Drywall

Walls, High Traffic/Unpainted/To Be Painted

1. Surface Preparation:
   • repair gouges, etc. with drywall compound or spackle, and sand flush once dry; for maximum durability, use plaster of Paris or patching plaster, and sand flush
   • fill gaps with quality acrylic or siliconized acrylic caulk, and immediately smooth it flush; allow to dry over night and make a second application if needed; do not sand a caulk
   • remove all dust using rags or vacuum cleaner; clean off any dirt, etc. with a detergent and water mixture, rinse thoroughly

2. Priming:
• priming is required in order to achieve adequate uniformity of sheen and hiding
• for most work, a PVA latex wall primer works well
• or, for maximum adhesion and stain blocking, use a quality latex stain-blocking primer that is recommended for interior use
• do not leave a primer unpainted

3. Painting:
   • for best dirt resistance, durability and cleanability, use a top-of-the-line interior latex wall paint in flat or eggshell finish, depending on appearance desired
   • a satin finish will provide better dirt and stain resistance
   • a flat latex wall paint will hide irregularities in the surface but will not resist stains and burnishing as well as a quality eggshell or satin finish

Back to Interior Prep, Prime and Paint