Painting Drywall

Start With Primer

When painting drywall, as General Contractors Tulsa, we are telling you to consider priming it first. The primer coat is the layer you put on the wall that helps work as an adhesive for topcoats of paint. Without primer, the drywall absorbs the paint which then requires more topcoats of paint. This can get expensive with General Contractors Tulsa, and you will likely see dissimilarities of color/texture in the painted wall. General Contractors Tulsa loves to use PVA Primer. PVA stands for polyvinyl acetate. This latex-based primer works as an equalizer sealing the pores of the drywall, providing a good base coat for the paint to adhere to. The soft texture not only works as an adhesive for the paint but also allows the finish color to stand out better. General Contractors Tulsa always uses PVA Primer because we have always had the best experience with it.

When Painting, General Contractors Tulsa has a method they always use. Firstly, make sure you have all supplies needed for the painting project. The minimum supplies you would need: a high-quality roller pad, a roller handle, paint tray, drop cloth, masking tape, and paper. Second, you have to prep the area you are about to paint. General Contractors Tulsa caulks any cracks that appear in the trim. Fill any nail holes in the wall with wall spackle. The paint will not cover these holes or cracks. They will be very noticeable after you paint. After you have filled holes and cracks it’s time to tape off things you don’t want paint on. This includes door hinges, door handles, trim, light fixtures, the floor along the wall. As General Contractors Tulsa we always lay a drop cloth on the floor to protect it and cover any furniture with plastic so it is not splattered with paint. To begin painting, roll the roller pad into the paint tray and cover generously with paint. Immediately put the roller to the wall and spread the paint. It is important to ensure the paint coat on the roller does not become too thin. If it becomes difficult to spread the paint it’s likely time to coat the roller once again. If done properly, two coats of paint should cover 85% of the old paint color and/or drywall with minimal bleed through. It also saves time by not having to let the first coat completely dry and then covers it with a second coat. This method allows two coats of paint to be put on all at once, this means saving time. This has been the quickest and most efficient way that we, General Contractors Tulsa have found to paint a wall.

When it comes to choosing paint and paint colors there are several things to consider. First, what type of paint do you need? There are 4 basic types of paint. Latex, which we discussed earlier, is among the most popular. It is acrylic or water-based and provides easy cleanup. Should you get it anywhere soap and water should take it right off. Oil-based paint aka alkyd paint or solvent-based is used for a variety of reasons and is also one of the hardest to clean. A majority of the time only mineral spirits will help clean oil-based paints off of things. Oil paints dry slower than water-based paints. This limits the number of brush strokes or roller brush stipples. Next, we have Low-VOC paint. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. These compounds are what create that paint smell which is considered harmful. Paint companies have now created paints that contain low amounts of VOC lessening the harmful fumes from paint. This paint is thicker in texture and has conditioners and other things like floetrol to help to handle time. Thick paint dries fast. Lastly, we have metal paint. This paint is used on metal and helps aid against rusting. There are metal paints that are both acrylic-based and oil-based. As General Contractors Tulsa, we must know what type of metal you’re painting so you pick the correct paint base. Two basic types, ferrous and non-ferrous. In layman terms, ferrous metals contain iron and tend to be magnetic; think stainless steel, carbon steel, cast iron, wrought iron, these metals require an oil-based paint. Non-ferrous metals include: zinc, aluminum, copper, tin; these metals can be painted with oil but acrylic paint will do the job.

What is The Paint Finish?

Paint finishes come in basically six “sheens”. Flat, Matte, eggshell, satin, semigloss, high-gloss. These sheens tell you how “shiny” the paint is. Flat paint contains zero shine and zero reflective properties. Flat paint scuffs easily which is why we recommend putting it in low traffic areas however, it does hide minor imperfections well. However, it does not clean very well. Flat paints are used on ceilings and on interior walls in areas that are considered to be low traffic. Matte paints have a very low reflective sheen but are very durable and easy to clean; they can also enhance the richness of deep bold color. Matte finishes are still ideal for low to moderate traffic areas like formal sitting rooms, bedrooms, and guest rooms. The sheen eggshell is among the most popular of sheens chosen by individuals. It has a very soft appearance with a slight shine. It is more durable than a flat sheen and is used in areas with moderate traffic such as bedrooms, living rooms, and formal dining rooms. Satin sheen paint is great for moderate to high traffic areas that are exposed to moisture, like kitchens and bathrooms and laundry rooms. It is easy to clean and is more resistant to stains, scuffs, and finger smudges. It is not a popular sheen for interior walls because of its glossy finish. Semi-gloss has a really nice shine to it. It works great in areas with a lot of moisture and a lot of traffic. It’s easy to clean and does not scuff easily. Semi-gloss works great on trim, doors, and cabinets, creating a nice radiant shine. High-gloss almost has a brilliant shine that is very reflective, almost like a glass. It does well on doors and fine fancy furniture. It is considered too shiny for trim, moldings, adornments for the ceiling, etc. This concludes General Contractors Tulsa’s lesson on how to paint drywall, choose a paint type and a paint sheen.