Techniques for painting plasterboards

The plasterboard is a building material which is made of gypsum pressed between two sheets of thick paper used for the construction of interior walls. Painting the plasterboard is not a very difficult task. However, there are certain techniques that help to make the work correctly.

Wall Preparation for painting

Begin to prepare the wall for painting. Take sandpaper of slight degree (grain 200) and smooth’s rough imperfections such as chips and loose fibers. Be sure to wear goggles and mask when you do this. Otherwise, you run the risk to get plaster dust into the eyes and lungs. If you find nail holes, nicks or cuts, use a drywall compound and sand to fill that area as well. Then shake the dust from drywall and check that they are clean and have no oil or grease on them, once the wall is ready for paint, pregnant joints between the panels and rags placed on floors, windows and furniture that are close to the drywall. This will protect their surfaces from unwanted splashes of paint and dust.

Paint the plasterboard

Start by applying a primer; use a primer with a similar color tint as finish; dip the roller into the primer and then apply it to the wall with similar movements up and down. After the primer has dried, double check that the wall has no imperfections. Once the wall is clean and smooth as you like, start painting it; one of the keys to paint the gypsum board successful is to choose the right paint. Although you’ve primed the wall, check the label for a painting that works as a primer and sealer. This will be different from the primer. It will be what you use to paint your wall, because as a primer and sealer at a time will help to conceal imperfections left on the wall. Two coats of paint are sufficient for a good finish. Apply two layers with the same painting technique used with the primer. Make sure the wall is completely dry between the two layers. Also, do not be afraid to use a lot of paint. A common mistake is to use little paint, but should apply in large numbers in each layer.