Making sure the surface is ready is crucial before using putty on your walls. In order to achieve a smooth, long-lasting finish, proper wall preparation is essential. Ignoring this step can result in uneven surfaces, unsightly cracks, and a subpar finished product.
Cleaning your walls thoroughly is the first step in getting them ready. To ensure proper putty adhesion, remove any dust, dirt, or grease. Prior to applying putty, it’s crucial to fix any damage that already exists, such as holes or cracks, to ensure that the wall is as smooth as possible.
The wall must then be primed. An effective primer improves the putty’s bond with the wall and keeps it from absorbing excessive moisture, which could degrade the finish’s quality. You’re set once the primer is applied and completely dry.
Step | Description |
1. Clean the Wall | Remove old paint, wallpaper, and any debris from the wall surface. |
2. Repair Damages | Fill cracks and holes with a suitable filler, ensuring a smooth surface. |
3. Sand the Surface | Lightly sand the wall to create a uniform texture for better putty adhesion. |
4. Apply Primer | Use a primer to seal the wall and improve the bonding of the putty. |
5. Let it Dry | Allow the primer to dry completely before starting to apply the putty. |
Rules for preparation for puttying
A crucial and accountable step in the process of getting walls ready for additional finishing is puttying. Because everything is done by hand, there will be a substantial reduction in price. The durability and aesthetic appeal of subsequent repair work are determined by the puttying quality. Start treating the issue seriously at the puttying and wall preparation stage if you want the finished product to meet your expectations. Instructions for each step of the work are listed below.
Tools
The guidelines for puttying walls are the same as those for the ceiling. In turn, the caliber of the puttying job is contingent upon the expertise of the master as well as, to a lesser degree, the caliber of the finishing materials chosen and the appropriate choice of instruments. Thus:
Note: The type of putty that will be applied to the wall must be considered when choosing a tool.
- Initial alignment is done with an aluminum tool shaped like a trapezoid. Such a tool is called a rule. Several different sized rules are used in the work.What rules are required depends on the area of the surface being treated. For example, for large surfaces there are one- and two-meter rules.
- It is necessary to say that the rule also helps to check the evenness of the layer of putty applied to the wall. In addition to this tool, at the initial stage, you will need two trowels: a two-handed one has a size of 500 mm, and a one-handed one – 280 mm.
- At the final stage of puttying, you will need spatulas, the width of the working surface of which can be from 40 to 450 mm.
Removing old wallpaper
Starting with the base plane, prepare the walls for puttying. Wallpaper materials with a variety of compositions and qualities are produced by modern industry (see Wallpapering walls in the right way). Their processing techniques also vary according to their properties; new ones are first adhered to, and then, after they have had time to develop a term, they are removed. You can find out how to get rid of outdated wallpaper below. Any wallpaper, no matter what technology was used in its creation, needs to be soaked in warm water before being removed.
- Washable wallpaper has a waterproof film. Therefore, in order for the wallpaper to soak in water, this film must be destroyed. For this purpose, the wallpaper is treated with a metal brush, or better yet, a needle roller. After this, wet the wall with water, and when it is absorbed inside, remove the canvas from the wall.
- Vinyl wallpaper has a dense and fairly strong structure, They also absorb water well.
Thanks to these two features, they are easy to remove. However, if pieces of wallpaper remain on the wall, they must be additionally moistened and removed with a spatula. - Paper wallpaper is the most capricious. If they are moistened, they lose strength and come off in pieces. As an option, to remove them, you can use this method, You must first perforate the wallpaper with a prickly roller, then using a soft roller or brush, moisten them generously with warm water. They must be removed with a wide spatula, starting, of course, from the joints.
Note: Using a hot iron or steam generator to treat the wallpaper is the most efficient way to remove it. The glue layer will be melted by this heat treatment, making it simple to remove the wallpaper from the wall.
Removing old paint
You have to take off the old paint before you can begin painting the walls. Artists can remove old paint and varnish coatings in a number of ways.
- Cleaning the walls with hard sandpaper or emery cloth. Walls can be cleaned manually, but this will take more time. You can use a grinder or a drill with special grinding attachments to which the emery cloth is attached.
- To remove old paint, you can use special stripping agents consisting of solvents. Such chemical treatment will soften the coating, and it can be removed with a regular spatula.
- It is better to carry out heat treatment with an electric iron or a heat gun. Alternatively, you can use a blowtorch or a gas burner, but these tools are not suitable for all walls. For example, interior partitions may be wooden or consist of panels containing wood.
It is not recommended to use an open flame on such walls. But the use of a blowtorch is acceptable for cleaning a reinforced concrete or brick wall. Under the influence of high temperature, the paint softens and peels off the surface, due to which it can be easily removed with a spatula.
Note: Sandpapering the walls again is necessary after removing all of the paint.
Removing whitewash from the ceiling
Additionally, the ceiling must be cleaned before puttying:
- To do this, wet the ceiling with water using a spray bottle or roller, and then clean the wet ceiling with a scraper. Thanks to the water, the whitewash will easily peel off the ceiling, and there will be less dust, especially if the ceiling was whitewashed with chalk.
- A ceiling whitewashed with emulsion will be easier to clean if you dissolve half a bar of grated soap and 5 teaspoons of baking soda in a bucket of warm water.
Be aware that applying flour paste to the ceiling is a good way to clean it. Using a roller, apply the warm paste to the wall, allow it to dry, and then scrape it off with a scraper.
For putty to apply smoothly and last a long time, walls must be properly prepped. Cleaning the surface, caulking any holes or cracks, and priming the surface are all necessary steps in this process to guarantee that the putty sticks firmly. By taking the right procedures, you’ll lay the groundwork for a perfect wall finish, increasing the end product’s durability and aesthetic appeal.
In order to apply putty in a smooth and long-lasting manner, the wall must be properly prepared. You can make sure that the putty adheres properly and produces a perfect surface by following the suggested procedures, which include priming, cleaning, and repairing the walls.
It may seem laborious to take the time to complete each step correctly, but the effort is worthwhile. The end product will be a gorgeously finished wall that is prepared for painting or any other last finishing touch you may want to apply.
Whether you choose to handle this project on your own or hire an expert, knowing how important it is to prepare the walls thoroughly will help you get the best results.