How Do I Paint Drywall?
Drywall is the most widely used material for finishing interior walls and is found in homes in many areas of the world. Drywall, also called Sheetrock, gypsum board and rock lath -- is created by mixing together gypsum plaster and fibre, then wrapping the concoction in a heavy paper and letting it set. Once it's set, the resulting product is a heavy, solid material perfect for forming walls and ceilings.
Painting drywall is relatively easy. However, to get the best results, you should follow a specific process that includes a certain amount of prep work.
Your paint job starts with cleaning the surfaces to be painted, probably walls or a ceiling. Every wall and ceiling has plenty of dust, cobwebs and other dirt particles on it, even if they're not visible, and you don't want to be painting over them. The drywall in kitchens and bathrooms is especially prone to collecting dirt: oil, grease and food particles in the kitchen; hairspray, cosmetics and airborne shampoo particles in the bathroom. The new drywall is extra dusty. You can clean most drywall easily with a vacuum or microfiber tack cloth, but do wash areas in your kitchen and bathroom with a household cleaner to make sure you pick up any grease, oil and heavier dirt.
Once cleaned, apply a coat of Optiva primer. People often omit this step to save time and money, but primer can help conceal drywall mud and tape, so it's especially critical if you're painting new drywall. And since new drywall soaks up a lot of paint, applying primer may mean you only need two final coats, not three. Quality primer is also essential if you're trying to cover a glossy finish, prevent the old colour from bleeding through or seal any stains on your wall, including mildew and water. Tint your primer to match your final colour, unless it's a deep tone. In that case, tint it to one of Tikkurila's primer shades.
For top coating, most of Tikkurila's interior emulsions can be used. Optiva durables range includes a wide selection of sheen levels, including Optiva 3, Optiva 5, Optiva 7, Optiva 20 or Optiva White.
