Interior Painting Residential Painting

How to Paint Drywall in the Garage

Posted on March 8, 2019

The often forgotten garage. Show your car’s home some love by adding some paint to the walls. The more finished your garage is, the more it is an extension of our home. Whether you are looking to accentuate your home for yourself, or putting it on the market, a coat of paint will make the once forgotten feel done. Here’s how to paint drywall in the garage.

Warning

It’s important to work in a well ventilated area. Bring fans into the garage to keep air moving. Open the door or any windows for a cross breeze. It’s dangerous to use any of these tools and products without proper ventilation.

Clean

Because drywall is porous, so the key to a professional looking paint job is in the prep work. Sweep the walls with a broom or vacuum to clear away any cobwebs, dust or debris. Cover the floor with a drop cloth or cardboard. Pay particular attention to your drop cloth if you’ll be using a ladder because plastic can be slippery.

Fill

Go through your garage and seek out any chips, dings, nail heads and crunches into the wall. Use a light to make them really apparent and pencil circles around them for your knowledge. Use the back of a screwdriver or a putty knife to depress a hole over the imperfection. Fill it flat with a putty, fill in the dents. Allow plenty of time to dry before moving on.

Sand

Get a 200-grit sandpaper to rough up the walls, especially where you have repaired. Follow up with another round of dusting and vacuuming. Make sure all of the dust is removed. Tack cloths can be used to wipe down the walls and pick up dust.

Prime

Most drywall in garages is unfinished. You will need to being with a layer of primer. Prime the areas against trim first with a brush and bucket. After those areas are addressed, prime the rest of the wall. You can change over to a roller if you’re inclined. Do not rush dry time. It can take up to 24 hours.

Paint

Now that your walls have been cleaned, primed and dried, it’s time to move on to the painting fun. Because you’re working in an extension of your home, the garage can follow your color scheme from within or have its own personality.

Firstly, begin your painting much the same as priming. Use a brush to cut around trim, doors and windows. Switch to a roller and begin with a w-shaped paint. Move around the room doing the same. Repeating the same motion will ensure that you don’t miss spots or find holidays after you’re done.

To get a glossier finish in your garage, choose a self-sealing paint. It will be more durable and easier to clean up garage messes on.

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