How to choose a finishing putty for interior decoration

For your interior decoration project, selecting the appropriate finishing putty can have a significant impact on how your walls turn out. Selecting the right option for your needs can be a little overwhelming with so many to choose from. Knowing the fundamentals of putty types and their applications is essential, regardless of whether you’re working with small flaws or trying for a smooth, perfect finish.

We’ll break down the important considerations for choosing a finishing putty in this guide. We’ll go over the various kinds that are out there, their characteristics, and how they might affect how your decorating project turns out. By the time you’re done, you’ll know exactly which putty will work best for you to achieve the ideal interior finish.

Composition of putty

There are many different types of materials available nowadays. There are sales of cement, gypsum, and even polymer putties. They are all unique in terms of their makeup and qualities.

Cement finishing putties

This is the most affordable option that is also the most dependable. It is possible to independently prepare a mixture of cement, sand, and water. For such projects, durable cement—grade M400 or higher—is typically selected. Alternately, you could purchase a premade dry mixture and dilute it using water. Neither the prepared solution nor its thickness should be excessively liquid or thick. The fact that it can be applied to the wall without slipping down is what matters most.

Practical! It takes just one part cement to three to four parts fine-grained sand to make the mixture by hand. The mixture is then given the necessary amount of water.

When discussing the benefits of cement putties, it is important to note:

• The highest strength. Although the composition is inexpensive, no modern analogue can compare in this characteristic. For example, to destroy such a layer of putty, you will have to hit the wall with a hammer.
• Resistance to moisture. Cement putties are even used for swimming pools and rooms with constantly high humidity. They are successfully used for facade finishing, so such a layer will reliably protect against moisture inside.
• Resistance to temperature changes.

However, cement putty has a lot of drawbacks as well. As an illustration:

• It is very difficult to apply. The solution is not particularly elastic. Even an experienced builder will need a whole day to process about 7 m 2 .
• Due to low elasticity, there is also a problem with grinding. It often has to be done immediately after processing the walls, while the mixture is still wet.
• Shrinkage. Often you have to re-treat the walls.
• Sooner or later, cracks will appear on the treated surface.
• Cement compounds do not adhere well to reinforced concrete and other smooth surfaces.

Because there are so many drawbacks, experts typically favor alternative solutions.

Gypsum putties

This is a particularly good choice if you want to paint the walls. Surface treatment is quite simple when a white elastic composition is used. Gypsum also has a special quality in that it takes moisture from the air when it gets too dry and releases it when the room gets too wet. This allows the room to have the ideal microclimate.

Among the other benefits are:

• Creation of a perfectly flat surface. There are no roughness or other minor defects on the wall.
• Gypsum does not shrink, cracks will not appear on it.
• Quick drying of the composition.
• Improving thermal insulation characteristics.
• Ease of alignment and processing.
• Relatively low cost. Of course, gypsum will cost more than cement, but the difference is not so striking.

While they are less common, drawbacks to gypsum still exist:

• Weak resistance to humid environments. As a rule, such mixtures are used only for dry and well-heated rooms.
• Low strength characteristics.
• If reinforced concrete is processed with gypsum putty, then you need to be prepared that such a finish will accelerate the process of corrosion.

Polymer putties

It should come as no surprise that polymers are the basis for these mixtures. Although they are the priciest, they are the simplest to use.

The mixtures are categorized into multiple groups:

• Acrylic. These are universal compositions that are suitable for concrete and brick, as well as for drywall, wood and other materials. Thanks to such a mixture, it is very easy to create a perfectly flat surface. Putty is used for walls and ceilings. In the latter case, it is most relevant, since the layer of material can be 1 mm. But if necessary, it can be easily increased to smooth out more serious defects. Acrylic putty is suitable for a damp room, it has excellent adhesion, does not smell and forms a very durable surface. Tools are easily cleaned with ordinary water. The putty can be sanded, does not shrink.
• Latex. In this case, acrylic latex is taken as a basis, which is considered the best option when creating a finishing coating. Compositions of this type also allow you to create very smooth surfaces. But if you need a layer more than 3 mm, then it is better to refuse such a material, since it can crack. Also, latex compositions can be used for concrete and brickwork, but they are more often used for drywall.
• Polymer cement. In fact, these are the same cement compositions, to which polymer components are added – fiber. This gives the mixture greater elasticity and strength after hardening. Such mixtures can be used for serious differences in wall thickness, as they are applied in a layer of up to 2 cm.

Practical! The best option if putty application is new to you is polymer compounds.

PVA, shpakril, and putties with an oil base are also for sale. However, they are not frequently used to treat ceilings and walls. A manufacturer may provide starting, finishing, and universal putties, so it’s important to take these factors into account when selecting a composition.

How does starting putty differ from finishing putty

Based on the grain size in this instance, it is simple to differentiate between the compositions:

• Starter compositions are applied in a fairly thick layer from 3 mm to several centimeters. They have larger granules, due to which it is possible to correct quite serious defects. Usually, starting compositions are applied in several layers at once.
• Finishing putty has a smaller grain size, due to which the walls do not look “loose” after processing. Such compositions are used after applying starting mixtures. As a rule, they are applied in a layer of up to 5 mm.

Furthermore, there are universal compositions that have very few flaws and can be used. There’s no need to use the finishing putty after the starting putty in this instance.

When choosing a finishing putty for interior design, consider aspects such as application ease, drying time, and texture. Whether you’re working on plaster or drywall, pick a product that matches the surface and think about how smooth and long-lasting you want the finish to be. With just a little putty, you can give your walls a polished appearance and prepare them for painting or wallpapering.

Dry or ready-made mixture

Dry compositions will obviously be less expensive. Furthermore, they have a longer shelf life. The mixture won’t change until the solution is diluted (assuming proper storage). Packaging for dry mixtures ranges from 5 to 25 kg.

All you have to do to get the solution ready is stir in a small amount of clean water until the mixture gets pasty. The putty comes together quickly and requires little work to prepare (special mixer attachments are not necessary).

However, one must remember that these kinds of compositions tend to set fairly quickly. This means that you will need to put in a lot of effort and quickly fix any major errors. Mixing a big batch at once is not advised for the same reason. It is preferable to cook in tiny amounts.

Practical! The mixture preparation takes fifteen to twenty minutes.

Such compositions have a number of drawbacks, chief among them being the inability to attain the required consistency instantly. However, you can easily adjust to it. And it’s very simple to figure out the right amounts if you measure out the water instead of just pouring it (like in glasses, for example).

With ready-made compositions, you just need to open the bucket and apply the material—no preparation time is needed. It is not necessary for you to consider ratios or other factors. However, the fact that these mixtures have a shorter shelf life will worry you. It is therefore preferable to use the composition as soon as the container is opened. These combinations cost an order of magnitude more than dry ones, of course.

The best finishing putties

The best things to apply to the initial composition are as follows:

• Starateli. This is a gypsum-based finishing putty with additional additives. Suitable for damp rooms. Characterized by fast drying. Costs about 240 kg for a 12-kilogram bag. Sold dry. Dries in 12 hours.
• WEBER LR+. This is a polymer composition from the Vetonit company. The putty can be applied in a layer of up to 5 mm. At the same time, the prepared solution may not harden for up to 48 hours. This means that you do not have to hurry much. Suitable for mechanical and manual application. Costs about 840 rubles per 25 kg bag.
• Danogips Sheetrock SuperFinish. This is another plastic composition with vinyl additives. The putty is elastic and hardens quite quickly. After applying a 2 mm layer, it is enough to wait only 5 hours. But, since this is not dry, but a ready-made material, it also costs more – about 1,300 rubles for a 17-liter bucket.

When discussing painting walls in particular, it is important to take into account the "Unis Premium" compositions and finishing mixtures from the "Knauf" company. While some of them take up to 15 hours to dry, others do so in 2 to 5 hours.

The finishing putty you choose can have a significant impact on the interior design of your space. The sort of putty you choose is important whether you’re painting a surface or trying to achieve a smooth, perfect wall. Be sure the putty you choose will work for both the surface of your wall and the desired finish.

Take into account the putty’s application ease and drying time. While some putties might take a little longer to dry but provide a smoother finish, others might dry faster and allow you to finish your project sooner. Remember to make sure the putty is appropriate for the kind of wall you’re working on—plaster, drywall, or something else entirely.

Choosing the appropriate finishing putty will ultimately guarantee that your walls appear polished and professional. For optimal results, take your time selecting a product that fulfills your needs and adhere to the application guidelines. Any interior space can have a neat and appealing finish with the correct putty.

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