Buying Guide

USG Interior Finishing Products | 5
CONVENTIONAL WEIGHT
CONT.
USG Beadex® Brand Topping Joint Compound
Low-shrinkage, easily applied
and sanded compound
Recommended for second
and third coats over USG
Beadex® Brand Taping and All
Purpose Compounds
Note: Do not use to embed
joint tape or for the first coat
over metal beads and trim
Regional availability
Available in: 3.5 gal. carton
MIDWEIGHT USG Sheetrock® Brand Midweight™ Joint Compound USG Sheetrock® Brand Total™ Lite Joint Compound
Superior working qualities
and good open time
Weighs up to 15% less
than conventional-weight
compounds
Easier working and sanding
properties
Provides lower shrinkage for
metal bead, trim and fastener
concealments
Special vinyl formulation
makes it ideal for embedding
tape and for filling, leveling
and finishing over gypsum
panel joints
Excellent for skim coating and
hand-applying simple textures
Available in: 4.5 gal. pail,
3.5 gal. carton, 4.5 gal. carton*
Superior working qualities
and good open time facilitates
working back under fast
drying conditions
Weighs up to 15% less
than conventional-weight
compounds
Easier working and sanding,
and provides lower shrinkage
for bead, trim and fastener
concealments
Special formulation makes it
ideal for embedding paper
tape and for filling, leveling
and finishing over gypsum
panel joints, fasteners, bead
and trim
Regional availability
Available in: 3.5 gal. carton
USG Beadex® Brand Gold™ Joint Compound USG Total™ Lite 2 Joint Compound
Up to 10% less weight than
conventional-weight joint
compounds
Provides superior working
qualities, including slick
application, good open time,
low shrinkage and excellent
sanding ease
Versatile—for all drywall joint
finishing steps
Regional availability
Available in: 3.5 gal. carton
Economical and versatile—for
all drywall joint finishing steps
Weighs up to 10% less
than conventional-weight
compounds
Less shrinkage
Easier sanding
Regional availability
Available in: 3.5 gal. carton
LIGHTWEIGHT USG Sheetrock® Brand Plus 3® Joint Compound USG Sheetrock® Brand Dust Control Joint Compound
Up to 25% less weight
than conventional-weight
compounds
Features good open time and
less shrinkage
Requires one fewer coat
over fasteners and bead,
eliminating the need
for taping and topping
compounds
Sands with the ease of a
topping compound and bonds
like a taping compound
Available in: 3.5 qt. pail,
4.5 gal. pail, 3.5 gal. carton,
4.5 gal. carton*
Unique formula binds up fine
residue during sanding to
form heavier particles that
tend to fall to the floor instead
of clouding the air
Requires only two coats over
bead and fasteners
Bonds like a taping product
for a tough, tight bond under
most job conditions
Combines all-purpose, single-
package convenience with
optimum taping and topping
performance
Available in: 1 qt. patch and
repair tub, 3.5 qt. pail,
3.5 gal. pail, 3.5 gal. carton*
USG Sheetrock® Brand Formula VLS™ Joint Compound USG Sheetrock® Brand Taping Lite Joint Compound
Very low-shrinkage formula
speeds finishing
Weighs 25% less, dries
faster and sands more easily
than conventional-weight
compounds
Excellent for taping, topping
and heavy fills
Only two coats needed
over metal, reducing time
and labor
Regional availability
Available in: 4.5 gal. pail,
4.5 gal. carton*
Weighs up to 40% less than
conventional-weight taping
compounds
For use in mechanical taping
tools, as well as on most gypsum
board when maximum bond
and crack resistance are essential
Ultralightweight latex
formulation is designed
for mechanical tools and is
less fatiguing for overhead
applications
Superior slip and adhesion
Ideal for embedding paper
joint tape
Available in: 4.5 gal. pail,
3.5 gal. carton, 4.5 gal. carton*
* Packaging size availability may vary by market.