My Chemical-Free House

A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home

Non-Toxic Drywall Mud and Wall Texture

Published: May 1, 2020 |
Table of contents

1. Joint Compound / Drywall Mud

drywall on a wall that is mudded at the seams and screw holes

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.

But not all contractors can work with dry mixes for all layers, so be sure to talk about this before hiring a contractor.

This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Drywall Muds

a bag of USG Easy Sand 20

Setting Type or Hot Mud

Setting-type drywall muds come in powder form and are zero-VOC, but they can still contain additives that could be bothersome for some.

Preferred brands for the chemically sensitive can be found in the book and course.

Setting type is used with fiberglass tapes.

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.

Conventional brands of all-purpose compound can be good as well.

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.

If your contractor won’t use a dry mix, you can use one that is close to VOC. I mention one option in the book and course.

What are the Additives in Drywall Mud:

  • The main mineral components of drywall mud are known as the fillers. These are limestone, mica, attapulgite, and talc. Quartz is residual.
  • Some types contain perlite or clay.
  • Mant types contain acetate polymers.
  • Thickening agents include hydroxyethyl cellulose, starch, methylcellulose.
  • Reduced dust or low dust drywall mud can include a wax or oil and a surfactant.
  • A biocide should be expected in pre-mixed formulas, Triazinetriethanol is common
  • Pharos and various SDS sheets, Source, & Source

Spackle

Spackle is very similar to drywall mud, but this term usually 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 binder.

I personally found the odor of premixed spackle to be rather strong when I was sensitive to chemicals. Though for very small repairs this might be inconsequential for many people.

As an alternative, you can use 0-VOC powdered joint compounds like Easy Sand, Murco, or ECOS Filler to make small repairs to walls.

(Note the opposite is not true: you can’t use premixed spackle as a joint compound.)

More info in the post on non-toxic spackle.

Drywall Tape

a roll of Paper Drywall Joint Tape

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 ODSA.

Regular paper tape does not contain an adhesive.

Fiberglass tape is self-adhering (it does contain an adhesive).

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

a close up of ceiling texture

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

A couple of good brands for spray-on texture that can create spatter, spatter/knockdown, and orange peel designs, and roll on texture are mentioned in the book and course, as well as some tips for contractors.

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

3. Skim Coating

a person with a trowel skin coating a wall

Fiberglass-backed gypsum and monolithic gypsum board requires skim coating.

Skim coating may also be a desired finish on paper-based drywall.

The best non-toxic brands for skim coating and some tips are in the book and course.

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.

a banner that says new course on non toxic building materials on demand course by my chemical free house get it now with images of a computer with the course on the screen

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.

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Comments

  3. dbs

    Hi my contractor said about using dry mix yes but we should top it with 1 coat of the blue premixed at least otherwise it doesn’t look great after sanding. However the USG Topping ready mix you mentioned as an alternative is out of stock. Is there some other topping ready mix that could be acceptable? It’s a very small fill in job of drywall that was removed near the floor for water remediation, most of it will be behind bifold doors too. If that makes the amount of ready mixed used a more acceptable amount.

    Reply

  4. Mia Keenan

    Hello, yesterday my contractor used a premix wall texture product to re-texture one wall in each bathroom. I smelled the bucket and thought it would be ok, but was not the case. Very sick from it. Will it outgas and if so how long would it take? Or are there solutions such as scraping or sanding it off or having to replace the wall? Thank you

    Reply

  5. Phillip Gu

    Hi Corinne,

    In your experience or from others’ experiencem do most MCS individuals do well with UGS topping compound? I cannot find a zero VOC alternative and my apt complex requires a topping compound. Thank you for all you do!

    Best,
    PG

    Reply

  6. Kristin Rayner

    Hi! When you say, “ Normally, the final layer would be a wet mix like USG’s All-Purpose or Plus 3”

    Are you saying USG all purpose and plus 3 are good or bad? My contractor has plus 3 available. Thank you!

    Reply

  8. shana

    I have a lot of holes in a new apartment that I want to seal out bugs. what do I use?

    The holes are around the baseboard and corners in rooms and kitchen.

    Reply

  9. Violetta Sur

    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

      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

  10. Ana

    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

      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

  12. R

    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

      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

  13. Brooke

    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

  14. Phoenix

    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

  15. Betsy Schmidt

    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

  16. Margaret

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

    Reply

  17. Cathy Weitzner

    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