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Joint compound is a white substance similar to plaster used to seal joints between sheets of drywall, primarily in building construction. It is often refered to simply as "mud". Empty joint compound buckets, which are most often made of hard white plastic can be salvaged and used for gardening, construction or even a drum.^[1]

Ready-mix lightweight joint compound is a pre-made form of joint compound designed for fast application and easy maintenance. The compound is a complex combination of water, limestone, expanded perlite, ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer and attapulgate. This delicate mixture of compounds gives it a very creamy texture which allows it to spread onto surface with great ease.

Ready-mixed joint compound is most commonly used in hanging drywall for new or remodeled homes. Application is simple and easy, usually never taking more than three or four coats. When used for new walls, joint compound effectively eliminates all blemishes from the surface of the drywall, such as drilled in screws, hanging tape, or drywall tape. Joint compound can be used to finish gypsum panel joints, corner bead, trim and fasteners, as well as skim coating. In addition, it is also very handy for fixing minor blemishes or damages to walls. It easily patches up holes, bumps, tears, and other minor damages.

Ready-mix joint compound is usually more forgiving than the traditional form of joint compound. It can be used for as long of a period of time as needed, and does not dry up unless left unattended for a long period of time. Traditional "mix-it-yourself" joint compound usually lasts for one to two hours before drying. However, if it happens to set for more than a few hours than you will need to apply water very liberally as needed to retain its soft texture.

• Drywall

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