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How to Paint a New Sheetrock Wall

DIY Selecting Painting Tools and Preparing and Painting the Drywall

Jul 16, 2007 Kelly Smith

This article will show the DIY homeowner how to get professional results when painting a new sheetrock wall. It also covers selecting the proper painting tools.

How to Paint a new Sheetrock Wall

Learning how to paint a new sheetrock wall is not hard, but in order to achieve a truly high-quality result, it is important to start with a high-quality new wall. To quote a wise old painter who has seen it all and done it all, “If you want to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, you have to start with a silk sow.”

With that in mind, first make sure that all the sheetrock joints, corners, and nail or screw indentations have been taped, floated, and sanded. Look at the surface carefully from all angles, first just an overview and then with a flashlight held at an angle. Any problem spots will show up in the end result. The shinier (slicker) the paint you use, the more prominent they will be.

When you're satisfied, texture the wall now if you intend to. It can dry while you shop for tools and paint. Calculate the square footage of the area you intend to paint. Generally, one gallon of paint will cover 400 square feet.

Shop for your Tools

When shopping for tools, don’t pinch pennies on brushes and rollers. Poor quality brushes won’t give you good flow and that makes your sheetrock painting difficult and frustrating. You need brushes labeled for latex work. On good quality brushes, the bristles taper from the base to the tips.

For cutting-in painting work (inside corners, at the ceiling, etc.), use a brush where the bristle tips are also tapered from left to right at about a thirty degree angle. A 2 ½” to 3” wide brush is perfect for this.

When painting large, open areas, you’ll need a roller handle, disposable rollers, and a roller pole. For higher walls you’ll need a telescoping pole instead of the fixed length one.

You’ll also need painter’s tape. This is for masking off intersections with door jambs, window casings, etc. The narrow tape will be easier on your budget. Get a pan and some inexpensive plastic throw-away roller pan liners. Finally, you’ll need drop cloths.

It’s always a good idea to use a primer when you paint a wall but it's a requirement since this is a new wall. Sure, it’s more work, but if you don’t take this step, you’ll be sorry later. Your paint won't adhere to the new wall as well and will tend to chip.

There are more colors of paint in stores today than ever before. What you need to focus on is the quality of your paint. You can buy cheap paint but you will spend more ultimately due to the extra coats you will need to apply.

Prep your Wall Painting Project

Time to get started! First, start at one end of the room and apply your painter’s tape to the edges of any trim or casing. While it’s a monotonous process, it’s a time saver in the long run. Next, lay down your drop cloths, covering everything that might get the stray drop or splatter.

Paint your Wall!

Begin your cutting-in work with your small brush where you have applied tape. Also cut in any inside corners. You may do one section of your project at a time depending upon the size of the project.

When that’s done, roll the paint on the wall over the open areas. First roll a wide letter “W” on the wall, and then roll over it up and down until the area defined by the “W” is all filled in and even. Repeat this process until you’re done.

Allow your paint plenty of time to dry. Finally, you can remove your painter’s tape. And then step back and admire your work!

The copyright of the article How to Paint a New Sheetrock Wall in Home Renovation/Repair is owned by Kelly Smith. Permission to republish How to Paint a New Sheetrock Wall in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Comments

May 1, 2008 6:06 PM
Jackie Spooner :
if a room is 13x9 how do i get the square ft- Do I add the lenght of both walls and the width of both walls, ect 13x13 and 9x9. Also how do you determine how many sheets of 12ft sheetrock is needed for sq footage. I am trying to start my own business and I need help
Dec 31, 2008 5:44 PM
Guest :
what kind of paint do you use?
Jan 1, 2009 12:35 PM
Kelly Smith :
I like to use water-based latex; usually a white, flat sheen for ceilings and a satin sheen on walls.
Jan 1, 2009 12:36 PM
Kelly Smith :
I should have mentioned, either Behr or Glidden.
Jul 16, 2009 2:56 AM
Guest :
multiply the L x W -- 13 x 9 = 117 square feet. 117/12 = 9.75 -- you need 10 sheets of 12ft sheet rock -- is the sheet rock 12ft high? what is the width? 12x4? do the same math.. good luck with your business
Oct 4, 2009 3:51 PM
Guest :
They did not prime ! Its all going to peal off !
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