Use and Care Guide

ManualsBrandsProForm ManualsDrywall Joint Compound50002472

Environmental

Conditions

Varying weather conditions can

impact both the quality and

appearance of taped drywall joints.

Relative humidity, plus temperature,

will affect the working characteristics

of all joint compounds.

For bonding of adhesive, joint

treatment, texturing and decorative

finishes, temperatures within the

building should be maintained at

minimum 50˚F (10˚C), both day and

night, during joint finishing and

drying. Adequate ventilation should

be provided to eliminate excess

moisture.

For example, cool wet weather

will slow down the drying process

while hot, dry weather hastens the

drying process. Exposure to winds,

breezes or drafts while drying can

also affect the performance of joint

compounds. Typical problems from

improper drying can be cracking,

excessive shrinkage, ridging and

beading, banding or bond failure.

A further explanation of these condi-

tions is outlined in the “Problems

and Solutions” section of this guide.

Proper precautions at the job site

should always be taken to minimize

the adverse effects of weather on

drying. These precautions will

ultimately reduce the application

time and expense from call backs

nd rework.

Storage, Ready Mix

Storage life varies with climatic

conditions, up to 6 months under

good conditions. Store compound

away from extreme cold or heat to

avoid accelerated aging. Regularly

check production dates and rotate

inventory on a first-in, first-out plan.

Ready Mix freezes, allow material

to thaw at room temperature for at

least 24 hours. When thawed, turn

the container upside-down for at

least 15 minutes. Turn pail right side

up, remove lid and immediately

remix with an electric drill. Ready

Mix should be lump free and ready

to use within 1 minute. Discard all

Ready Mix that does not remix to a

lump-free consistency.

Stacking

Ready Mix pails or cartons should

not be stacked more than two

pallets in height.

Note: To ensure best results, only National Gypsum products

should be used together in construction systems. Mixing with

other brands is not recommended.

All National Gypsum joint compounds are formulated without

asbestos and therefore comply with Consumer Product Safety

Standards.

Relative Temperature

Humidity 32° 40° 50° 60° 70° 80° 100°

0% 38/H 28/H 19/H 13/H 9/H 6/H 3/H

20% 2/D 34/H 23/H 16/H 11/H 8/H 4/H

40% 2.5/D 44/H 29/H 20/H 14/H 10/H 5/H

50% 3/D 2/D 36/H 24/H 17/H 12/H 6/H

60% 3.5/D 2.5/D 42/H 29/H 20/H 13.5/H 8/H

70% 4.5/D 3.5/D 2.25/D 38/H 26/H 19.5/H 10/H

80% 7/D 4.5/D 3.25/D 2.25/D 38/H 27/H 14/H

90% 13/D 9/D 6/D 4.5/D 3/D 49/H 26/H

98% 53/D 37/D 26/D 18/D 12/D 9/D 5/D

Note: D = Days (24 hour period) H = Hours

The chart above is a helpful guide in determining approximate drying times for joint

compounds under a variety of humidity/temperature conditions. Shaded area is

below the minimum application temperature requirement of 50°F and is not recom-

mended for the application of joint compound.

Approximate Drying Times: All Purpose/Lite Ready Mix Joint Compound

Joint Compound Drying Times

Mold and Mildew

Growth

ProForm BRAND XP

Ready Mix

with Dust-Tech

ProForm BRAND XP

Ready Mix with

Dust-Tech

was designed to pro-

vide extra protection against mold

and mildew compared to standard

ready mix compound. When tested

by an independent lab per ASTM D

3273 (“Standard Test Method for

Resistance to Growth of Mold on

the Surface of Interior Coatings

in an Environmental Chamber”),

XP Ready Mix with Dust-Tech

achieved a score of 10, the best

possible score for this test.

ProForm XP with Dust-Tech also

resists the growth of mold per

ASTM G 21 (Standard Practice for

Determining Resistance of

Synthetic Polymeric Materials to

Fungi) with a score of 0, the best

possible score.

When tested in a system with

ProForm

BRAND Paper Joint Tape,

Gold Bond

BRAND XP

Gypsum

Board or Gold Bond

BRAND e

Interior Extreme

Gypsum Panels,

the XP

system achieves a score of

“10” for ASTM D 3273 and a score

of “0” for ASTM G 21. These are

the best possible mold resistant

scores for these tests.

Planning and Prevention

Mold and Mildew Resistance

Planning and prevention is the

most effective way to avert the

growth of mold or mildew. Gypsum

wallboard and finishing products

should be delivered to projects as

near to the time it will be used as

possible. Wallboard delivered to a

job site must be placed under

cover immediately, properly pro-

tected and not exposed to outside

elements such as rain, snow or

other high moisture conditions.

If building materials get wet from

any moisture source, that source

must first be identified and correct-

ed. If mold or mildew growth

occurs, or if you suspect it might

occur due to environmental condi-

ions and moisture, a determina-

tion must be made to either

attempt to dry and clean the

affected areas or to replace the

affected materials. Care must be

taken in this evaluation, and if you

do not have the training or experi-

ence to recognize and to make

proper decisions about repair or

removal, you should consult a pro-

fessional.

No material can be considered

“mold proof,” nor is it certain that

any material will resist mold or

mildew indefinitely. When used in

conjunction with good design, han-

dling and construction practices, XP

Ready Mix with Dust-Tech can pro-

vide increased mold resistance ver-

sus standard ready-mixed com-

pounds. As with any building

material, avoiding water exposure

during handling, storage and

installation and after installation is

complete is the best way to avoid

the formation of mold or mildew.