Fixing Drywall Before Painting
Posted on January 2, 2022
Today, most interior walls are made of drywall. While drywall is tough and can withstand a lot of pressure, it can take on quite a bit of damage that can show through a newly painted surface if it is not repaired properly prior to repainting.
The experts at CertaPro Painters are trained in drywall repairs. So your walls will have a beautiful finish when the painting is complete. This is why drywall prep & repair is so important for a quality finished surface.
Here are the 5 most common drywall issues to look for & fix before repainting your walls:
1. Nail Pops
Even when you hire the best carpenters, sometimes nail heads will pop through the drywall causing annoying circles in your perfectly painted walls. This happens as drywall screws or framing nails move because of structural or settling tension in the walls.
It is important to NOT grab a hammer to smack it back because this can cause more damage to your wall. Reset the nail or screw if needed and use the back end of a screwdriver to create a divot with the nail head in the center.
Use joint compound to fill the area. Allow drying time, then sand and paint.
2. Cracks
Cracks in your walls can turn up over time in your home. This can be a signal of anything from a moisture issue to a settling foundation. Drywall that wasn’t initially installed properly can cause future cracks in your walls in the future.
However, not all drywall cracks are major issues, especially for new homes. Some degree of settling cracks are expected to show up over the course of the first 10 years after your home has been built.
3. Joint Seams
Seams of drywall can deteriorate over time causing the tape to show through or the compound to crack and fall off. To repair, you will need to remove the damaged tape, spread new joint tape over the area, and then spread a thick layer of joint compound over it.
Make sure to allow for ample dry time. Then repeat the compound step if needed. Then you will sand and paint the area.
Many homes built in the 90s and even in the last few years have textured drywall on ceilings. When you have a loose tape seam on a textured surface, it will require additional time to repair and then blend to match the texture.
4. Water Damage
Water damage comes into your home from many sources. The first step is to find and fix the leak.
This may require the assistance of a professional roofer and/or a plumber. Once the leak is sealed and no longer causing damage, you can begin to repair the drywall.
Once the drywall is wet, as it dries you will notice brown staining in circles around the area where water was leaking. To remove these nasty stains, you can apply a stain-blocking primer prior to painting. This will keep the stains from showing through after the repairs.
5. Damage From Wall Hangings
All kinds of dings and bruises to the drywall can happen in everyday life. The repairs are similar in nature.
Whether a chunk of the wall was removed to make repairs behind the drywall, or a door swung open too quickly and made a quick punch through the wall, or you just have wall decor that you moved, the repairs are mostly similar.
For larger holes and major cut-throughs, first, use tape and cover the hole itself, then press a thick layer of joint compound onto it. For smaller repairs, you may be able to repair the drywall with only a little compound smoothed out. Make sure to allow for dry time. Then sand and paint the wall.
These steps ensure a beautiful result.
Conclusion
If you do not have time or are simply not interested in making repairs yourself? At CertaPro, we have the experts on staff trained to complete drywall repairs of all sizes. We can have your walls looking flawless in a jiffy!
Call your CertaPro painters at 412-373-4105 or schedule a free estimate online. Get started today!
