 | Mike Goebel
has been involved in the construction and home improvement industry for more than 40 years and is currently the Senior Vice President of the Home Center Division at Star Lumber & Supply Co. Inc. You may contact Mike by e-mail at mgoebel@starlumber.com or by phone at (316) 942-2221. |
Home Improvement
2004-01-01 11:40:00
How to paint new drywall?
ANSWER: Newly finished wallboard presents two distinctly different surfaces to be coated, the face paper of the wallboard over the untreated area of the wallboard, and the taping compound over the seams, corners, and fasteners, (screws or nails). Paint applied to the face paper and the compound will be absorbed unequally and will exhibit problems such as "joint banding," a phenomenon that makes the paint appear shadowed, or darker, over the areas treated with compound.In the past, some drywall installers have solved the porosity and joint banding problem by applying a skim coat of drywall compound over the entire wall surface.Another method some drywall contractors occasionally use to get around joint banding and also cover up poor workmanship by applying drywall texture, a very loose and powdery mixture that is little more than chalk and water. This creates a problem for the paint application, as paint does not adhere well to powdery chalk.There is a simple, yet important step that can be taken to improve the quality of the texture. To make it less porous and adherent, one must improve its cohesive strength. This can be accomplished with the addition of a latex emulsion (resin) that is used in many latex interior paints as a binding agent. This additive "glues together" or binds the powdery particles tighter, thereby increasing its density, adhesion and cohesion to provide a sounder base for any latex paint. Normally the emulsion is added to the texture at a ratio of 1 part emulsion to 20 parts of texture (1 quart to 5 gallons).Without this additive, you can expect great difficulties with the adhesion of wall coverings and paints to the drywall surface. Many paint stores and drywall suppliers carry ready mixed Latex Emulsion additives. When cured and dry the reinforced texture is firm and dust free providing a sound surface for your first coat of Latex Primer. Texturing walls is not really recommended for anyone other than professionals.Fortunately because of the improvements in latex paint technology, neither one of the above techniques is necessary. The most important step in finishing new drywall is to use a high quality latex primer. Primers seal the surface to minimize paint absorption, and surface texture variations. Note: If you are going to apply a heavy texture to new drywall ceilings you should always prime first with a high quality latex primer to stop the wallboard from absorbing water from the texture resulting in sagging. Because the primer is bright white, it will also hide any thin spots in the texture.
