Gypsum putty: technical characteristics

A common tool used in building and remodeling projects to create even, smooth surfaces on walls and ceilings is gypsum putty. It is a popular option for both pros and do-it-yourselfers due to its simplicity of application and speedy drying time.

Gypsum putty’s adaptability is one of its main benefits. It can be used in thicker layers for larger leveling tasks or in thinner layers to cover minor imperfections. The material leaves a finish that is strong and long-lasting and adheres well to a variety of surfaces.

Selecting the appropriate gypsum putty for your project can be facilitated by being aware of its technical properties. To guarantee the best outcomes, factors like shrinkage, drying time, and compatibility with other materials must be taken into account.

Technical Characteristic Description
Material Composition Made primarily from gypsum, mixed with additives for improved performance
Setting Time Usually sets within 30 to 60 minutes
Application Used for smoothing walls and ceilings before painting or wallpapering
Surface Compatibility Works well on plaster, drywall, and concrete surfaces
Finish Quality Creates a smooth, even surface with minimal shrinkage
Drying Time Typically dries completely in 24 hours

Types and features of puttying compositions

Gypsum serves as the base for gypsum putty, a mixture that resembles paste or powder.

The contents of the material consist of:

  • Snow-white gypsum, but many domestic manufacturers use gypsum available in local deposits, which is characterized by a yellowish tint.
  • Modified polymer water-soluble additives.
  • Modifiers and plasticizers. These components protect the solution, after covering it on the walls, from premature drying, and then crumbling, protect them from cracking.
  • Mineral fillers. These can be:
  1. marble flour. It has very small fractional particle sizes, amounting to fractions of a millimeter;
  2. white quartz sand.

The composition’s application features are determined by the size fractions of these components; as filler particle size decreases, a thinner plaster layer is applied to the surface that needs to be finished.

The filler particle sizes enable the putty to be divided into:

  • Starter (see. Starter putty for walls: types, purpose, application). This type of material rather refers to plaster mixtures, and is intended for leveling and smoothing the plaster layer.
  • Finishing (see. Finishing putty for finishing). It is used to create a thin leveling layer on even flat surfaces.
  • Universal gypsum putty. In addition to the minimum particle sizes, the material is distinguished by the features of the binder base with gypsum, which is used in its composition. These unique characteristics allow you to apply a thick layer of plaster. It can be used to:
  1. seal joints between plasterboards;
  2. seal cracks and deformations;
  3. pre-plaster concrete surfaces.

When polymer additives and other ingredients are properly combined in the putty recipe, a strong, smooth surface film is formed, drying fast and producing a truly high-quality and dependable mixture that lets you use fewer facing materials down the road. The putty has additional advantageous qualities due to natural ingredients that are safe for people.

  • Resistance to cracking, which ensures a sufficient level of plasticity.
  • Vapor permeability, the ability to create a good microclimate.
  • Ease of coating and grinding, there are no breaks on the surface.
  • High hardness, strength, durability.
  • Application in a variety of areas:
  1. for leveling;
  2. for sealing cracks, butt joints of plasterboard.
  • Excellent adhesion to many materials.

The sole disadvantage is that damp rooms shouldn’t use finishing gypsum putty to finish surfaces. It is applied within structures.

A versatile and easy-to-use material, gypsum putty is used to create even, smooth surfaces on walls and ceilings before painting or applying wallpaper. Its principal benefits are its excellent adhesion to a variety of surfaces, quick drying time, and ease of application. Gypsum putty’s fine texture makes it perfect for covering minor flaws and cracks, guaranteeing a perfect finish. Selecting the ideal putty for your requirements can be made easier by being aware of its essential features, which include workability, drying time, and compatibility with other materials.

Comparison of acrylic and gypsum putties

Popularity aside, gypsum putties’ primary benefit is their low cost.

Advice: Prior to beginning a renovation, decide on the type of finishing material you want, weigh the benefits and drawbacks, and then pick the best one.

The table, for instance, contrasts polymer putties and gypsum:

Polymer putty Gypsum putty
Universal acrylic compounds can be used to decorate the facades of houses Most often used for finishing surfaces indoors
Both types of materials are great for leveling surfaces, sealing cracks, crevices, and all kinds of voids
This is a waterproof material that protects the wall from dampness and moisture Easily absorbs water, which does not allow it to be used in rooms with high humidity, but only in fairly dry ones
High plasticity, can easily withstand sudden temperature changes, does not lose its strength and does not crack Has less reliability, does not withstand large temperature changes, otherwise cracks will appear on the surface and the solution will crumble
Worse vapor permeability Better vapor permeability. When finishing a room with gypsum putty, it maintains optimal humidity, does not cause dampness on the walls
Easier to use, easier to apply to the wall and easier to sand
This is a natural substance, without artificially created components. It is completely environmentally friendly and safe
Higher price. But the composition is more reliable and durable, which justifies the high cost Preferred by people who do not have a high income. The cost of the material is several times lower
Can only be applied in a thin layer. With significant differences in relief, the area must be processed several times You can apply a thick layer at once, which allows you to repair all surface defects at once
When sanding both coatings, you need respiratory protection

Advice: Everyone chooses for themselves which putty—gypsum or polymer—is better to use when finishing your premises. Everything is dependent upon the wealth and inclinations of the owner.

How to prepare for applying gypsum putty

Prior to beginning wall finishing, you must ascertain how much gypsum putty is used per square meter. To accomplish this, add up all of the finished wall and ceiling areas, then choose the finishing layer’s thickness. Multiply the initial data by the coating’s area to determine the amount of material consumed.

With a ceiling area of 3 × 4 m = 12 m² and an applied layer thickness of approximately one millimeter, the mixture will require: 12 m2 × 1.2 kg x 1 mm = 14.4 kg.

The result is multiplied by three and, assuming an average coating layer of 3 millimeters, the mixture’s consumption comes to 43.2 kg. Typically, the mixture’s packaging will list the approximate amount of material consumed.

Advice: Keep in mind that gypsum putty, which has the same volume as cement, weighs substantially less.

Gypsum putty can be applied in a single layer up to 60 millimeters thick in walls with significant variations in elevation between the top and bottom, virtually eliminating the possibility of peeling, cracking, or a shell effect. The room’s temperature and the wall’s base should fluctuate between +5 °C and +30 °C while work is being done.

In order to get the surface ready for puttying, you must:

  • Clean the wall from dirt.
  • Remove dust.
  • Remove layers.
  • Remove the old coating and other dirt on the wall.
  • Remove metal hooks, staples.
  • Remove nails.
  • Coat the remaining metal parts with anti-corrosion protection, and then re-prime, which will increase the adhesion of the solution.
  • Substrates that strongly absorb moisture must be re-primed with special care. These are:
  1. foam and aerated concrete surfaces;
  2. brickwork;
  3. cement-lime plaster.

The following is the process for getting the solution ready:

  • The contents of the bag are carefully poured into a container with water. To do this, take about 0.6 liters of water per kilogram of dry composition. So for a 30-kilogram bag you will need 18 liters of water.
  • Everything is mixed well until a homogeneous consistency by hand, with a construction mixer or an electric drill with an attachment.

  • The solution is left to settle for up to 5 minutes.
  • Stirring is repeated.
  • The solution obtained in this way must be used up within 30 minutes after dilution with water.

Advice: The final mixture cannot have any foreign ingredients added to it.

For wall finishing, gypsum putty is a dependable and adaptable material. Professionals and do-it-yourselfers alike love it for its simplicity of use and seamless application. Gypsum putty consistently works well for smoothing and polishing surfaces as well as priming walls for painting.

Gypsum putty’s ability to dry quickly makes it one of its best qualities and enables you to complete projects more quickly. Its good surface adhesion further enhances its attractiveness and guarantees that it will continue to be a dependable option for a range of applications.

Gypsum putty is also renowned for being environmentally friendly because it doesn’t emit any dangerous materials into the atmosphere. This makes it a safe choice for indoor use, particularly in houses where there are small children or people who are chemically sensitive.

All things considered, gypsum putty provides a workable way to accomplish excellent wall finishes. It adds value to any wall finishing project because of its easy application, durability, and safety.

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Veronica Gerasimova

Interior designer, author of books on the design of residential premises. I will help you make your home not only functional, but also beautiful.

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