No. When using fiberglass tape, only setting-type joint compounds like Sheetrock® Brand Durabond® and Sheetrock® Brand Easy Sand™ should be used for the first coat over the tape. Ready-mixed drying-type compounds can be used for subsequent finishing coats.

Clean sides and lid of container so no dried compound falls into the mixture. Level joint compound surface with a knife and cover container tightly. If storing, cover leveled surface of joint compound with approximately 1/2" of clean water and cover container tightly. Pour off water before reusing joint compound. Do not store in direct sunlight and protect from extreme heat and cold. The shelf life of an unopened container is up to nine months under proper storage conditions.

No. Sheetrock® Brand Setting-Type Joint Compounds (Durabond® and Easy Sand™) are recommended to treat joints in exterior gypsum ceiling board.

Page 469 of regulation 29 CFR 1926.1153. 

Yes. Each coat must be completely dry before applying the next.

Over time stains settle into a wall or ceiling. When that area is retextured the stains photograph through causing a yellowing or browning effect. The best way to prevent staining is to apply a stain blocker, primer, and sealer.

The silica rule is a jobsite regulation designed to protect workers from all RCS exposures above 50 µg/m³, which is the PEL as defined by OSHA. Under normal jobsite conditions, industrial hygiene testing conducted by a third-party, indicated that the sanding of Sheetrock® Brand ready-mixed joint compound, unless otherwise specified on packaging and within the SDS, does not contain RCS above the PEL. 

Under conditions of a temperature of 70° and 70% humidity, joint compound should dry in about 24 hours. Higher humidity and/or lower temperatures will slow drying time.

OSHA’s Global Harmonization Standard (GHS) covers global hazardous material warnings on packaging. RCS is covered within the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (2012), which is a job site regulation. The key difference between GHS and the new RCS regulation is that contractors are responsible for jobsite conditions, regardless of manufacturer packaging and/or SDS literature. 

There are no ready-mixed joint compounds that exist that are 100% “silica free.”  However, the amount of respirable crystalline silica in USG joint compounds is low. 

Yes, different joint compounds can be used over each other.

No, different joint compounds should never be mixed with each other.

Joint compound does not have a fire rating by itself, but does meet ASTM C475. When fire testing a wall the fire rating is not for individual products, but for all the system components together. USG Joint Compounds are used in numerous fire-tested assemblies. These are outlined in USG Publication SA100 Construction Selector.

RCS is a natural impurity in the raw materials used to manufacture USG ready-mixed joint compound, and varies by product, depending on product formulation and raw material source. If RCS is present, it will be indicated in Section 3 of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), as required by OSHA. 

Blistering joints are the result of not having enough joint compound under the tape. The best way to repair blistering joints is to open up the blistered area by slitting the tape. Fill the cut with joint compound and press tape back in place with knife blade.

Yes. Sheetrock® Brand Durabond® Sheetrock® Brand Easy Sand™, Sheetrock® Brand All Purpose, and Sheetrock® Brand Joint Taping Compounds provide the best performance bonding gypsum panels.

OSHA’s new silica rule is meant to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) on jobsites. The Rule establishes a new 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m³, an action level (AL) of 25 µg/m³ and a host of ancillary requirements. 

There are various products in the market which, when mixed with joint compounds, claim to improve various performance attributes of joint compounds.

USG does not endorse the use of additives in USG joint compounds for the following reasons:

An additive can adversely affect the unique balance of the many performance attributes each joint compound has been formulated to provide.

It is virtually impossible for an additive manufacturer to know if their additive is compatible at all times with all of USG's product formulations.

USG has no control over the manufacture and quality of additives manufactured by others.

Note - For taping and finishing joints, water can be added as necessary. USG recommends adding water in increments of a half-pint to avoid over thinning.

See USG Technical Information Sheet J1716 for more information.

Contractors should:

• Establish and implement a written exposure control plan for each jobsite (for assistance, visit http://plan.silica-safe.org)
• Identify and assign an individual with an understanding of RCS compliance obligations
• Communicate hazards and train employees

Respirable crystalline silica is a common mineral found in many naturally occurring and man-made materials.

The maximum gap should not exceed 1/8 of an inch.

Yes. USG Sheetrock® Brand Dust Control Joint Compound (www.usg.com/dustcontrol) was specially formulated to reduce airborne dust. Under NIOSH and OSHA guidance, this technology is considered an engineering control. However, you are still responsible for maintaining jobsite conditions and compliance with the new silica rule.