You’ve probably seen both green and blue drywall mud at your local home improvement store and wondered what the difference is. While they may look similar, a few key differences set these two types of mud apart.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the main differences between green and blue drywall mud so that you can make an informed decision about which one is right for your next home improvement project.
What Is Green Mud?
First, let’s clarify that the green drywall mud is not actually green in color; only the lid of the bucket from which this material comes is green, which gives it its name. As soon as the green drywall mud dries, it provides a whiter appearance compared to when it was applied.
Green drywall mud is best regarding durability and adhesion, especially when you wish to use it on gloss-painted walls. At first glance, this variation will appear sticky and thinner without any shade. However, it is quite difficult to sand, so using it as the second or final layer is not advised.
In addition, the green drywall mud also shrinks a lot once it is dry, so using it for skim coats is also not the best option. You can only use green drywall mud as the first layer – to cover holes, joints, seams, and any spacing caused due to drywall nails or screws – if you are not planning to sand for a long time.
What Is Blue Mud?
The blue drywall mud is also known as the “lite blue drywall mud” because it is significantly lightweight and sometimes tinted with blue color, giving it a light blue shade. Although blue drywall mud is easier to sand, it’s certainly not as durable as green mud.
Nonetheless, it has an excellent finish characteristic, making it perfect for the second or third layer over the first layer of green drywall mud.
At first glance, the blue drywall mud will appear less sticky and denser with a light blue tint. You can use this variation as spotting fasteners for finishing corner beads and your drywall panel with a smooth look.
Green Mud Vs Blue Mud:
Green drywall mud and blue drywall mud are commonly used to finish and smooth out a drywall surface. However, both are very different joint compounds!
Each variation has its own characteristics and applications. So, you cannot just select one out of two if you want a smoother drywall finish with proper white shade without too much sanding it. And if you know the difference between level 4 and 5 finish, then you’d also know which one to pick.
Below is a table highlighting all the main differences between the two joint compounds used in finishing the drywall.
| Products | Application | Shrinkage | Weight | Durability | Adhesion | Sanding |
| Blue Drywall Mud | Filling and Finishing | Shrinks less when dry | Around 30% lighter than conventional drywall mud | Low | Low | Easy |
| Green Drywall Mud | Taping, Filling, and Finishing | Shrinks more when dry | Heavy (Conventional drywall mud) | High | High | Difficult |
Pros and Cons of Blue Drywall Mud:
When you look at the benefits of blue drywall mud, the best part about it is that it shrinks less when dried, permitting you to use it as the second or third coat due to its lightweight. It is also very easy to sand.
However, this drywall mud does not have a specific purpose, and you can even skip applying it as a top coat. Moreover, it is less durable and adhesive, which is not ideal for finishing your drywall.
Pros and Cons of Green Drywall Mud:
Alternatively, the green drywall mud is difficult to sand and shrinks a lot after drying. However, it has a great open time and cold bond, meaning it won’t dry out while you are working on the drywall. Moreover, it offers excellent durability and adhesion, and it is also best utilized when you are taping the drywall.
Key Differences Between Green and Blue Drywall Mud:
Selecting a certain type of drywall mud is important as it decides how your wall will look. To help you out, below, we have compiled a list of key differences between the green and blue drywall mud:
- Application: When it comes to drywall coats, you need a product that is durable, adhesive, and easy to apply. Even though green drywall mud is both adhesive and durable, it cannot be used as the last layer of the drywall because it is difficult to sand and also shrinks upon drying, giving your drywall a bad-looking finish. In comparison, the blue drywall mud offers a much smoother finish. As it is not durable or adhesive, applying it as the first layer is not recommended.
- Shrinkage: Green drywall mud is prone to shrinkage when dried. Therefore, using it as a finish is not a good idea as it will leave uneven coats! In comparison, blue drywall mud is great because it has low shrinkage and can be applied to have a smoother finish.
- Sanding: Sanding is a process that every drywall needs. It gives a smooth surface and allows you to straighten your walls before the next steps. Blue drywall mud is dense but lightweight, making it more convenient to sand than green drywall mud.
- Weight: The weight of the joint compound is important because it decides how the drywall mud will be applied and whether it will be difficult to handle or not. Blue drywall mud is dense but lightweight so handling it is easy, but it does not give the required coverage we want if applied alone. On the contrary, the green drywall mud is heavy but great for covering up cracks, joints, and everything you want due to the bonding products used in it, giving it its weight.
- Adhesion: Adhesion is required to stick drywall tape and drywall board together to prepare the drywall surface for the paint. A drywall mud needs to have good adhesion so that it sticks to the surface without issues. When comparing, the green drywall mud has good adhesion and can easily cover up all the imperfections in your drywall. In contrast, blue drywall mud is not highly adhesive and should only be used to smooth out the surface.
- Durability: If your drywall and mud are durable, they will need less repairing or touch-ups over time. So, using drywall mud as a base to fill the seams, joints, and holes in drywall is crucial to avoid frequent repair requirements and extra costs. In light of this, the green drywall mud is the best as it provides more durability compared to the blue drywall mud. Therefore, green drywall mud is preferred as a base coat over blue drywall mud.
When to Use Green Mud?
Green drywall mud is usually the first layer that you will apply to your drywall. You can use this mud for finishing off the drywall as well. However, since it is denser compared to blue drywall mud, you will have to spend a lot of time sanding it to get a smooth finish. Therefore, it is better always to use green drywall mud to cover your drywall panel joints, holes, cracks, etc.
You can use either one or two layers of green drywall mud and then apply a coat or two layers of blue drywall mud to finish off with a smoother surface.
When to Use Blue Mud?
Blue drywall mud is usually the last coat you will apply to your drywall. If you use it as the first layer, it will be nearly impossible to attain a smooth finish. Plus, you will have to apply several layers before you see your cracks and holes disappear. Moreover, it is not durable or adhesive, so using it as a second or third coat is best. It is designed to finish off the drywall panel joints, spot fasteners, and finish the corner beads.
FAQs:
Is There Mold Resistant Drywall Mud?
Yes! Mold Resistant Lite All-Purpose drywall is also available in the market. It is used for tapping and finishing drywall joints, corner trims, and fasteners. It gives great resistance to mildew and mold.
Which Drywall Mud Is Best?
All-Purpose drywall mud is considered the best joint compound out there. As the name suggests, you can use it for almost everything; taping coats, filling coats, and finishing coats. It can also be applied as a skim coat or texturing coat.
How Many Coats of Drywall Mud Do I Need?
This depends on different factors and mainly on the straightness of your walls. If you have straight walls, then at least three coats of drywall mud are required. However, if you have uneven walls, then you will probably need four to five drywall mud coats for a smoother finish. If you wish to know how to calculate how much Drywall mud you need, this article will tell you all you need.
What Is the Easiest Drywall Mud to Use?
All-purpose drywall mud is the easiest and safest to use. If you are a newbie, it is the perfect choice for you, and it can be used for any drywall project. It is premixed, so you do not need any professional skills to use it.