Drywall repair supplies for nail holes, dents, cracks, taped seams and textured walls and ceilings: spackling, joint compound, spray texture, drywall primer and the knives to apply them. Fall is a good time to patch and paint inside, and this page compares each product with the dry times and limits its maker lists, so you can patch on Saturday morning and paint the same weekend.
Pick by the repair. For nail holes and small dents you want to paint fast, use DAP Fast 'N Final Lightweight Spackling. If you want to see when the patch is dry, use DAP DryDex Spackling: it goes on pink and turns white when it is ready. For taping seams, nail heads, corner bead or skim coats, use DAP Wallboard Joint Compound. To blend a patch into a textured wall or ceiling, finish with a spray texture, then seal new drywall and compound with a drywall primer before you paint.
Compare drywall patch and repair products
| Product |
Best for (maker) |
Ready to sand or paint (maker) |
Good to know |
| DAP Fast 'N Final Lightweight Spackling |
Holes, cracks and dents in drywall, plaster, wood and stucco; interior and exterior |
Paint with latex paint in about 30 minutes. For sanding or oil-based paint, let it dry about 24 hours |
DAP: patch and prime in one step, no sanding, will not sink or shrink. Apply at 40 F or warmer |
|
DAP DryDex Spackling (half pint, 5.5 oz) |
Holes and cracks in drywall, plaster, wood, brick and stone; interior and exterior |
Turns from pink to white when ready to sand, paint or recoat, about 1 to 5 hours |
DAP: repairs deeper than 1/8 inch go on in thin layers, dried between coats. Apply between 50 F and 100 F. Wet sanding keeps dust down |
| DAP Wallboard Joint Compound, 3 lb |
Embedding tape and finishing drywall joints, nail heads and metal corner bead; also patching and texturing interior walls |
About 8 to 24 hours to dry; allow about 24 hours between coats |
Interior only. DAP says 3 lb finishes about 8 to 10 linear feet of joint, or textures about 10 to 12 sq ft at 1/32 inch. Apply at 50 F or warmer |
| DAP 2in1 Wall and Ceiling Spray Texture, Orange Peel, 25 oz |
Matching orange peel texture on drywall, stucco and plaster; walls, ceilings and hard to reach spots |
Paint in about 30 minutes (longer when cool, humid or thick) |
DAP: twist the nozzle for fine, medium or heavy texture and tilt it up to 60 degrees; no primer needed before paint |
| Homax Orange Peel and Knockdown Texture, 20 oz |
Orange peel or knockdown patches on ceilings and walls |
Homax label: paint after 2 to 5 hours, depending on how heavy the pattern is |
For knockdown, let the spray sit 1 to 2 minutes, then flatten it lightly with a wet 6 to 8 inch drywall knife |
| Homax Water-Based Orange Peel Texture, 20 oz |
Fine to heavy orange peel wall texture |
Follow the can |
Water based, low odor and easy cleanup |
| Homax Popcorn Ceiling Texture, 16 oz |
Patching popcorn (polystyrene chip) ceilings |
Follow the can |
Vertical spray tip for overhead work. Homax warns not to remove ceiling texture applied before 1979 without testing it for asbestos |
| Dunn's PVA Drywall Primer and Sealer, gallon |
Sealing new drywall and Level 5 finishes before paint |
Touch dry in 30 to 60 minutes, recoat in 2 to 4 hours at 77 F |
Dunn-Edwards PDS 02/24: about 150 to 200 sq ft per gallon, 95 g/L VOC maximum |
| Zinsser Drywall Primer, gallon |
Sealing new drywall and joint compound |
Zinsser: ready to paint in about 1 hour |
Zinsser says it gives better holdout than PVA primers and sands easily; water cleanup |
| Zinsser Gardz Problem Surface Sealer, quart |
Locking down porous or problem surfaces such as chalky paint, soft plaster and joint compound before paint, texture or wallcovering |
Let dry fully before the next coat |
Clear, water-based acrylic sealer for interior walls |
| Knives: Hyde 3 in flex joint knife, Hyde 6 in Pro stainless joint knife, Allway 5-in-1 tool
|
Spreading spackle and compound, feathering seams, scraping loose paint |
n/a |
DAP embeds tape with a 5 inch knife and feathers later coats wider; the Hyde 6 in has a hammer head end for setting nails and screws |
Drywall repair FAQ
Spackle or joint compound: which do I need?
Use spackling for nail holes, dents, small holes and cracks. It goes on in one pass and is ready fast: Fast 'N Final in about 30 minutes for latex paint, DryDex in 1 to 5 hours when it turns white. Use joint compound to tape and finish seams, cover nail heads and corner bead, or skim and texture a wall. It goes on in several thin coats with about 24 hours between them, so plan a longer project.
How long before I can paint over spackle?
DAP Fast 'N Final can take latex paint in about 30 minutes; wait about 24 hours if you want to sand it or use oil-based paint. DAP DryDex is ready when the pink turns white, about 1 to 5 hours depending on temperature, humidity and depth. Joint compound needs to dry thoroughly, about 24 hours per coat, before you sand and paint.
Do I need to prime over a patch?
DAP says Fast 'N Final patches and primes in one step and that DryDex needs no priming. New drywall and large areas of joint compound are different: seal them with PVA drywall primer or Zinsser Drywall Primer so the paint sheen comes out even. Compare more options on primers and sealers.
How do I fill a deep hole or crack?
Build it up in thin layers instead of one thick fill. DAP says DryDex repairs deeper than 1/8 inch should go on in layers, each dried before the next, and joint compound coats are feathered 2 inches wider each pass. For holes in wood trim that will be stained, use a stainable filler from wood filler and wood putty instead.
How do I match orange peel or knockdown texture?
Practice on cardboard or scrap drywall first. With the DAP 2in1 spray, twist the nozzle to fine, medium or heavy, shake for more than a minute, and spray in quick bursts from 12 to 18 inches, feathering into the old texture. For knockdown with the Homax Orange Peel and Knockdown can, wait 1 to 2 minutes and lightly flatten with a wet 6 to 8 inch knife held almost flat. If you do not like the look, scrape it off while wet and spray again.
Should I wet sand or dry sand?
DAP recommends wet sanding joint compound and DryDex with a damp sponge to keep dust out of the air. Fast 'N Final is made to need no sanding at all on small repairs.
Can I patch outside or in a cold garage?
Fast 'N Final and DryDex are rated for interior and exterior use; DAP says exterior or wet-area patches need a waterproof coating (paint) before they see moisture. Watch the temperature: Fast 'N Final 40 F or warmer, DryDex and the joint compound 50 F or warmer. Wallboard Joint Compound is for interior use only.
Shop more on prep, patch and repair, DAP, Homax, and painter's tools and jobsite essentials.
