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My Chemical-Free House

A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home

  • Healthy Building
    • Insulation
    • Windows & Window Treatments
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      • Drywall Mud & Wall Texture
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    • Non-Toxic Prefabs
    • Building for the Chemically Sensitive
    • How to Test Materials
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    • Flooring
      • Gym Flooring
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  • Extreme Sensitivities
    • Healing MCS – Interview with Solona
    • How I Recovered from Chemical Sensitivities
    • Emergency Housing for Chemical and Mold Sensitivity

Non-Toxic Drywall Mud and Wall Texture

May 31, 2020 by Corinne 15 Comments

1. Joint Compound / Drywall Mud

While there are many zero-VOC or extremely low VOC drywall muds available at regular outlets, the highly chemically sensitive will need to be selective here.

When you are only mudding the seams you just need a simple dry mix joint compound. Dry mixes are almost always lower odor, lower VOC, and healthier choices than premixed mud.

This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Powdered Mix (aka Setting Type or Hot Mud)

Powdered drywall muds are zero-VOC, but they can still contain additives that could be bothersome for some.

All-Purpose

All-Purpose type compound is used as the first step (and can be the only type used) in setting the tape in the seams. This type has the least amount of additives.

I used Murco All-Purpose as a joint compound and found it totally tolerable. This one is marketed towards the chemically sensitive. They claim no preservative/biocide, no vinyl, and only inert fillers.

I don’t have a problem with more conventional brands of all-purpose compound if they are dry mix.

Setting Type

For mudding the seams you can also use a setting type. This is the drywall mud referred to as hot mud.

I like USG Sheetrock Brand Lightweight Setting-Type Joint Compounds EASY SAND 20, as well as 30, 45, 90, 210, 300. Get a small amount on Amazon to test it out. You can also use Easy Sand as a spackle, to fix minor holes.

This is a conventional brand joint compound for the seams that you can easily find at hardware stores and even on Amazon.

Murco makes HA 100 which is also a setting type compound.

Setting type is used with fiberglass tapes.

Topping Compound

Topping compound is used in finishing layers and it contains vinyl acetate. This is used for final coats, not for embedding the tape. It comes in dry mix and ready mix.

USG Topping compound is ready mix but it is only 2 g/l VOC, close to zero. If your contractor won’t use a dry mix, this is a good one.

Choosing a Brand

Dry mix joint compound does not usually contain biocides or fillers that would be declared as VOCs on the SDS.

I’m not convinced there is a difference between Murco and brands from the hardware store like USG, when it comes to All-Purpose and Setting Type compound. Though it can be difficult to find a conventional brand dry mix All-Purpose compound.

If you are chemically sensitive I would compare samples from different brands.

What are the Additives in Drywall Mud:

  • The main mineral components of drywall mud are known as the fillers. These are limestone, mica, attapulgite, quartz, and talc.
  • All-purpose compound usually contains clay.
  • Topping compound usually contains vinyl acetate.
  • Dry mix drywall mud traditionally contained casein or soy protein as the binder. New muds can contain polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and soluble polyvinyl alcohol.
  • Polyoxyethylenearyl is a plasticizer for the polyvinyl acetate.
  • Thickening agents include hydroxyethyl cellulose/starch, methylcellulose, natural gums such as gum arabic.
  • Asbestos is no longer added to drywall mud and is not found as a contaminant either.

Source, Source, & Source

Pre-Mixed (aka Ready-Mix or Drying Type)

The powder form is always preferred to the pre-mixed for those avoiding toxins.

But even pre-mixed can be found in extremely low-VOC formulations. I have found it does offgas VOCs, and certainly more than the dry mix alternative.

This type typically contains polyvinyl acetate, ethylene-vinyl acetate, or acrylic vinyl acetate polymer (or a combination).

Lightweight compounds can contain glass microspheres or expanded perlite.

Reduced dust or low dust drywall mud can include a wax or oil and a surfactant. 

Biocides should be expected in all pre-mixed formulations. Triazinetriethanol is common.

If the mix contains calcium sulfate hemihydrate (gypsum) or plaster then they also contain additional chemicals.

Source

The most sensitive should use the powdered form. Contractors prefer pre-mixed, so be sure to specify dry mix.

Spackle

Spackle is very similar to drywall mud, but this term indicates a premixed mud that is made to repair small holes. It contains binders and additives that make it dry faster with less shrinkage.

The lightweight type will likely contain a vinyl, and the all-purpose an acrylic.

I personally find the odor to be rather strong. Though for very small repairs this might be inconsequential for many people.

You can use regular joint compounds like Easy Sand and Murco to make repairs to walls. But you can’t use spackle as a joint compound.

Drywall Tape

Paper-backed drywall can be taped with paper or fiberglass tape.

Paperless drywall can also usually be taped with either type.

Though the paper tape is fairly benign, you might want to check out a few brands if you are highly sensitive. It can contain a polymer and n-ODSA.

Regular paper tape does not contain an adhesive.

Fiberglass tape is self-adhering and is used with setting compound (the dry mix).

The extremely chemically sensitive should check out a few brands and choose the most tolerable one. But most people will not have to worry about the tapes at all.

2. Wall and Ceiling Texture

Just like with joint compound, when adding texture you want to use dry mix where possible as this contains fewer additives.

USG Brand

USG Sheetrock Spray Texture is a good one. This is a spray-on texture that can create spatter, spatter/knockdown, and orange peel designs.

The main ingredient is calcium carbonate. The binder is amylum and/or polyvinyl alcohol.

Though PVA and EVA are both generally well tolerated, they are not tolerated by all.

The fungicide is zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate. The VOCs are listed as 0 g/l.

If your contractor wants to do a roll-on (not spray-on) texture with a premixed mud that is watered down, I would suggest going with an option that uses a dry mix as a base.

Murco Brand

Murco, a company that makes drywall mud aimed at the chemically sensitive, makes two main “hypoallergenic” products, M100 (all-purpose compound) and HA100 (a setting compound). They claim there is no vinyl in these products.

All-purpose compound is best for embedding the tape and filling nail and screw holes.

The basic M 100 can be used for most spray-on textures. But if the texture is thick or heavy, they recommend the HA 100.

If you can’t get the desired look with these two products, Murco has a line of dry mix texture products. These contain more additives.

The powdered texture products, like M 1400, have better “stand up” and better resistance to pinholes.

Always encourage your contractor to talk to the company if it’s a product they have not used before. And when adding any kind of texture avoid the premixed formulations if you can.

I would look for a contractor who is already familiar and skilled with working with dry mixed products to get the look you are after.

To smooth out an orange peel texture you can skim coat over it.

3. Skim Coating

Fiberglass-backed gypsum requires skim coating. Skim coating may also be a desired finish on paper-based drywall.

Murco

The Murco M 100 and even the HA 100 can both be used for skim coating. You will want to find a contractor who has experience with skim coating with dry mix compounds.

You might also want to have your contractor talk with the company first as well.

USG

USG Durabond is a dry mix that can be used for skim coating. If the contractor is skilled at applying skim coating with dry mix this can be used for every layer. USG advises that you can achieve a level 5 finish with this.

Normally, the final layer would be a wet mix like USG’s All-Purpose or Plus 3.

Finding a Contractor who will Skim Coat with Dry Mix

Generally, this will be more labor-intensive than using ready-mix compounds. And you may find your contractor saying that it could crack.

But if you find someone with experience in this field you should be able to find someone that will give you realistic outcomes and guarantee their work.

You may have to touch up areas that crack.

4. Plaster

There are four main types of plaster, clay-based, lime-based, gypsum-based, and concrete.

I have a post that goes over all the plaster types.

Here is a detailed post on my experiences using clay plaster and lime wash in my tiny house.

In the more conventional realm, Plaster of Paris which is gypsum-based, can be highly tolerable. The USG brand comes recommended by sensitive folks and can be found at hardware stores like Home Depot.

Cement is also used as a plaster finish on concrete or other masonry walls.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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Filed Under: Healthy Building Tagged With: Healthy building, healthy interiors

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Violetta Sur says

    March 8, 2023 at 8:12 am

    If using a regular, pre-mixed mud on the drywall, will a good sealing primer such as AFM safecoat seal in most of the chemicals, toxins and plasticizers? Followed by a few coats of paint as well…

    Reply
    • Corinne says

      March 15, 2023 at 8:27 pm

      I would not go with that strategy no, nor but a vapor barrier paint on walls in most of North America (esp if you use AC).

      Reply
  2. Ana says

    February 18, 2023 at 3:19 pm

    HI Corrine,

    What are your thoughts on a product called SafeMend? They claim to be nontoxic and 100% chemical free.

    I’m sensitive to chemicals and looking for a small amount of spackle to fill a few small holes on a wall. Thank you! Here’s their site: https://safemend.com

    Reply
    • Corinne says

      February 19, 2023 at 12:49 pm

      I don’t know what’s in it so I can’t judge it. It seems to be glue based. I would need to see it but I would not use that over some self mixed spackle.

      Reply
  3. Sarah says

    October 3, 2022 at 2:16 pm

    Some (most?) premixed compounds also contain formaldehyde. Ugh.

    Reply
    • Corinne says

      October 10, 2022 at 2:42 pm

      Yes premixed has some offgassing, some is extremely low in offgassing though.

      Reply
  4. R says

    May 12, 2022 at 4:57 pm

    Ecos Filler Powder says it can be used for joints, but it’s advertised as a spackle. Can I use that for drywall joint compound? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Corinne says

      May 14, 2022 at 2:41 pm

      You’re right that is super confusing in their description. It says not not for large areas, I would not use that as a joint compound.

      Reply
  5. Brooke says

    March 23, 2022 at 9:50 am

    Hi Corinne! I love your blog. It has been so helpful during my mold remediation. What are your thoughts on Plus 3 Joint Compound by Sheetrock? I am limited to products due to my contractor; it is hard to find a contractor who believes in chemical sensitivities and green building in my area unfortunately. The product is Green Gold Certified, but not sure that means completely safe.

    Thanks for all you do!

    Reply
  6. Phoenix says

    May 24, 2021 at 5:50 pm

    Do you know a product that is comparable to Strucolite but is non toxic…I want to smooth out some textured walls…the contractor suggested Strucolite…..I am chemically sensitive….any suggestions?

    Reply
  7. Betsy Schmidt says

    May 15, 2021 at 12:58 am

    Based on my experience as a contractor the materials shown in the photo have helped to make your wall even more durable. I love this article because so much has been shared that you really need to read it thoroughly.

    Reply
  8. Margaret says

    January 11, 2021 at 12:09 pm

    I have to replace attached garage ceiling. I am very very very sensitive. What should I use for the whole job including paint?

    Reply
    • Corinne says

      January 11, 2021 at 7:42 pm

      It depends on if this is a conditioned space or not and which materials you have to replace.

      Reply
  9. Cathy Weitzner says

    November 6, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    Hello
    I am going to use Murco for the joints and texturing of the drywall..

    But what is the safest drywall itself?

    Also, if the bathroom tile or grout need to be sealed, what sealer do you recommend.?

    Thanks so much, Cathy

    Reply
    • Corinne says

      November 6, 2020 at 6:31 pm

      This is the drywall post https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2019/07/natural-wall-systems.html here is the grout with sealers https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2019/07/non-toxic-grout-and-thinset-mortar.html

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Corinne Segura, I hold a certificate in Building Biology, and a certificate in Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, among other credentials below. I have 8 years of experience helping people create healthy homes.

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