3

Unfortunately 1 week after a new paint job was done with a decent job of skimming and all, there was a small flood in a laundry room above. Some water came down, but we averted disaster. It's very minor. You can see some small lines from some joint tape around 1 panel of sheetrock on 2 of 4 sides of that panel on the ceiling. In another spot it looks a bit wet but I think that part will just dry and I can throw a bit of paint over it even if it discolors slightly. It's just visible enough to be annoying. The laundry room itself has a drain, but a bit of water pooled in a corner and a small amount made its way down. It could have been a LOT worse without that drain. Most of it just drained out, but the floor wasn't quite level.

OK enough background ... the tape has bubbled a tiny tiny bit and it kind of looks like an unfinished joint tape job. Someone put mud in between the sheetrock panels, threw on some tape, and did a cruddy job throwing mud over it.

I ran a putty knife over the tape and flattened it out pretty well while it was damp. Some tiny creases, but it's pretty flat.

OK so here's the question. Should I remove the tape, or just throw a tiny bit of joint or spackle over it and paint or prime+paint? Which is better? Joint or spackle? I'm thinking I can get away with a very thin skim of the dap pink stuff -- the joint compound OR the spackle (despite warnings), but maybe I just suck at DIY.

I've done decent patching with spackle for holes and whatnot. The ominous warning NOT to use the spackle as joint compound confuses me. I thought it might just be a bit harder to sand.

1
  • 1
    Can you add some photographs? It's difficult to try to imagine what your drywall looks like.
    – alt
    Jun 5, 2014 at 16:47

1 Answer 1

2

Unless the tape is badly torn up or loose, just sand high spots and then put one or two coats of drywall compound over it. I have no experience using DAP spackle as joint compound - mostly because I'm a professional and just use joint compound for joints. Spackle is more expensive when you're dealing with large quantities.

It would make a better job to go two coats - one feathered out eight inches each way and about 1/16" thick in the middle, and then the second coat feathered out 10-12 inches. But you could get away with one coat feathered out 10-12 inches, and flattened off at 1/16" thick for the middle 4 inches or so.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.