What are putties and coats for?
Putty compounds are products that are used during various renovation works at home. The use of putty turns out to be indispensable to be able to prepare the renovated base for further finishing works. In today’s article we will try to answer you what are the most important differences between leveling compounds and gypsum plaster. We have included a number of important information from the point of view of every DIY enthusiast. We invite you to read!
Putty compounds – what is it? We answer!
It is worth knowing that putty compounds can actually be used in a number of different ways. Of course, everything depends primarily on the properties of a given product and its durability. Many experts emphasize that in the vast majority of cases, leveling compounds are repair compounds. The putty can be used for pre-leveling walls as well as for filling cracks, cavities, nail holes or scratches.
The use of putty is also very necessary when we start building walls and other important structural elements that make up the drywall system. At the same time, they can be used in many different ways – they can be used for pointing gypsum board joints or masking the screws used for their assembly. In addition, they can also be used during works related to the assembly of aluminum corners . There are many extremely modern masses for tapless jointing on the market. It is distinguished by the content of reinforcing microfibers, which allow for pointing selected boards together without the need to use a reinforcing tape. Despite the fact that in many cases the putty is used only topically, it should be borne in mind that it can be successfully used on much larger surfaces. This, in turn, directly translates into a significant reduction of the unevenness on a given wall.
Strength of putty
Putty in many cases, almost always, is very durable. Putty compounds have this strength even higher, which means that they can be applied in thicker layers at once. Their thickness can be as high as 3, 5 or 7 millimeters, depending on which manufacturer has produced a given assortment. Putty compounds can therefore be used even during the initial masking of deeper and much wider cavities. They are characterized by extremely high flexibility, which significantly facilitates their application. Their advantage is also a sensational grip. It is possible to use them on very different types of substrate,what each producer, in accordance with the regulations currently in force in Poland, should inform us in a very precise way on the label of the offered product.
It is very important that leveling compounds can take two forms: dry mix or ready-made mixes. When dealing with a dry mix, the powder must be mixed with water on your own. You must remember to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer, because the consistency must be correct. Ready putties are already prepared at the factory, so we can use them immediately. Both dry masses and ready-made ones are applied after preparation by using a small spatula.
What is the difference between putty and plaster?
It very often happens that the finishing coat and the putty are misidentified with each other. This is quite a mistake. It is worth knowing that when buying these products as substitutes, we can be very surprised. By acting in this way, the results of our work can be very unsatisfactory and, in addition, not lasting. Compared to the putty, gypsum is distinguished by its purpose. It is used for the final finishing of a given surface, thanks to which it is possible to give it the perfect smoothness expected by us. In addition, you can also prepare it for decoration, for example for wallpapering or painting, depending on our preferences or needs. Compared to the usual spot fillers, it is used for the full-surface smoothing of ceilings and walls. It is most often applied to cavities and joints, which are previously filled with a special putty.
If we want to obtain a satisfactory, very nice-looking effect, you can also decide to apply the finish coat on the surface in several layers with a thickness of 1-2 millimeters. However, everything depends on the condition of the surface that we would like to renovate. Gypsum plaster can be applied in two different ways. It is worth knowing that gypsum plaster can be applied both manually and by machine. Selected manufacturers offer gypsum finish coats adapted to both these techniques – then the contractor decides which technique to choose.
