Putty for interior work: types and selection criteria

When choosing a putty for interior work, you should pay attention to a number of basic criteria. This will allow you to carry out the workflow as efficiently as possible. We understand the varieties and subtleties of choice.

Putty for interior work is chosen based on several criteria.

It is important to define:

• this type of putty is intended for interior work;
• for which stage of work is the mixture intended for which the choice fell;
• in what form is the mixture.

What matters is the composition, which will indicate what performance characteristics the selected putty has (thickness of the applied layer, smoothness of the resulting surface, strength, color of the hardened layer, drying rate, moisture resistance). It will allow you to understand for which surfaces it is better suited, what is the consumption of the mixture for 1 sq. m. In addition, it is important to take into account the specific features of the use of a particular brand.

In the modern construction market, this material is presented in a wide range. Products differ in purpose, readiness and composition.

This gradation separates the putty mixtures by particle size, which determines the order and specificity of use. All putties are divided into five main types: starting, finishing, universal, special and decorative.

Designed for the initial leveling of the wall, filling significant irregularities, preparing the work surface for the application of the finishing putty. A flexible starter filler will ensure that there are no cracks and a good base for further finishing.

The characteristic features are:

• large fraction of particles;
• rough surface of the hardened layer;
• strength (difficult to grind);
• good adhesion (the ability to bond with another substance at the molecular level).

The purpose of this type of mixture is the final leveling of the walls and making them ready for the application of decorative finishing materials (for example, wallpaper, paint).

The finishing putty has the following features:

• applied on a relatively flat surface;
• creates a flat smooth plane;
• fragile - easy to grind.

These mixtures simultaneously perform the functions of a starting and finishing putty.

They are distinguished by:

• the ability to apply to any surface;
• ease of use (can be used without specialized skills).

In such mixtures, specific qualities are enhanced: moisture resistance, resistance to the upper and lower temperature limits, acid resistance, plasticity. They are used for rooms with extraordinary needs.

Used as a front surface finish. These varieties have a rich color palette, may contain various decorating additives (for example, stone chips).They differ in the specific application technology specified in the instructions.

In this regard, the putty is dry and ready to apply. Each species has specific characteristics.

Such a putty requires thorough kneading skills, otherwise the mixture will give a poor surface. This is especially true for the finishing layer, where even the smallest lumps are visible. In most cases, such a putty has a long shelf life. In terms of price, it is cheap. It is rational to use dry mixes for a starting or finishing layer for wallpapering, where a flawless surface is not so important.

Ready mixes are easy to handle, they can be used without honed profile skills. The resulting surface is smoother and more even, ideal for painting or other finishing work. Due to the relatively high cost, it is more often used as a finishing layer.

Depending on the components that make up the mass, the putty is divided into the following types:

• plaster;
• cement;
• polymer;
• water dispersion;
• oil and glue.

It has become widespread in the decoration of walls made of plasterboard and cement.

Easy to use, it:

• well suited for any stage of filling;
• easy to mix, well distributed along the plane of the wall;
• dries quickly;
• often used for the finishing layer due to the absence of shrinkage and cracks;
• forms a smooth and even surface;
• easy to sand;
• is the basis for painting;
• does not exude a building smell;

It is fire-resistant, a good heat insulator, and is inexpensive. It can be stored for a long time even in rooms with low temperatures. The disadvantage is poor resistance to vibrations and mechanical influences: it is impractical to use it in gyms, game rooms.

A cement-based mixture is distinguished by its low price; it is often used when it is necessary to cover large areas.

This material has its own characteristics:

• to obtain a good surface, clean coarse-grained (1.5 - 2.5 mm) sand is needed, otherwise cracks will appear after drying;
• the temperature of the water for the solution should be about 20 C .;
• after diluting the mixture, the solution quickly solidifies (from 5 to 24 hours, depending on the specific brand);
• the mixture shrinks after a certain period of time, reapplication is necessary;

• well removes significant (more than 10 mm) wall irregularities;
• even if all norms are observed, the chance of cracks appearing is quite high;
• it tolerates moisture and low temperatures well;
• is characterized by high strength; difficult to sand;
• not suitable for working on wooden surfaces.

Such a putty has an unaesthetic appearance, it has a gray-yellow tint. In the category there are subspecies with additives giving white and super white color. This criterion significantly affects the price, which ranges from 230 to 650 rubles per 20 kg.

Mixes of this type are divided into acrylic and latex. These varieties are relatively new to the market for this product.

Polymer mixtures have their own characteristics, they are:

• Produced in the form of a mixture for mixing, ready-made mass. The ready-made mixture is well suited for those who have no skills, but wish to carry out repairs with their own hands;
• They are mainly used for the finishing layer;
• They give a smooth, even plane of the wall, even with serious flaws in the treated surface;
• They are an excellent basis for decorative finishing work;

• enhance the soundproofing qualities of the wall;
• they are distinguished by good vapor permeability, do not allow the walls to accumulate moisture, so the room does not damp;
• have high moisture resistance (putty is appropriate when decorating bathrooms and kitchens);
• do not exude a specific smell;
• have a high cost.

This type is a ready-made water-dispersion formulations on an acrylic basis. Such material is used for all types of coating, including concrete, brick, wood, aerated concrete, stone, fiberboard. This putty has good adhesion: it is characterized by strong adhesion to the surface at the molecular level.

More often it is used as a finishing putty:

• has low shrinkage (2%);
• perfectly applied;
• easy to sand;
• relatively inexpensive;
• in case of thickening, it provides for dilution with water;
• does not exude a pungent odor;
• slightly flammable.

This category includes mixtures based on drying oil, chalk, CMC glue, plasticizers and driers.

Such materials:

• plastic;
• easy to grind;
• durable;
• have good adhesion;
• have an environmentally friendly composition;
• economically beneficial.

They are distinguished by easy application on various types of surfaces. (drywall, plaster, brick, aerated concrete, wood). Such a putty has a fast drying time between layers (3-4 hours), which reduces the duration of finishing work (the final layer dries 24 hours). It is a good base for painting with enamel, oil and water-dispersion paint. At the same time, the composition is weakly resistant to mechanical stress, this variety does not tolerate moisture and direct exposure to water.

Other disadvantages include a short shelf life, it cannot be stored in places with temperature changes, repeated freezing makes the mixture completely unusable. This putty is demanding on the work environment: the temperature should be above 10 degrees, the humidity should not exceed 70%.

For information on how to putty the walls with your own hands, see the next tutorial video.