Many people find that painting drywall without putty is an appealing method due to its time and labor savings. Some people believe that skipping the puttying step will result in a finished appearance more quickly. Is it, however, the best option for your project?
This method has advantages such as lower expenses and quicker completion times, but it also has drawbacks. Knowing this method’s advantages and disadvantages will enable you to determine whether it’s a worthwhile option for your upcoming wall décor project.
We’ll go over the benefits and drawbacks of painting drywall without putty in the ensuing sections so you can see exactly what to anticipate from this approach.
- The main features and requirements for the surface painting process
- Preparation of the base
- Painting without putty – is such a solution possible
- Preparing the surface for painting according to the technology
- Some nuances regarding painting
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The main features and requirements for the surface painting process
There is no denying that paintings have long been one of the most widely used decorative materials for rooms and facades (see the article "Gypsum putty – characteristics, features and consumption" for more information).
This is because of several benefits:
- Simplicity of the process. Any person can paint a ceiling or walls; this does not require complex tools or deep knowledge in the construction industry. The main thing that is required when carrying out work is accuracy.
- Low material price. There are many product options on the market that will allow you to find the optimal solution for any wallet. At the same time, the quality of painting will be high both for premium-level paints and for samples representing economy class.
- Widest choice of colors, which gives almost limitless possibilities when decorating the interior. This became especially evident after the advent of tinting machines, which are capable of making paint of any shade according to a special sample. You simply select the desired option, and the equipment will prepare the composition before your eyes in a matter of minutes.
You can choose the perfect shade of each color by using the color fan, which divides each color into numerous halftones of different intensities.
- But not everything depends on the quality of the paint, the right tool and the accuracy of the work. The most important factor is the quality of the base, and we will discuss all the nuances related to this point below.
Preparation of the base
Since plasterboard surfaces and the characteristics of working with them are being discussed, it is important to comprehend all of the characteristics of this material:
- With its help, it is very easy to level the ceiling and walls. In addition, this material allows you to create complex structures, both on the ceiling and on the walls, which is why it is so popular among builders and interior designers.
Other materials cannot be used to create such structures.
- Another important factor is the ability to carry out installation work with your own hands. In this case, you should follow the technology, then the result will be no worse than that of professional specialists.
- There are several varieties for different surfaces: ordinary wall plasterboard, a thinner ceiling option and moisture-resistant sheets for rooms with high humidity.
Painting without putty – is such a solution possible
So let’s take a closer look at the issue of whether puttying drywall prior to painting is required.
Firstly, it is worthwhile to take into account the advice of experts from the product’s manufacturer, who suggest the following:
- To achieve an excellent result, it is recommended to completely cover the surface with putty, and for an ideal plane, this will have to be done more than once.
- When pasting wallpaper, it is permissible to putty the seams of the drywall and the attachment points. But, as practice shows, during dismantling, there are very often cases when the top layer of paper of the drywall sheet comes off along with the wallpaper, which significantly reduces its reliability and complicates the work on its finishing.
In any case, the seams need to be sealed.
- In all other cases, ensuring proper quality of work is not guaranteed, and you carry out all activities at your own risk. Therefore, it is worth considering whether you need dubious savings or still do everything according to technology.
In the event that painting drywall without putty is the only feasible or short-term solution, you should adhere to the following guidelines to ensure the best possible quality of work:
- First of all, all surfaces to be finished are thoroughly cleaned of dirt, the best option is to use a vacuum cleaner, which will remove dust that is invisible to the eye, but worsens the quality of the finish. It is worth cleaning the room a maximum of 1-2 days before the work, and better immediately before them – then the dust will not have time to accumulate again.
- Next, the walls or ceilings are treated with a deep penetration primer. It must be carefully applied to the entire surface, for this it is best to use a roller with long or medium pile or the classic option – a brush-maklovitsa.
This process fortifies the surface and drastically lowers its absorbency, both of which are critical for subsequent operations.
You can thoroughly process every centimeter of the surface by priming with a maklovitsa.
- We should immediately note that it will not be possible to do without puttying work at all. The screw heads and sheet joints must be sealed. At the same time, remember that the joints are pre-reinforced with a reinforcing mesh-serpyanka, which is sealed with a layer of the mixture. This simple action will insure you against the appearance of cracks in the future, because they most often appear in these places.
A mesh is pasted over the joint and then a putty solution is used to tighten it.
- The next important stage is grinding the finishing areas. This must be done after the solution has completely dried (usually 12 hours at room temperature) using a special grater and sandpaper or an abrasive mesh. It is best to use a light bulb to control the plane, this will help to do the work much better.
Crucial! An ideal plane is generally unachievable when partially finishing a surface, but trouble spots can be less noticeable with a little work. And when you rub, a light bulb will precisely help with this.
- Another stage, which many ignore in vain, is the secondary priming of a completely finished surface. This is necessary for additional strengthening of the plane, getting rid of dust formed during rubbing and balancing the absorbency of all areas, which is very important when painting.
Therefore, we talked about whether and how to paint drywall without putty. We stress again that doing the work in this manner should only be done as a last resort and that it is preferable to complete the work fully compliant with the technology, as detailed in the upcoming chapter.
When seams are sealed without the use of a mesh, cracks start to show up along the seams after a few months.
Preparing the surface for painting according to the technology
Thus, the following are the proper guidelines for priming drywall for painting:
- As in the previous case, shortly before starting work, all surfaces and the entire room are cleaned of dust and dirt.
- Next, using a spatula, check whether the screw heads are sufficiently recessed; if they protrude above the plane, they must be tightened.
- Primary priming is done at least 6 hours before starting work. It is optimal to prime the drywall in the evening and calmly proceed with further work in the morning.
- Primary finishing consists of pasting the seams with a serpyanka mesh 5 to 10 centimeters wide and filling all joints. Also, all places where the sheets are attached are sealed, and work is suspended until the composition is completely dry (about 12 hours).
The color of the solution makes it very easy to tell whether it has dried; dark patches suggest a composition that is still wet.
- Next, all finishing areas are rubbed with a grater, you should work carefully so as not to damage the paper layer of the plasterboard sheet.
- Next comes the secondary primer, which will reduce the absorption of the putty areas and simplify further work.
- And finally, you can proceed to the complete puttying of the surface, it is best to do this with a spatula 25-35 centimeters wide or a metal grater of a similar size, it all depends on what is more convenient for you to work with (as practice shows, it is easier for beginners to handle a spatula). At the same time, make sure that there are no pebbles in the solution, and that no burrs form on the surface from them.
The most important thing in this kind of work is precision and a high-quality solution.
- As a rule, it is difficult to perfectly level the surface in one go, so it is better to repeat the finishing again the next day. Here you should very carefully look at the quality of the resulting surface and try to make it as smooth as possible.
- After drying, you can start rubbing with a special grater. The easiest way is to use a simple light bulb – holding it near the surface, you will see all the irregularities, because even a small difference will give a shadow. Thus, the plane is brought to an ideal state.
Counseling! This is far simpler than another continuous finish if it turns out that the wall is even and the depressions are limited to one or more areas. Putty those areas only, and then use a float to level the surface.
- Experts recommend priming the finished surface again. This will strengthen it and improve the adhesion of the paint, and also significantly reduce its consumption by reducing the absorbency of the surface.
Prior to painting, finished surfaces are primed once more.
Some nuances regarding painting
We hope you were able to determine whether drywall can be painted without putty and came to the right decisions.
You can begin painting after the surface has been prepared; painting is a fairly easy process that just requires a few subtleties to master:
- It is impossible to qualitatively process the surface in one layer, especially in cases where there is no continuous putty of the surfaces. You will have to apply 2-3 layers at least.
- It is better to paint with a roller, since brushes always leave streaks on the surface, and it is impossible to achieve an ideal result.
- Each new layer is applied after the previous one has completely dried, while the direction of the roller movement should be perpendicular to the previous layer.
- The corners and areas along the edges are painted with a brush, and it is better to do this first and only then paint the main surface.
- The number of layers is determined by the fact: if there are stains and color differences, another layer is needed.
Pros | Cons |
Faster process as no putty is required. | Surface imperfections are more visible. |
Cost-effective by skipping the putty application. | Less smooth finish compared to traditional methods. |
Less labor-intensive and easier for beginners. | Paint may not adhere as well to untreated drywall. |
Drywall painting without putty is an appealing choice for short-term projects because it can save expenses and time. But keep in mind that since flaws in the drywall surface will be more noticeable, this method might not provide the smoothest finish.
It might not be the best idea to forgo the putty in places like living rooms or other high-traffic areas where aesthetics are important. However, in less noticeable spaces like utility rooms or garages, it might be a workable answer.
Whether or not to paint drywall without putty ultimately comes down to your priorities: finish quality vs. speed and cost. You can choose the best course of action for your particular project by considering these factors.
Painting drywall without putty can be a fast and affordable fix, particularly for people who want to cut down on preparation time. Even though this method omits the surface smoothing step, it’s crucial to keep in mind that flaws and irregularities might be visible in the finished product. This method works well in places where a spotless appearance is not essential, but it might not be up to par in highly visible or busy areas. Determining whether this is the best option for your project will require you to weigh the benefits and drawbacks.