Spackle or spackling paste, is a vital compound made of gypsum powder that is used to drywall. This compound is used to patch holes, cracks and other imperfections or dents in plaster walls, drywalls, and in some cases in woods too.
Spackle is a sort of paste that tends to dry out and hardens. Therefore, there’s a high chance that leaving the spackle paste for a while will make it lose its moisture and it will harden. However, can you add water to the spackle?
If you are wondering the same, then you have reached the right door. Today we are going to have a detailed discussion on the topic. So, to find out whether you can or cannot add water to your spackle, stick with Us till the end.
Can you add water to spackle?
You can add water to spackle. Spackle paste is usually used to drywall a house. It is generally used to patch holes and give a smooth finish to the drywall. However, it is of no surprise that the remaining spackle paste will end up hardening. In case that happens, you can add water to it.
Table of Contents
Dry spackle cannot be used to patch the holes or dents on the walls or wood. However, wet spackling paste can. Which means you will have to mix water with your spackling paste in order to use it.
Spackling is usually used to fill up smaller holes. As spackling paste resists shrinking, it is a great option to drywall your house. None of this is possible using dry spackle. Therefore, make sure to add water to your spackle before using it.
Drydex spackling:
Drydex spackling is used to fill holes and cracks in various surfaces. It can be used on surfaces like drywall, plaster wall, wood, brick and stone. Drydex spackling is a readymade formula that can be used for your interior and exterior.
The spackling paste should have the right consistency as it is a ready-to-use formula. It can be used for instant professional repairs. The best part about drydex spackling is that it dries up fast, can be sanded easily and can be colored without any hassle.
Therefore, you may not need to add extra water to the drydex spackling. However, if you think you need the consistency to be thinner then you can add water to it.
Can you mix spackle with water?
You can mix spackle with water. Spackle is usually used in the form of paste. Spackling paste can come handy when you plan on fixing or drywalling your home. Depending on the type of environment, the consistency of the spackling paste can be changed.
When spackling paste is used on surfaces, it dries out and hardens. And it’s no surprise that the remaining spackling paste in the container will also be hardened and dried out.
Therefore, if you plan on reusing the spackling paste, you can definitely add water to it.
Adding water to the spackle will help you achieve the perfect consistency and you’ll be able to re-use it.
Can you thin spackle with water?
You can thin spackle with water. Spackle is used as paste, so to re-use dried-out spackle you may use water.
However, keep in mind that you need to use water in small amounts. You can determine how much water is required on the basis of how much spackle you have.
Add the water in small amounts as you need to ensure that the spackling paste does not become too runny. If it becomes too runny, it will take more time than the average to dry out. However, you can use water to thin out the spackle.
How much water to add to spackle?
For every one gallon of spackle start with using ½ cup of water. The amount of water you would need or want to use depends on many factors.
Basically, it depends on how much spackle you need and what is the consistency you are looking for. Adding too much water to the spackle will end up giving you a very runny texture.
When your spackling paste becomes too runny, it will take more time to dry out and also make your drywall fragile. Apart from that you may need to apply more layers to make it stiff.
On the other hand, using less water will give you a heavy texture which will dry out way too early. Therefore, make sure you add the right amount of water.
Can you revive dry spackle?
You can revive dry spackle. You can revive it using water. When you use the same container to drywall or patch the holes, the spackling paste can get dried out.
And you cannot work with dried-out spackling. Therefore, to revive your speckle you can simply use water.
Additionally, make sure that you are not adding too much water. Add water in small amounts and keep mixing till you get the right consistency.
How do you restore and moisten dry spackle?
Restoring the spackle and moistening it is easy. However, you may need to put a little bit of extra effort in it.
Here are a few steps you can follow to restore and moisten dry spackle:
Breaking the spackling compound into small chunks:
The first thing you would want to do is to take off the lid of the container that contains your spackling compound. Using a screwdriver poke and stab the compound until it breaks down into small chunks. The chunks need to be as large as the marble or smaller.
Adding water to the dry compound:
Once the compounds have reached into marble sized pieces, you would want to start by adding at least ¼ cup of warm water. After adding the water, continue stabbing and mixing the the dry compound untill it reaches to a smooth consistency.
Breaking the chunks and adding more water:
With the help of a putty knife, cut small chunks of the compound and a little more water. Continue to slice, cut and mix the compounds untill the chunks are gone. You can add more water in small amounts if it is required to make the spackling paste smooth.
Checking the consistency:
Once you are done mixing, and adding water put a stick in the container to check the consistency. The consistency should be like a thick batter. It must be pliable. However it shouldn’t be runny. Also, it should stick on the putty knife.
When it reaches this consistency, you’re good to go!
What should the consistency of spackle be?
The consistency of the spackle should be like a thick batter. Keep in mind that the consistency should be pliable.
You should be able to scoup out the the spackling paste using a putty knife. However, if the consistency is way too runny, it will not give you your desired results.
Also, keeping spackling paste out for too long can cause it to dry out. Therefore, to re-use it, you can add water and revive the spackle.
Does spackling go bad?
Spackling can go bad. However, if you have left overs from your work which is dried out, you can re-use those. Additionally, buying too much spackling compound will on cause them to go bad.
Drywalling compounds tend to come in various formulations. However, none of them last forever. They will eventually expire. They can also dry out completely, or the formula can get unstable over time.
However, if you just have dried-out spackle that you have used then try not to waste it. These compounds tend to dry out with time. But, keep in mind that you can also revive them with a little bit of effort.
How long will spackle last once opened?
Once a spackle is opened it will last somewhere between 9-12 months. It is the same for both dry and wet compounds.
However, it also depends on the type of storing method that is being used. With the proper storage method, the shelf life of both wet and dry spackling compounds will be around 12 months.
If not stored with proper precautions, there’s a chance that your spackling compound can expire before 12 months. However, on average it should last at least 9 months after opening.
Final thoughts
You can add water to spackle. Splacking compound is used to patch holes and dents on surfaces. The consistency of the compound is usually thick, which gives them the tendency to dry out. As, dried out spackle cannot be used. You can add water to fix the texture of spackle and re-use it.