When creating plasterboard structures, leveling ceilings and walls with plasterboard, it is important to strictly follow the technology at all stages of work, from creating a frame to puttying the surface of the sheets. Particular attention should be paid to the joints of drywall, since improper processing of the seams will later lead to the appearance of cracks in these places, the joints will be visible through the finish and the repair will be spoiled. One of the important conditions for the proper processing of joints is the use of not the usual finishing putty composition, but a special putty for sealing drywall joints.
Types of putty mixtures
According to the purpose of putty are divided into several types:
- Starting - used for preliminary alignment. The main requirements for them are high adhesion to the base, strength and durability.
- Finishing - applied under a decorative coating. With their help, the smallest defects are eliminated, which allows you to get a perfect smooth surface.
- Universal - it is advisable to use for amateurs when you need to level the surface with the help of one composition. There is no need to think about which putty to choose. Professionals prefer to use leveling compounds with subsequent finishing preparation.
Important! Conventional finishing and universal compounds are not suitable for grouting.
- Specialized - designed for specific purposes, for example, for sealing seams between drywall sheets. It is recommended to use drywall and putty mix, which are produced by one manufacturer.
Important! If for some reason you do not have the opportunity to use a special putty to seal the seams between the GKL, it is allowed to use a high-quality starting composition.
Putties for seams of well-known manufacturers
The complexity of the choice of putty is associated with a large variety and an excess of advertising. It is advisable to systematize brands in order to select the desired composition in accordance with the requirements and financial capabilities.
Specialized putties for sealing joints are produced in the form of dry mixes. They are stored in bags for a long time and are prepared only before use.
"Knauf Fugen"
Relative inexpensive putty, which allows solving many problems in interior decoration.
Compound "Knauf Fugen"(the old name is Fugenfüller") is considered a putty, but can act as an adhesive repair mixture. It was developed specifically for sealing joints between sheets of drywall, but soon began to be used for gluing it to walls, repairing drywall damage, installing corners, thin-layer puttying and other types of work.
It should be borne in mind that Fugen putty is quick-drying and it is advisable to prepare it in small portions.
Technical characteristics of putty "Knauf Fugen":
- Composition - gypsum with additives to increase plasticity and slow setting.
- It has a fine-grained structure with fractions up to 0.15 mm.
- The thickness of the applied layer is 1–3 mm. When sealing the seams, putty is applied twice.
- Does not crack and does not shrink.
To prepare a composition for sealing joints and caps of self-tapping screws, a dry mixture is taken in an amount of 250 g and diluted with water. This amount is enough for 1 square. m of treated surface.
There are 3 varieties of this mixture:
- universal;
- "Fugen GV" - designed for sealing joints between gypsum-fiber sheets;
- Fugen Hudro is a moisture-resistant variety, suitable for working with moisture-resistant drywall and additional protection of joints.
Putty composition is applied in 2 layers:
- Before applying the solution, the surface is primed.
- A reinforcing mesh-serpyanka or paper tape is superimposed on the first layer and pressed with a spatula.
- The second layer is applied to the dried surface.
Attention! The ready solution should be used within 30-40 minutes.
"Knauf Uniflot"
Putty "Knauf Uniflot" is a specialized super-strong waterproof mixture for drywall joints, surpassing all analogues in its properties.
- Increased strength brings it to the same performance with the cement composition, however, the putty in question significantly surpasses it in plasticity.
- Good adhesion, which brings this type of putty closer to synthetic glue, makes it possible to seal GKL joints with a semicircular thinned edge (PLUK) without the use of reinforcing tape.
- The composition does not shrink and does not crack.
- Perfect for sealing the most problematic transverse joints between plasterboards.
- Suitable for rooms with any humidity. Despite the fact that the basis of the mixture is gypsum, the putty does not absorb water after drying, acquiring hydrophobic properties.
The color of the powder can vary from snow-white to gray and even pink: this factor is associated with the place where the gypsum was mined and does not affect the quality of the mixture.
Putty "Knauf Uniflot" is designed to work no longer than 25-30 minutes. After that, the solution solidifies. The hardened putty forms a durable coating, and it is difficult to grind it with sandpaper. The composition should be applied without shrinkage calculation, since the protrusions then have to be grinded for a long time.
Work order:
- joints are filled, the composition is pressed with a spatula 150 mm wide;
- after 50 minutes, excess material is removed, the surface is smoothed with fresh putty;
- screw holes are also processed in 2 passes.
When self-chamfering at the joints, reinforcing paper tape should be used, as with other compositions.
The high cost of the Knauf Uniflot putty mixture is offset by the quality of the material. In addition, the sealed seam does not require a large consumption of it.
"Volma Seam"
Dry mortar as a base contains gypsum enriched with mineral and chemical fillers. The putty has good adhesion. The working time of the diluted solution is 40 minutes.
Purpose:
- sealing GKL and GVL seams;
- elimination of cracks and potholes;
- elimination of microroughnesses and obtaining a glossy surface.
Working rules:
- the joint is primed;
- then the first layer of putty is applied and the reinforcing tape is pressed in;
- after hardening, a second layer is applied;
- after hardening, it should be polished, for which a grater with a mesh is used.
The material is suitable for application to the entire plane of the sheet. A small grain size requires the application of a finishing layer in the future.
"GENFIR PG 35 MW"
Dry gypsum mix with additives. Before use, the base should be primed, otherwise the layer will settle. Solution keeps working properties within 2 hours. After solidification, cracks do not form. Putty is intended for dry rooms. Dry mixture is stored for 6 months.
Conclusion
When choosing a putty for drywall joints, you need to focus on the conditions of use, your skills and the estimated costs. In some cases, the composition of gypsum is well suited, in others it is waterproof. If you intend to solve a wide range of tasks, it makes sense to choose Fugen from KNAUF, if you rely on quality and durability, it is better to purchase Uniflot.
