Jointing Compound: Knauf BaseCote, Total Lite, Litefinish, Finalcote and Redibase

What is jointing compound?

Jointing compound, also called taping compound, drywall compound or joint cement, is the paste that fills the joints and screw heads in plasterboard and is sanded to a smooth surface. It bonds the tape, builds the joint in two or three coats and gives the finish that paint sits on. It comes as a setting powder or a ready-mixed tub.

Searches for sheetrock compound, topping compound and all purpose joint compound lead to the same shelf. In our range that is the Knauf BaseCote setting compounds, and the ready-mix lines Redibase, All Purpose PreMix, Total Lite, Litefinish, Finalcote and Tuff Hide, two of which carry the Sheetrock name on the tub.

Setting-type or ready-mix: which one do you need?

Setting-type compounds are powders mixed with water that harden by a chemical set. The minute number is the time before the mix sets, and the compound sets hard regardless of humidity. Ready-mix compounds come in a tub, are used as supplied and dry by evaporation. Setting-type suits base coats and fast turnarounds, ready-mix suits finishing.

General trade guidance. Mixing ratios and drying times are on the Knauf data sheets.

The choice is often made by the build programme. A setting-type base coat lets the next coat go on sooner because it does not rely on drying, while ready-mix finishing coats are easier to sand. Many jobs use both, with a setting base coat and a ready-mix finish. Our guide to jointing compounds, base coat, topping and setting type sets out how the combinations work.

Which compound suits base coat, second coat and finish?

Use a setting-type compound or a base coat premix such as Redibase for taping and the first fill, an all purpose or lightweight compound for second coats, and a finishing compound such as Litefinish or Finalcote for the last coat. A Level 5 finish adds a skim coat of a Level 5 compound such as Tuff Hide.

The finish level in the specification decides how many coats and which products. Level 4 is the standard finish for walls that will be painted, and Level 5 is specified where light falls across the wall or a gloss paint is used. Our finishing levels guide explains Levels 3, 4 and 5, and the data sheet for each product confirms its use.

What size pack suits the job?

Small tubs such as the 4.8kg Finalcote suit patching and repairs. The 17.5kg to 20kg buckets and bags suit a room or a whole house, and the 25kg bags of specialty compound suit production work.

Buy the pack that matches the rate of use. A fixer working through a house will use bucket after bucket and does better with the larger packs. A repair job or a small room needs a fraction of one. Ready-mix buckets should be sealed between uses, and setting powder kept dry in the bag.

What do you order with jointing compound?

Order tape and corner bead with the compound, the screws that hold the sheets, and the cornice cement if the room has cornice. One order can cover all of it, along with the board.

We also hold paper and fibreglass mesh tape and corner beads, so ask the counter to add them. The cornice cement page lists the Knauf and Pro Cove adhesives, the plasterboard screws page lists the screws, and the plasterboard types page lists the sheets that the compound finishes.

How do you mix and apply setting-type compound?

Add the powder to clean water in a clean bucket, mix to a smooth paste to the data sheet ratio and use it before the stated set time runs out. Do not add water to a mix that has begun to stiffen, and wash the bucket and tools straight away, because set compound in the bucket shortens the working time of the next mix.

Setting-type compound is used for taping the joints, filling the first coat over screw heads and corners, and for repairs that need to harden fast. Because it sets chemically, the next coat can follow once the surface has set, which is why a 45 or 60 minute product suits a tight programme and a 90 minute product suits a larger room taped by one person.

How many coats does a joint need?

A standard painted joint is taped and filled, then given a second coat and a finishing coat, with sanding between coats and at the end. A Level 5 finish adds a skim coat over the whole wall. The finish level in the specification sets the number of coats.

Each coat is spread wider than the one before so the joint feathers out into the board. The more careful the earlier coats, the less sanding the last coat needs. Our finishing levels guide shows what each level looks like and where each is specified, and the compounds guide says which product belongs on which coat.

How should jointing compound be stored?

Keep powders dry and off the ground. Keep ready-mix buckets sealed, out of direct sun and away from frost or heat, and use older stock first.

Powders take up moisture from the air, which is the main cause of faults with old bags, and a bucket left open forms a skin and dries at the edges. On a long job, decant what you need into a working bucket and keep the rest sealed.

What tools go with jointing compound?

Taping knives, a hawk, a mixing paddle and drill, sanding sponges or a pole sander, and a bucket for each compound. We hold Wallboard Tools taping and finishing tools alongside the compounds.

Pick the tool to suit the coat. A wide finishing blade feathers the last coat, a corner tool pulls inside angles clean, and a mixing paddle on a drill gives setting powders a consistent mix. Ask the trade counter for the tool range when you place the compound order, so everything arrives on one docket.

Where can I buy jointing compound near me?

Bayside Plasterboard supplies Knauf jointing compound through four trade yards across South East Queensland: Morningside in Brisbane, Chandler in the Redlands, Caboolture on the northside and Carrara on the Gold Coast. Collect from the counter or book a site delivery. Call (07) 3245 4488 to confirm what is on the shelf.

What drives the price of jointing compound?

Trade pricing is per bag or per bucket and moves with the product, the pack size and the quantity. Setting powders and ready-mix buckets are priced separately, and buying by the pallet changes the price. We do not publish live trade rates because they move with volume and account terms. Send the products and quantities and we will price them with the board and the tape.

Have the sizes, quantity and delivery suburb ready. Request a quote or call (07) 3245 4488.

Last updated: 25 October 2026