one is drying type, and the other is setting type. You should use a faster setting type of joint compound when using drywall compound over cement board.
Ensure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the products you use to finish the area that is not tiled, for example, the floor or wall, etc.
Setting type joint compound consists of powder form. Hence you should only mix it with water right before you use them.
As soon as you mix it with water, try to use it immediately. If there is not enough to finish the job, try to prepare another batch, and you also need to be cautious to make sure all the materials are clean enough.
How to apply drywall mud or joint compound to concrete?
Applying the drywall mud or joint compound to concrete is not a difficult task. You can use it on concrete walls and floors by following some quick steps.
Dry Concrete floors/Walls:
As I said before, you must dry the concrete floor or walls properly, and the humidity must be low.
A muddy or wet surface is not ideal for applying the joint compounds. It will fall off the area, or the applied area will not be strong enough to go for years.
So, you have to ensure the concrete is entirely dried and the humidity is low. You can check the weather forecast and choose a perfect day for applying the drywall compounds. It will be the best idea to check the weather and start working.
Clean the Concrete Area:
After drying the concrete walls or floors, you must clean them and remove or seal any gap using the drywall compound.
First, you may clean the concrete area with water or cleaner, then let it dry for hours. Once the concrete area dries properly, you can seal the gaps.
Apply the Drywall Compounds:
If you have followed those steps, your concrete area must be ready within that time. Now, you may apply the drywall compounds. Before that, you may need to prepare the joint compounds if you buy the powder.
You can buy the pre-mix compounds and directly apply them to the concrete surface. When you start using the joint compounds, you need to be careful about the gaps & rough places. They could be irritating, but you have to fill them all and ensure the best even surface as the output.
Dry the Compounds:
When you finish applying the joint compounds, you must wait several hours to touch them. It will take a few hours to dry from the surface and be ready to touch.
But it will take more than 24 hours to a week to dry from the inside. So, you can use the concrete floors or walls after one week or so.
What is the best joint compound for concrete?
There are many types of joint compounds that have been used for the last couple of years as a whole. From professional suggestions, the drywall mud is the best joint compound for concrete because it is generally used for any needs and works fur better than others.
Proficient drywall installers every now and then make use of diverse forms of mud for diverse stages of the interaction. One large benefit of drywall is that it’s far quicker and less difficult to put in than conventional plaster. For coating or any other work, drywall mud will be the best.
Is joint compound the same as concrete?
The joint compound is not the same as concrete, although you might alter them and use them in similar conditions and places. You must consider their core differences before applying.
Depending on the use of the work, two things are sometimes used in the same way, but their real differences are many. It enhances the beauty and helps make the top lining look simple and perfect.
Is cornice cement the same as joint compound?
Cornice cement is similar to the joint compound, but it is simply an upgrade of the base coat. The small distinction among them is that base coats are supposed to be implemented on bare structures, even as cornice cement is used mainly on brick facades.
A cornice adhesive makes the facade greater water-resistant and gives an easy finish.
Likewise, it is appropriate for attaching cornices to plasterboard walls and ceilings cornice joints.
You also can use cornice cement for brief fixes of the cracks in home windows and door frames.
Can you mix cement with joint compound?
In the development industry, a joint compound is usually used as a widespread hole filler and a floor finisher for each production and restoration of surfaces. That is why cement is not usually required in this case.
However, you can use cement in exceptional cases because you have to work with moisture and concentration at different times for different weather.
The joint compound enjoys the benefit of being a flexible cement that can be utilized on various surfaces. Notwithstanding, the joint compound experiences an absence of formability, strength, and hardness, a lopsided completion that requires sanding.
For that situation, you can mix them.
Final thoughts
Although you can use the joint compounds on concrete or cement, you must meet some conditions. The concrete wall or floor must be dried, and the humidity must be low. To get good output from the applied compounds, you need to maintain these conditions. Otherwise, they will fall off.