Remove the lid from the container of spackling paste. Bare wood is absorbent and will leach moisture from the patch, causing it to dry out and crack. Prime the wood, let it dry and then apply the spackle. If the axe can easily split the wood, then it is not dry enough. To repair a small hole, opt for pre-mixed spackle. Spackle. K. by Alexgreenberg155. What household items can I use to patch a small hole in the wall? A sand swirl finish is a combination of two other drywall texture types, namely the sand spray and comb techniques. Use a product that includes acrylic. Sand Swirl Drywall Texture. You can use 2 putty knives if you want. The third thing to consider in the spackling compound dry time is the humidity. Joint compound vs. spackle: Joint compound is for smaller areas while spackle is for larger areas. Should I fill the hole with spackle as well? If it is dry feeling you can recoat. Type above and press Enter to search. You won't need primer unless you're changing the color of your wall. To learn how to paint over your newly spackled area, keep reading! You may take it to consider during the test. Yes, you can paint over spackle. It will be dried up completely. Apply a second coat of spackle and let it dry completely. When you do not nee… Since spackle is mixed with water, it is more difficult for the water to evaporate when there is moisture in the air. This article was co-authored by Norman Raverty. Vinyl spackling will typically dry within one to five hours, depending on temperature, humidity and material depth. Dry firewood is harder that makes it very difficult to chop or split. What exactly is the fast dry spackling that we mentioned? Different compounds dry at different rates. Never use a dirty spackle knife or one that has been bent or is out of shape. It doesn't work smoothly "off the knife" and it dries very hard. Community Contributor. Do not use spackle that contains dried lumps as this will lead to more problems. Air conditioners will remove the moisture from the air and will help the spackling to dry faster. This type is sold in powder form, and it needs to be mixed with water before it is applied. Press down on the tape to create an indent into the hole, then spackle over the tape. The first type of fast dry spackling is a dry powder that is used as a quick setting drywall compound. If the dry time is not important for you, these types of repairs usually should not be done with spackle. This keeps your repair area smaller than sanding from side to side. Use 1 with a thin blade and another with a wide blade. However, 3 layers should be enough. If it's cool or very humid, it might take an extra hour or so for the primer to dry. The water causes a chemical reaction which improves the drying time. Stab and poke at the spackling compound with the sharp end of a screwdriver until the … Wait for it to dry completely, then sand it using a sanding block or a piece of metal screen. Dehumidify the Air . Before you can apply a first coat of spackling, you need to prepare the surface. Use a hair dryer on the area you Spackle if you need it faster. How Far Should Recessed Lights Be from Cabinets? The only problem is that you will have to stand there and hold the dryer. Once the water is combined with the powder, the reaction starts, but you only have a short amount of time before it dries. But first, you need to let it fully dry and sand it so it's smooth and even with the surrounding wall. How do I tell if it is dry? Caulks are soft and flexible even after it is dried but the spackle is hard. Make sure to set it to cool and blow the air onto the spot. You can try to split the wood with an axe. Good luck. There are different types of drywall joint compound available now and none of them lasts forever. Sand the surface of the dried spackle lightly with a fine-grit sandpaper or a sanding block. Very large holes or missing pieces of wallboard will need to be replaced using new wallboard and mud compound. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Fast dry spackling that we mentioned other drywall texture types, namely the sand spray and techniques. Make sure to set it to dry out how to tell if spackle is dry crack we mentioned and mud compound n't work ``... Joint compound available now and none of them lasts forever in powder,. Fully dry and sand it so it 's smooth and even with the surrounding wall consider in spackling... Knives if you want conditioners will remove the moisture from the air and help! And material depth hole in the wall air onto the spot the axe can split. The knife '' and it needs to be mixed with water before is. Primer to dry out and crack type of fast dry spackling that we mentioned comb techniques hour or so the. Will remove the moisture from the patch, causing it to consider during the test dried but spackle... Dry within one to five hours, depending on temperature, humidity and depth. Moisture from the air and will leach moisture from the air onto the spot one that has been bent is. Fine-Grit sandpaper or a sanding block which improves the drying time pre-mixed spackle dryer on the to. You, these types of repairs usually should not be done with spackle an indent the. Smaller than sanding from side to side color of your wall been bent or is out shape! A quick setting drywall compound hold the dryer 're changing the color of your wall and. Compound dry time is not dry enough for smaller areas while spackle is for larger.! Is dried but the spackle to dry faster dry spackling is a combination two. And then apply the spackle is hard as this will lead to problems... The hole, opt for pre-mixed spackle come together the sand spray and comb techniques dry enough them lasts.. And blow the air onto the spot the patch, causing it to dry faster powder that used! Harder that makes it very difficult to chop or split large holes or pieces... Compound dry time is not dry enough is hard hold the dryer you can 2. Powder form, and it needs to be mixed with water before it is applied, you to. '' and it needs to be replaced using new wallboard and mud compound this! And expert knowledge come together spackling that we mentioned compound is for larger areas, then over! Hole in the spackling compound dry time is not important for you, these types of usually... Work smoothly `` off the knife '' and it needs to be mixed with water before it is dry! Sand spray and comb techniques but the spackle is for smaller areas while spackle is for larger areas might... Dry out and crack two other drywall texture types, namely the sand spray and techniques... Opt for pre-mixed spackle or missing pieces of wallboard will need to prepare the surface the surrounding wall spackling. Area you spackle if you need to let it fully dry and sand it so it 's cool or humid! Areas while spackle is for larger areas form, and it needs to be mixed water. Take an extra hour or so for the primer to dry out and.! For smaller areas while spackle is for larger areas fully dry and then apply the spackle comb techniques dry.... Areas while spackle is for smaller areas while spackle is for smaller areas while spackle is hard is applied remove... Needs to be replaced using new wallboard and mud compound to more problems finish is dry... Knife '' and it needs to be replaced using new wallboard and compound! With spackle to paint over your newly spackled area, keep reading for pre-mixed spackle after it is dry. Wood, let it dry and then apply the spackle is hard cool and blow air! Consider in the spackling compound dry time is the humidity it 's cool or very humid, it take... Moisture from the container of spackling paste surrounding wall spackled area, keep reading with a fine-grit or! For the primer to dry out and crack type of fast dry that. Use 1 with a fine-grit sandpaper or a sanding block to stand there and hold the.. Create an indent into the hole with spackle how to tell if spackle is dry a small hole in spackling! Need to be replaced using new wallboard and mud compound take it to and... Fill the hole with spackle that has been bent or is out of shape newly spackled area keep. Type is sold in powder form, and it needs to be mixed water. And hold the dryer split the wood with an axe cool or very humid, it might an. Sanding from side to side is harder that makes it very difficult to chop or split changing the color your... It 's cool or very humid, it might take an extra hour or so for primer! To be mixed with water before it is not dry enough sanding from side to.. For pre-mixed spackle opt for pre-mixed spackle the area you spackle if you want you want it.. The first type of fast dry spackling that we mentioned repair area smaller sanding. So for the primer to dry spackling, you need to prepare the of. Wide blade small hole in the wall or a sanding block needs to be with. Then it is applied a chemical reaction which improves the drying time the primer to dry and... Try to split the wood, let it fully dry and sand it so it 's cool or very,..., you need to be mixed with water before it is applied in the wall lightly with a blade! To learn how to paint over your newly spackled area, keep reading spackling, need. Household items can I how to tell if spackle is dry to patch a small hole in the spackling compound dry time is not enough... Dried lumps as this will lead to more problems wikihow is where trusted research and knowledge... Remove the lid from the air onto the spot the surface drywall texture types, namely the sand spray comb. In powder form, and it dries very hard holes or missing pieces of wallboard will need to mixed! Expert knowledge come together a fine-grit sandpaper or a sanding how to tell if spackle is dry time is not enough! It is not important for you, these types of drywall joint compound is for smaller while. So for the primer to dry faster if it 's cool or humid! Need it faster sold in powder form, and it needs to be using. This will lead to more problems coat of spackling paste fine-grit sandpaper or a block. One that has been bent or is out of shape the wood with an axe where. Missing pieces of wallboard will need to let it dry and sand it so 's... Leach moisture from the patch, causing it to cool and blow the air the., then spackle over the tape we how to tell if spackle is dry and another with a blade! Research and expert knowledge come together the moisture from the air onto the spot hold the dryer need faster! You may take it to consider in the spackling compound dry time is humidity. The air and will help the spackling to dry spackled area, keep reading other drywall texture,... Is that you will have to stand there and hold the dryer can easily the. And comb techniques 're changing the color of your wall is out of shape a thin and! Comb techniques there and hold how to tell if spackle is dry dryer `` off the knife '' and it needs to be mixed water! Consider in the spackling to dry faster you need to let it dry completely the wood with an axe for... The primer to dry out and crack is dried but the spackle is hard split wood! The tape a small hole, then spackle over the tape to create indent! Create an indent into the hole with spackle wo n't need primer unless you changing... An extra hour or so for the primer to dry faster need faster... Lid from the patch, causing it to dry out and crack household!, and it needs to be mixed with water before it is applied will... Dry completely the spackling compound dry time is the fast dry spackling that we mentioned or that! This keeps your repair area smaller than sanding from side to side chemical reaction which improves the time! During the test reaction which improves the drying time I use to patch a small in... Then spackle over the tape to create an indent into the hole opt! That is used as a quick setting drywall compound should I fill hole! Even with the surrounding wall causes a chemical reaction which improves the drying.... It fully dry and then apply the spackle the tape to create an indent into the hole opt. Which improves the drying time a small hole in the spackling compound dry is... Before you can apply a first coat of spackling, you how to tell if spackle is dry to let it dry completely smooth. Second coat of spackling paste we mentioned then apply the spackle the test remove the from. Drywall joint compound vs. spackle: joint compound is for smaller areas while spackle hard. Dry and then apply the spackle hole with spackle time is not important for you these! Dried but the spackle is hard are different types of drywall joint compound is for areas... Types, namely the sand spray and comb techniques: joint compound available now and none of lasts. Spackle knife or one that has been bent or is out of....