How to paint drywall without putty (is it necessary to putty)

Any space can be made to seem more modern and polished by painting the drywall. But a lot of people are curious about whether putty needs to be applied before painting. This step may appear time-consuming, and its significance may be questioned by some.

We’ll look at whether you can get a professional finish without using putty in this post. We’ll go over the benefits and drawbacks and offer helpful suggestions for anyone trying to expedite the painting process.

It’s important to comprehend putty’s function in drywall preparation. Although it facilitates the creation of a smooth surface, is it always required? Let’s examine the specifics and see if you can accomplish fantastic outcomes without it.

Why putty is applied and is it necessary to do it

Based on gypsum board, drywall is a sheet material that has thick paper or cardboard applied to both sides. By considering the room’s intended use and the technical aspects of the base, you can decide if puttying drywall before painting is required.

1. The sheets have a smooth surface, but absorb moisture well. When using water-based dyes and applying several layers, deformation of the plasterboard is possible. Applying a putty composition will increase the strength of the plasterboard material, ensure the creation of a protective layer and uniform application of paint.
2. The surface treated with a putty mixture acquires high adhesion qualities when applying the dye.
3. Treated sheets of gypsum board acquire strength. The top layer of plasterboard is paper or cardboard, the materials absorb moisture, losing strength characteristics without preliminary treatment.
4. Consumption of water-based dyes is reduced. When applying water-based paint to the surface without puttying, the consumption of the composition increases, because.. plasterboard absorbs moisture.
5. With the help of puttying, you can even out the tone of the treated surface. Paint that is applied to plasterboard dries unevenly, and the surface may be of an uneven color. After filling, the color will be even.

The purpose of the room must be considered when determining whether drywall can be painted with water-based paint without the need for putty. Putty doesn’t need to be used to level surfaces before tinting utility rooms, storage rooms, or warehouse spaces.

On the other hand, meticulous painting base preparation is required when decorating living areas.

It is advised to use putty solely on the joints between the plasterboard sheets and the fastening locations to expedite the finishing process. Before painting, a primer is applied in two layers to ensure an even tone on the surface.

It is possible to paint drywall without putty, but the result might not be as polished and smooth as with putty. Eliminating putty may save time and effort, but the paint job may be less durable and have noticeable flaws. It is usually advised to use putty to smooth out the surface and fill in any gaps for the best results, which will ensure a more polished and durable finish.

Technology of painting gypsum board without putty

The materials must be ready before painting the drywall. It will require a primer mixture, dyes, and other materials.

• preparation of the base;
• application of primer;
• alignment of joints;
• secondary priming.

Surface preparation

In order to paint plasterboard sheets without completely puttying, dust must be removed from the surfaces using a vacuum cleaner. Prior to painting, cleaning is scheduled (10–15 hours). Next, the base needs to be inspected. To do this, a wide spatula needs to be used to go over the surfaces and evaluate them for the presence of joints and fasteners. Using a screwdriver or screwdriver combination, tighten screws that protrude.

Application of primer

After priming, plasterboard can be painted without putty. The primer has a deep penetration rate. Experts advise using an acrylic primer composition because it is a universal material that works well with plasterboard, concrete, brick, wood, and plastered bases.

The application of the coating is expected to enhance the paint’s adhesion properties to the base, minimize dye consumption, and fortify the plasterboard wall. The primer mixture needs to be applied evenly across the base, and the joints and corner sections of the plasterboard sheets that hold the ceiling slabs need to be handled with care. Use a roller, wide brush, or sprayer to apply the primer.

Use two coats of primer if putty isn’t present. Every one of them is completely dried in accordance with the time frame given by the manufacturer.

Aligning the joints

The joints between the drywall sheets must be sealed, and the fasteners must be covered with primer or putty before painting the walls.

1. First, the seams and joints are treated with a deep penetration primer mixture.
2. Then the seams are reinforced with a special construction reinforcing mesh. The tape for the joints is selected in accordance with the distance between the drywall sheets. The most popular mesh is 5-10 cm in size, this width is enough to hide the joints and screw heads.
3. The tape is applied to the joints and covered with putty mortar. Work is carried out with a wide spatula.
4. The putty solution is distributed over the base to prevent the formation of irregularities. The procedure will prevent cracking of dried finishing mixtures and paint during operation.
5. Then the dry leveling mixture is dissolved in water, mixed until a homogeneous composition. The mass is distributed with a spatula along the seams and the areas with screws are processed.
6. Sealed seam joints are left to dry for 24 hours.
7. After hardening, the seams are sanded using a mesh grater, fine-grained sandpaper or a special grinding machine.
8. Then it is necessary to inspect the surface, if there are irregularities, the joints are sanded again.

Secondary priming

The requirement for re-priming is considered when determining if drywall can be painted without putty. The surfaces are cleaned using a vacuum attachment after the treated joints have dried. The cleaned base is covered with a second coat of primer. Plasterboard structures will become stronger as a result of the process. The primer mixture ensures even dye application by filling the porous material.

Painting the entire surface of gypsum board walls

It is necessary to dilute the thick water-based paint with water prior to tinting plasterboard floors. The dye is applied more liquidly to the first layer than to the others. The mixture is repeatedly applied using a brush, spray, or roller.

Patchy drywall is the result of a first coat. Parts of putty may show up at the joints. You will need to use a brush to apply the paint two or three times to get an even tone. To avoid smudges, a roller is used to distribute the composition.

The painted walls need to have a second coat of paint applied after the first layer has dried, which should happen in 10 to 12 hours.

To create a uniform layer, the brush movement is altered. Narrow brushes are used to process hard-to-reach areas. Prior to the formation of a single-color coating, work is done.

For many homeowners, painting drywall without putty can be a workable solution. Puttying produces a smoother, more polished finish, but it’s not always required to get a good outcome. In order to guarantee that the paint sticks well and appears even, proper surface preparation is essential. This includes cleaning and priming the drywall.

It is possible to save time and effort by omitting the putty step, particularly for small projects or areas where a flawless finish is not necessary. It’s crucial to understand that any drywall flaws or textures that are left unfilled will show up more after painting if putty is not used. Walls that are in good condition already lend themselves best to this method.

Whether or not to use putty ultimately comes down to your individual requirements and the desired level of quality. You can paint over putty in less noticeable areas or for fast touch-ups. Putting in the extra effort to putty may be worthwhile in areas with high traffic or visibility.

Video on the topic

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