After reading some stuff online and asking a lowes associate I was told spackle would be the best option. Now i'm having second thoughts based on more readings.

While destroying a fireplace mantel some of the drywall got destroyed/broken so I replaced with hardiboard. Made sure the gaps were very small I couldn't fit my flathead screwdriver in past the tip basically.

I applied tape and put on spackle compound letting it stay overnight. Tommorow I plan on sanding it to an even surface till I can barely see the tape and apply a second coat followed by waiting 24hrs and then apply a third and final coat to make the wall smooth enough for me to apply tile onto it.

Should I rip the tape/spackle off that i've already put on and apply joint compound instead? Should I apply joint compound on top of the first coat? Confused now after reading everything online need some guidance.

Cliffnotes: Applied new hardiboard for tile area taped and put spackle. Wondering what is next step to make sure level for tile to go onto.

 

Man those seem to be the words of death lately. Next time, come here first.

Depending on how thick you applied the spackle you may or may not be OK. If the spackle dries hard as a rock you may proceed with sanding and then application of another layer of joint compound and feather out. Spackle is meant to fill nail holes, not bridge gaps. Test an area and make sure is does not just flake off. If that is the case, start over and use joint compound.

 

Tested an area earlier and it seems pretty strong I applied it very thick since I got a tub of it, which is more than enough. It is hard as a rock, Should I just keep it going and start using joint compound on top or just rip it off since its going to handle tile.

 

I usually skim the transition between drywall and cement board with a setting type compound. Prior to that, I make sure that the transition to tile is located 1/2" under my final course of tile so that the chance of it cracking out in the future are zero.

How thick is thick? Surface may be hard, but don't know about the middle. Setting type compounds use a chemical reaction to set up, joint compound uses evaporation. Unless I am skim coating a complete wall, I never buy ready mix compound. I mix my own as I needed it and work fast as it sets up in minutes.

 

I'm guessing you used the self adhesive 'sticky' tape ?? it has a poor track record

I quit buying spackle decades ago, I always have both ready mix j/c and setting compound on hand so I use them instead. I don't remember too much about the drying characteristics of spackle but j/c turns white when it's good and dry, any darker color means it still has some moisture and hasn't totally dried. It probably says on your spackle label not to apply it over X amount thick or over a certain size area.

 

spackle about 1/8in thick to 1/6in thick in places. It is hard even center its cured for about 30+ hours now.

Did use the self adhesive tape based again on lowes associate recommendations.

I think at this point it would be best to just leave it as is and do 2 layers of joint compound to finish it up.

 

Unless the spackling needs to be applied thicker than the labels recommendation, I don't know that there would be any benefit to switching to j/c although a setting compound might be beneficial. The most important coat of mud is the one that glues or locks down the tape.