How to Prepare Sheetrock for Painting Walls
If you plan to remodel your house, you may need to install new Sheetrock. Sheetrock is a registered trademark for a brand of drywall, or plasterboard, that is commonly used for interior walls and ceilings. Sheetrock is sold in panels, which are joined together smoothly in a process known as taping and floating. Newly installed Sheetrock must be carefully prepared before painting, to create a finished, professional look. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Hammer
- Utility knife
- Plastic corner beads
- Putty knife
- Joint compound
- Mesh drywall tape
- Metal trowel
- Dust mask
- Block sander
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Microfiber rag
- Paint roller and covers
- Paintbrush
- Interior primer
Instructions
-
-
1
Check the Sheetrock installation. Hammer down protruding nails, and clean up jagged edges with a utility knife. Install plastic corner beads in each corner seam.
-
2
Tape the Sheetrock. With a putty knife, apply a thin coat of joint compound to each seam, along the walls and between the walls and ceiling. Spread out the joint compound as much as possible, using just enough to create a tacky surface. Cover each seam completely with mesh drywall tape. Allow the tape to dry for approximately 24 hours.
-
-
3
Float the Sheetrock by applying a thin, even coat of joint compound over each seam. Apply the compound carefully, to avoid leaving ridges and valleys. At this point, you may notice thin spots where the tape still shows through. Allow the joint compound to dry for 24 hours and then apply a finish coat. Feather the edges along the wall. Apply a thin coat of joint compound over all nails and feather the edges. Allow the walls to dry for 24 hours.
-
4
Skim coat the walls with a very thin, entirely smooth coat of joint compound. Thin out lightweight compound with water, and apply it to the entire wall with a metal trowel. Then use the trowel to wipe most of it off. This fills in minor dips and scratches. Allow the walls to dry for 24 hours.
-
5
Wear a dust mask while you lightly sand the entire wall surface with a block sander and fine-grit sandpaper. Step back frequently to check your work, and use thinned-out joint compound to gently cover any indentations or imperfections. Remove sanding dust with a slightly dampened microfiber rag.
-
6
Apply a thick, even coat of interior primer with a paint roller. For areas that the roller does not reach, use a high-quality paintbrush, feathering the edges to avoid streaks. Allow the primer to dry overnight before you paint the wall.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you prefer textured walls, skip steps 4 and 5. Instead, use a paint roller to evenly apply wall texture in your choice of thickness. Allow to dry thoroughly before priming.
