The subtleties of applying a primer to drywall before puttingty

Many novice repairmen or those who independently decided to make repairs in their house or apartment are wondering whether it is worth priming drywall before puttingty.

The unequivocal answer to this question is worth it. Why - we will understand in detail in this article.

Drywall must be primed. So that doubts about this no longer arise, we will figure out why the surfaces are primed. Generally speaking, the primer solution is used to improve the quality of finishing work.

This result is achieved due to the following properties of the primer:

• filling small cracks and dents, which makes the surface smoother, eliminating damage caused during the installation of drywall;

• antifungal and anti-mold effect will protect the finish and your health from these pests;
• additional strengthening and protection of drywall;
• improved adhesion of surfaces, which makes it easier to stick wallpaper, tiles and paint.

Thus, we can see that drywall priming is not only a possible, but a necessary stage of surface treatment before puttying. But there are also exceptions.

Do not handle only moisture-resistant drywall., marked by the manufacturer as GKLV. Such a material already has all the advantages that a primer gives. In addition, due to the moisture-repellent properties, it simply will not be absorbed into this base, collecting drops on the surface. Such drywall is usually used for renovating a bathroom or other areas with high humidity.

Also, do not prime drywall if you are going to apply a finishing putty on it. It is very flexible and has a high degree of stickiness, and it is simply impossible to apply it on a moisture-repellent primer with a sufficiently thick layer, which makes subsequent sanding difficult.

Note that the primer does not actually cover the walls with a film, blocking the circulation of oxygen, its structure is more like a mesh that braids the base.

The primer must be applied without fail before laying the tiles., better in two layers. The only way to give relief is not to level the putty so much, since the tile itself is an equal material.

Priming drywall before wallpapering makes it much easier to dismantle it later when you want to change it.

Having decided that drywall should still be primed, consider what type of primer we should choose for this.

Among the variety of materials, primers are divided into three large groups., which differ in the properties of mixtures and their field of application. It is very important to choose exactly the kind of mixture that suits your specific requirements. The quality of the future coverage largely depends on this.

Consider the existing types of primers:

• Contact mixtures. Such primers are used to improve the adhesion of materials to each other. They are used to treat smooth surfaces, for example, concrete or metal, which simplifies their further processing, for example, painting, as it significantly increases the adhesion of the base to the finish.
• Primer mixes. This is a suspension of particles similar in composition to the material with which the surface will subsequently be processed. Such mixtures significantly reduce the consumption of materials used for finishing.
• Penetrating mixtures (penetron). Such a primer penetrates deeply into the surface of the material, strengthening it and improving adhesion with subsequent layers. It is this type of primer that is used in working with drywall.

Let's consider the properties of the latter in more detail.

The primer, after being applied to drywall, performs the following functions:

1. Evens out the absorbing properties of the base over the entire surface area. Thus, when applying paint or putty, the layer will be more uniform.
2. Penetrates deep into the porous base, which helps when working with joints.
3. Prevents materials from sticking together into lumps when applied to surfaces.
4. After drying, it does not interact with water, which is especially important if water-based paint is used after priming.

The choice of material for the primer should be approached very carefully. First of all, you should pay attention to the price. If the price for the mixture is half as much as the price for the same primer from well-known manufacturers, then you should not rejoice and choose cheapness. In a business like construction, the miser pays twice for sure. It is better to choose a trusted manufacturer than a cheap one.

If, for some reason, you still need to save on a primer mix, choose concentrated solutions produced by well-known, well-proven companies. The only problem with such a mixture is that before application it must be diluted in the required amount of water, which is indicated on the package in the method of application.

In addition to the price and the manufacturer, you should pay attention to the shelf life of the mixture. If the mixture is no longer usable or is about to expire, it may no longer have the properties declared by the manufacturer, then your money and efforts will be wasted.

It is worth paying attention to whether the mixture has special substances, preventing the appearance of mold and mildew. Such information should be sought on the packaging or checked with the seller. Usually, manufacturers highlight this property of the product especially, and it is very easy to detect the presence of biosecurity in the composition of the soil mixture.

At the heart of different primer mixtures, various substances are used that determine their properties and scope:

• The most versatile is the acrylic blend. Ideal for priming drywall. In addition, such a mixture is easy to find, odorless, which is a huge plus when used indoors.
• The phenol-based mixture should not be applied to the putty. It is most commonly used for priming metal and wood. Such mixtures should be used with caution indoors.
• Vinyl perchloric acid and polystyrene are used only for exterior decoration; it is strongly not recommended to apply them indoors.

• Alkyd-based mixtures are applied only to wood.
• Polyvinyl acetate mixtures are used only with paints on the same base.
• Hyphthalic mixtures are very strong, but are only suitable for use in well ventilated areas.

For priming drywall, a mixture based on acrylic is suitable, which is usually marked by the manufacturer with a mark "under the wallpaper".

A common misconception regarding primer mixtures is the opinion that a primer suitable for facade work cannot be applied from the inside due to the toxicity of the material. This is not true. The outdoor primer is simply more resistant to adverse conditions, so it will be even more durable indoors.

Summing up, we can say that when choosing a soil mixture, first of all, you should pay attention to the composition, the manufacturer and the expiration date of the purchase. By following all these factors, you will receive a quality product that meets all the requirements for achieving the perfect result.

Applying a primer immediately after installing drywall is one of the biggest mistakes that can be made when renovating a room. Surface preparation requires a careful approach.

Before priming the surface, you should:

• cut the seams of drywall sheets along the chamfers;
• make sure that all screws are sunk into the material and do not protrude above the surface;

• the surface for processing should definitely be cleaned of dust with a soft brush that does not lose hair. Please note that after processing with soil, all large debris will dry out with it, and it will be impossible to remove it;
• a reinforcing mesh should be attached to the seams.

Now that all the work on preparing the base has been completed, you can proceed to the next stage.

Before you start directly priming, you need to choose the right tool for the job. This is usually a soft roller, hard-to-reach brush and paint tray.

The primer is diluted in a clean container according to the manufacturer's recommendations, which are indicated on the packaging. First of all, with the help of a brush, you should pass the mixture through all the corners, joints of the material, as well as the places where the screws are drowned. After all these operations and the drying of the soil, the seams are putty. After the putty on the seams has dried, another layer of primer is applied to the entire surface.

If the primer is of high quality, one coat will be sufficient. During application, be careful to avoid material drips, if they form, the putty will lie unevenly in this place.

Until the primer layer is dry, putty should not be applied, this is very important. Take your time to do everything as quickly as possible, here rushing will only harm the process. Usually the time for complete drying of the primer is about 8 hours, after which the surface is putty.

To simplify the work, you can use the step-by-step instructions:

1. Dilute the soil mixture with water in the proportions indicated on the label.
2. Pour a small amount of primer from a common container into a paint tray and use a good quality brush to go through all the seams and unevenness of the drywall.
3. Wait for the primer to dry (depending on the manufacturer from 8 to 24 hours), and putty the joints.
4. Sand the putty surface, then apply a general coat of primer with a roller.

After processing the surface with putty, let it dry, after which we apply an additional layer of primer on top to consolidate the result. For this, only acrylic mixtures are used, which do not damage the putty. When the ground covering dries, it is absolutely not worth picking up dust. Do not sweep, run or otherwise pick up dirt. As mentioned above, adhering to a non-dried layer, unwanted elements will remain there forever, it will be impossible to remove them after drying.

The process of priming the ceiling is practically no different from what you do with the walls. Before processing, the surface of the ceiling must also be thoroughly cleaned from the remnants of previous coatings. Unless for convenience it is worth lengthening the handle of the roller so that you can safely carry out work without using a stepladder. Naturally, all corners and projections on the ceiling are well primed.

The primer coat on both the ceiling and the walls should be somewhere between dry and dripping. The right tool will help you achieve this result. And in no case do not neglect the paint bath. It will help you a lot in the process of correctly applying the primer mixture to the surface.

Experts recommend using some tips to get the job done right.

• To make it easy to understand where the primer has already been applied, a weak dye can be added to it. The mixtures themselves are usually transparent, making it difficult to apply the primer evenly.
• To distinguish by eye a penetrating primer from a strengthening one, dip a brush into it and run it along the wall. The penetrating one will be absorbed into the base, and the strengthening one will leave a kind of film trail. In addition, the firming primer is a milk-like liquid.
• Choose primers from trusted manufacturers such as Knauf, Ceresit, Tikkurila and other well-known companies.

• Before starting work with the primer, protect the glass of windows, clothing and skin, since the primer mixture after drying is almost impossible to remove from the surfaces.
• Always wear a protective mask. Breathing construction chemistry is quite harmful.
• Apply a layer of primer to the putty only after it has been leveled. Once you prime it, the alignment process will become impossible.
• Experienced experts warn that no matter what drying time is set by the manufacturer, it is better to play it safe and let the primer dry for at least 12 hours.

For the intricacies of applying a primer to drywall before puttingty, see the next video.