How to Paint a Drywall the Right Way Home Exteriors Home Improvement by Toni Stan - July 18, 2017July 18, 2017 How to Paint a Drywall the Right Way Choosing to do a DIY doesn’t mean you’ll end up with a poorly done project. Despite this, a huge percentage of people who attempt to paint a drywall by themselves often end up with substandard finishes. It isn’t because of the tools –painting equipment is easy to acquire –but it is because of the technique. The thing is, it isn’t hard to paint a drywall. You just have to do it the right way. The following tips will help you do a perfect job. There are three major steps to follow when you paint a drywall; Apply a skim coat Apply a primer Apply the final coat of paint Before you begin applying a skim coat, you have to make sure that all joints are sealed. This guide will help you seal any joints or cracks that may be on your drywall. The procedure involves using mud and tape. Once all of them are sealed and the drywall is leveled, proceed with the aforementioned steps. How to Apply a Skim Coat Use a trowel to gently scratch on the drywall surface to remove any wallpaper remains or obstacles that might make it harder to paint. Make sure to do it carefully to avoid causing dents on your drywall. Once you have got rid of all the obstacles, use the trowel to spread the mud thinly but evenly on the wall. Apply it in a crescent shape for the best effect. This enables proper spreading of the mud and eliminates contours. Sometimes there might be some lines left behind after applying the skim coat. Make sure to sand them off when the coat dries to leave the surface soft. How to Apply a Primer A primer helps soften the wall so that when you apply a final coat it will be smooth. It is important that you get the right primer for the job since some are better for new installations while others work best for used drywalls. Unlike painting which will need a minimum of 2 coats, a primer only requires one coat. Start with a small brush and dip it about 2 inches into the primer. Apply this on the edges of the drywall where it meets the ceiling as well as the adjacent walls. This helps even out the primer on the edges. It also prevents unevenness in the middle section. Paint a Drywall Once the edges are done, take a roller brush and roll it gradually into the primer. Allow the brush to absorb the primer before removing it. Your roller should have a long handle for you to easily spread the primer on the entire wall. Remember to let the brush roll and don’t push it hard against the wall. Don’t go sideways too as it can remove the primer and show the skim coat. Remember that only one coat of primer is enough so spread it evenly on the first go. Applying Paint on the Drywall Once the primer has dried, it is time to apply paint on your drywall. Just like the primer, you will need a roller brush here. Roll the brush in paint and let it spread evenly. Apply the paint evenly by rolling the brush gradually on the primed wall. Remember not to push it against the wall. Instead, just let it roll gently up and down the wall. You shouldn’t move the brush sideways while painting since you might scrape off the paint and leave the primer showing. When paint runs low on the brush, just add more but don’t squeeze the roller. Start a little inwards from your last paint on the drywall every time you have added more paint on the brush. Pass the brush once more with a little paint when done laying the first coat. This second coat prevents the layer where you last picked up the painting from showing. It also allows for an even spread. Always choose the best roller for your needs since some of them can leave texture. Heavy rollers usually leave textures. If you want a smooth finish, an inch and a half brush is the best.