A Paint job for walls is one thing; painting a newly finished drywall is another. Chances are fresh, bare drywall still has mudded seams and fastener holes that are completely exposed. If you paint it right away, you will need to apply three or more coats of paint before they are fully covered.
This is why, prior to painting, some priming is required. Priming is the process of applying a preparatory coating to a surface before you paint it. It equalizes the base colors of the drywall as well as the areas of different porosity.
This ensures that paint will adhere to the surface, which will result in an increase in paint durability and additional protection. With primer, you can get by with only one or two coats of paint on your drywall.
In the next section, we will talk about how you can prepare drywall for painting like a professional painter.
Use of Primer-Sealer
- The first method is a primer-sealer, particularly designed for drywall. There’s a wide array of drywall primers out there, but these products are basically the same. They’re inexpensive forms of wall paint with an unusual level of stickiness, consisting of water-based (latex) and oil-based (alkyd) forms.
There are two types of primers: standard sealers for smooth, well-finished walls and build sealers for rough, uneven drywall finishing with large holes. Basically, a primer-sealer can be tinted prior to applying it in order to optimize its coverability.
Use of Flat Latex Paint
- The next method that is commonly used consists of inexpensive flat latex paint. Even professional painters use this for a well-finished wall to ensure a perfectly smooth or flawless surface.
Flat latex paint may not be as effective as primer-sealers specifically made for drywalls; however, it is good enough for homeowners’ needs for wall painting and home improvement.
In fact, many drywall manufacturers recommend plain flat latex paint as a viable option. You can use this to match the finish color without making multiple coats.
‘Hiding’ Paint
- Another product is ‘hiding’ paint. This is basically flat latex paint. However, it is slightly thicker and exhibits better color-hiding properties than plain latex paint.
There’s a wide variety of hiding paint products out there. You just need to make sure that you choose the one that is made for raw drywall. That said, you should know that hiding paint costs twice as much as ordinary flat latex paint.
Skim-coating
- Last on the list is skim-coating with drywall joint compound. This entails the use of a drywall taping knife in order to scrape the drywall compound off raw drywall. The skim-coat is the remaining compound that your knife cannot scrape off.
The only problem is that skim-coat is a high-level finishing step that most professional installers do. So if your objective is to hone your skills when it comes to painting, then you may try skimming with drywall paper or mud. Otherwise, it would be easier for you to use a roller to apply a primer than to skim-coat and paint a room.
Final Words
So when it comes to drywall painting, don’t forget to do some form of priming first. You can use primer-sealer or latex paint. For flat latex paint, hiding paint will do as well. But if you want to take your painting skills to the next level, then you may try skim-coating as well.
We hope this guide has taught you what you need to know about preparing drywall for painting. If this seems like a complicated thing, you can always call the professionals for a job well done. Talk to one of our expert painters at Encore Painting and get a free estimate online. We provide award-winning professional painting services in Texas.