Is it necessary to putty drywall before wallpapering - we do it right

How to level the walls is up to everyone to decide for themselves. As a rule, plaster is chosen by those who are interested in the result, and not the speed of work. Although it is more difficult to work with mortar than with HA sheets, high-quality plaster will last 20 years and nothing will happen to it.

The biggest disadvantage of the “wet” method is dirt and dampness during work. But as a result, they get a strong, reliable foundation.

And yet, one cannot categorically say that drywall or plaster is better. It would be most correct to say that the materials complement each other perfectly. The main thing is to use them correctly.

In what cases is it better to use

Having found out the advantages and disadvantages of the materials in question, you can decide which is better, plaster or drywall for walls in each specific case. To make a decision, you will need to analyze the input data: the degree of deviation of the vertical wall, the base material, whether the manufacture of complex structures is required to give the interior the intended appearance, operating conditions of the room, the need to mask any structures and communications, what material is planned to be applied as finishing cladding on the walls and the experience of the master.

Drywall

To resolve the doubt whether it is possible to cover the walls with plasterboard instead of plaster, the following list of circumstances in which the installation of plasterboard is preferable will help:

• if the base is a wooden surface, for example, in a country house or country house, when they are a permanent place of residence;
• if necessary, disguise internal communications without the use of tedious gating and if there is free space in the room;
• if there is a need for additional insulation of the room or sound insulation;
• with significant differences in the vertical wall (more than 20 mm);
• if it is necessary to complete finishing work in the shortest possible time;
• when doing the work yourself, when it is not possible to hire a professional to plaster the walls;
• if necessary, eliminate flaws in masonry made of aerated concrete, gas silicate blocks, bricks and foam blocks;
• in cases where it is necessary to eliminate protruding parts of the foundation made of FBS.

In ambiguous conditions, when it is possible to use both materials, you should calculate whether it is cheaper to level the walls - with plasterboard or plaster, and then make a decision.

Plaster

If you need to decide how best to level the walls - with plasterboard or putty, the main criterion for making a decision is the magnitude of the vertical difference of the base and the purpose of the room.

For small vertical deviations, you can use gypsum plasterboard and plaster the surface, but if you are going to hang heavy shelves or other objects on such walls, you will only have to plaster the base.

Leveling plaster is used in the following cases:

• when preparing bases for subsequent finishing with heavy materials (decorative stone slabs);
• for leveling the surface in rooms with high humidity levels (in the bathroom);
• if it is necessary to secure massive objects to the walls;
• in small rooms when you need to save space;
• when the treated surface deviates from the vertical within 20 mm;
• in rooms where sudden changes in temperature and humidity conditions are possible.

Why do this?

Everyone knows that drywall is almost perfect - there is no particular need to level it. Plaster is used only to improve the appearance of the sheets. But these compounds must also be applied in other cases when it is necessary to cover the joints between sheets, various recesses and self-tapping screws sticking out. In fact, the plaster compositions have the function of putty; they are used when wallpaper is glued to drywall or tiles are laid. Under decorative plaster, such material is also quite acceptable.

There is a serious debate among experts about whether it is possible to plaster plasterboard sheets in principle. Some of the disputants point out that low-quality material with an insufficient level of moisture resistance cannot be covered with plaster: this will lead to gradual deformation, since the applied layer will be damaged by the released moisture.

When walls covered with gypsum board sheets have pronounced deformations, a layer of plaster will only worsen the situation. It would be much more correct to remove the cause of the distortions, rather than fight them themselves. It’s another matter if only minor deviations from the normal topography are detected. It is also necessary to apply basic plaster before decorative plastering. It allows you to guarantee accelerated drying and improve the polymerization process.

Practical value of putty

Putty will hide the seams
Replacing traditional plaster with the modern technology of covering the frame with industrially produced sheets gives rise to the desire to simplify installation even more.

Indeed, why putty on drywall if the glue conveniently and firmly connects the paper surface of the plasterboard with the wallpaper?

The list of the main reasons for a careful approach to this stage of preparation for wallpapering looks like this:

1. 
   The walls of any room are never completely hidden from view, so the quality of their execution requires increased attention. On most rolled materials (especially thin types, light colors), defects in the base appear quite clearly; sometimes the inscription or color (gray, green, pink) of the cardboard sheet appears.

2. During installation, it is impossible to obtain a perfectly flat surface over the entire wall. The standards establish acceptable tolerances for the curvature of various sections of the coating.

Metal corners protect corners from mechanical damage

Deviations of the plane from the standard up to 3 mm when installing plasterboard fragments are eliminated using putty.

1. The design contains metal parts (screws, angles) that are recessed into the plane of the sheet. These irregularities must be eliminated and, in addition, the metal must be protected from moisture - over time, rust may appear on the surface of the finish.
2. The edges of plasterboard products come in various shapes, so they must be aligned with the main surface.
3. Gluing drywall to a protective paper layer will not allow you to remove old wallpaper without damaging it. Applying a continuous layer of putty on the entire plane of the sheet will allow in the future, instead of major repairs with the replacement of destroyed gypsum board sheets, to make a routine replacement of the decorative finish.

Defects are detected by running along the wall with a wide spatula.
Detection of small defects in the surface assembled on the frame is carried out with a wide construction spatula. When its blade slides smoothly across the cardboard, dents, traces of impact, and scratches are revealed.

The general rule and construction level reveal the curvature of the plane. Deep depressions on the plasterboard wall are sealed with a leveling compound before applying a continuous thin layer of putty.

Taking into account the above circumstances, the question “is it necessary to putty plasterboard under the wallpaper?” will have a clear answer “yes”.

Sealing joints

The seams are sealed in several stages using a mesh.
A separate list of operations includes puttingty at the joints, since the entire cutting pattern will certainly appear under the glued strips. During installation, it will not be possible to obtain an identical surface plane; there will be minor differences, deflections, unevenness, temperature, vibration, or displacement of fragments separated by gaps due to changes in air humidity.

In order to eliminate such shortcomings, the seams are not simply covered up, but this is done in several stages and reinforced with reinforcing tape:

Actions to seal joints are carried out from top to bottom. The underlying layer is pressed into the joint with a spatula to fill it completely to the maximum penetration depth.

As the putty dries, it will shrink, so it is applied in a thick layer. Protruding residues can be removed by sanding after hardening.

Fasteners

Sink the screw heads into the plasterboard.
The screw heads and angles that align the perpendicular joints of the coating must be immersed in the plasterboard.

The installation location of the corner on the wall is first marked in the right place with a pencil. Drywall is cut with a sharp knife 3 mm wider from the resulting contour line.

Next, use a chisel to select a recess for installing the corner. The groove is evenly filled with putty and the square is pressed in. The excess that comes out through the perforation is leveled and allowed to harden.

The recesses from the fasteners are puttied after sealing the seams.

Consumption and ideal quality of putty

It is very important to know the exact area of ​​the drywall surface being treated. This allows you not only to save on materials, but to prevent the mixture from drying out.

The easiest way to calculate the area is using sheets of drywall. Each one has a meaning on it, usually on a label. Simple addition allows you to find out the desired number.

When preparing the mixture, you must adhere to certain recommendations and technology. The maximum supply of ready-made putty should be enough for no more than 30 minutes.

If some mistake was made during the preparation of the putty or the mixture began to dry out, it must be thrown away and a new one prepared. If you use such putty, the wall may eventually begin to crumble in some places.

As an example, you can watch a video that contains instructions on how to putty drywall.

Reviews: wallpapering on drywall without putty

Puttying itself does not require feedback, because the need for it is known by default. Every master knows what this process is for and always performs it without any reminders. However, wallpapering without wall putty especially needs attention, because the temptation to carry out the work in this way is quite great.

Sooner or later the time for a new renovation will come, when the wallpaper will need to be removed from the wall. If they are glued directly to the drywall, they will definitely grab the cardboard covering of the drywall sheet

Users characterize this process as follows:

• Wallpapering becomes much more difficult;
• Sometimes gray spots appear;
• The wallpaper gets dirty into the drywall components.

Learning how to putty drywall correctly

Tools you will need:

• bucket for solution;
• wide and narrow spatula;
• rubber spatula (as for grouting joints when laying tiles on the floor, described in this article);
• construction mixer, you can use a drill attachment;
• special sandpaper for grouting.

To mix the putty solution, you will need a bucket and a mixer (drill attachment)

Preparation of putty solution and priming stage

• To properly putty drywall, you need to make the right putty solution for drywall walls or ceilings. The consistency of the mixture should resemble thick sour cream. It is better not to prepare a lot of solution at once; the lifespan of the diluted mixture is about an hour. To start, take about 3-4 kg of dry mixture. For a room of 20 m2, this solution is enough for approximately 1/3 of one wall if you have gypsum putty, or 1/4 of the wall if it is cement. In terms of time you will need 10-15 minutes and you need to give 5-10 minutes for the putty to settle. If you use a ready-made putty mixture, then at this stage you will save time.
• All walls need to be primed. So, for a room of 20 square meters. m, you will need about two hours. You will need about 5 liters of primers, it will cost an average of 700-900 rubles.

It is better to cut drywall joints at an angle so that the putty fits better.

How to properly putty joints of plasterboard sheets, seams and arches?

• All drywall joints must be sealed with reinforcing tape.
• Then putty the screw heads and drywall joints over the tape with putty starting mixture. It is better to putty the heads of the screws using a “crosswise” motion.
• The internal corners of plasterboard walls must be puttied first on one side, and after drying on the other.
• To level the outer corners with putty, you must use perforated aluminum corners. Corners in a room are often subject to mechanical damage, so it is better to use aluminum corners, this will prolong their life. Secure the corner to the surface of the corner, and then fill it with mortar.
• To process arches and other curved surfaces, use plastic perforated corners.

To putty the joints of drywall sheets, use a special sickle tape, on top of which a layer of putty is applied.

Applying the starting layer. Costs for initial puttying of plasterboard ceilings and walls

• Next, take a narrow spatula, pick up putty with it, apply it to a wide one, then spread it evenly over the surface of the wall. The putty should be applied at an angle of 20-30 degrees, which will ensure optimal layer thickness.
• After the starting layer has dried, it is necessary to smooth out all the irregularities and cover up the depressions and recesses. The starting time for complete drying is about 12 hours, and largely depends on the applied layer. Finally wipe the surface of the walls with a highly abrasive mesh.

For simplicity, let’s take a room for renovation with an area of ​​20 sq.m.

• The duration of the entire process of applying the starting putty in a room of 20 square meters. m is about 15-16 hours, and if you need to putty the ceiling, then add another 5 hours.
• Material consumption for walls: about two packs of 25 kg of gypsum mixture, and about three of cement.
• Consumption of materials for the ceiling: you will need about a pack of gypsum plaster, and one and a half cement plaster.
• The cost of treating an entire room with a ceiling for gypsum putty will be approximately 1200 rubles, for cement - 1500 rubles. In many ways, the amount of material consumed will depend on the thickness of the applied layer. You cannot make a very thin layer, it may crack.

Applying putty to the seams of plasterboard sheets

Finishing putty of walls for wallpaper and painting

• Now the finishing layer is applied and rubbed until smooth. If you plan to glue wallpaper further, then applying a finish is not necessary. The finishing putty is applied in a thinner layer, so its hardening time is shorter.
• After just a few hours you can start grouting. It takes about 40 percent less time and materials, so your costs for finishing putty will be about 800-1000 rubles.

When planning your budget for purchasing materials, do not forget to include 300-400 rubles for the purchase of grout mesh; you will need 10-15 of them.

Finishing putty on plasterboard ceilings for wallpaper and painting

When working with the ceiling, all stages are identical, the only difference is greater complexity and inconvenience during work.

Grinding

This is the final leveling stage. To carry out the work you will need a special grater with an emery mesh.

Attention! At this stage, protective equipment is required: a respirator, goggles and gloves. When grouting, a lot of dust is generated, small particles of putty fly off, which can get into the eyes or respiratory tract. The mesh can scratch your hands, so it is advisable to work with gloves.

Use a grater to go over all the irregularities: waves, bumps, lumps of solution, stuck particles. It is important here not to overdo it and not to strip the putty down to the drywall. Internal corners require special attention, as there is a risk of leaving grooves from the trowel on the adjacent wall.

USEFUL INFORMATION: Profile for fastening plasterboard: ceiling, wall, load-bearing and guide

Gypsum plaster Rotband (Knauf)

This is a dry universal plaster mixture with high adhesive properties based on gypsum with the addition of light aggregate and chemical polymers.

Rotband plaster is ideal for plastering walls and ceilings in rooms with normal humidity levels, as well as in kitchens and bathrooms.

More and more people, when making renovations, give their preference to gypsum plaster. With its help, you can perfectly level the walls and hide any defects and cracks. Having good adhesion to any surface, gypsum plaster is ideal for finishing ceilings. In addition, such plaster is absolutely environmentally friendly and difficult to ignite.

Options for putty mixtures

• Bauproffe Super. Used for interior decoration. Produced in Russia. The white bulk mixture is packaged in paper bags of 20 kg. Price – 300 rub.
• Homeproffe SP. Free-flowing white powder. Used for interior work. Packing – 20 kg. Produced in Russia. Price – 350 rub.
• Knauf Fugen. The plant is located in Russia. Dry mixture, packaged in paper bags of 10 kg. Designed for indoor work. Price per bag – 220 rub.
• Sheettrock Dano Jet. Dry white powder, manufactured in Russia. Designed for finishing walls and ceilings. Packaged in 25 kg packs. Price – 430 rubles per bag.
• Ceresit CT. Powder for internal use. Available in 25 kg bags. Produced in Russia. Costs 480 rubles.

When is the best time to use drywall?

It is more appropriate to use plasterboard sheets in the following situations:

• Differences vertically and/or horizontally exceed 60 mm - preliminary installation of a frame made of profiles will help level out any unevenness on the surface of the base.
  The main thing is that the size of the room accommodates this. Photo 8. Frame for gypsum boards on walls with significant deviations
• The need to disguise utility lines (electrical wiring, pipelines, ventilation ducts, etc.) - in this gypsum board has no equal, since it can be used to hide any plumbing and other elements.
  Photo 9. Creating a box to mask communications
• Limited time frame for repair work - when using plasterboard sheets, there is no need to wait for the finished surface to dry and then gain strength. The next day after filling the seams, you can begin finishing.
• Wall cladding in frame and wooden houses - here it is definitely better (and cheaper, moreover) to use plasterboard.
  Its properties are more similar to natural materials. Such walls are extremely rarely plastered due to poor adhesion of the mixture to wood and the need to make shingles on the surface, which significantly increases the labor intensity and cost of the work. Photo 10. Finishing gypsum board walls in a frame house

Do I need to prime drywall before applying putty?

The main property of a primer is to improve adhesion between the base and coating materials. If you plan to seal only corners, joints and mounting holes on drywall, the priming step can be neglected. But experts recommend priming ALL surfaces, down to the smallest defects.

Moreover, for reliable adhesion of all layers, it is advisable to apply a primer:

• before and after puttying seams and defects. It is convenient to work here with a small brush, thoroughly wetting the area of ​​work;
• corners before and after installation of leveling and arch-forming elements;
• the entire surface to be finished before applying the finishing putty and after that - for painting, plaster or wallpaper. Here it is more convenient to work with a roller (for the ceiling - with a long handle).

To avoid a possible “conflict” between putty and primer, it is better to take products from the same manufacturer and pay attention to the labels: the primer must be intended specifically for drywall!

Primer

The final stage of the step-by-step instructions for preparing drywall for wallpaper is priming the putty surface. You can use a special mixture as a primer for wallpaper, or you can dilute the wallpaper glue to a more liquid consistency and treat the surface with it. The purpose of this layer is to ensure better adhesion of the wallpaper to the walls and strengthen the putty layer.

The base is primed in the same way as described above: the corners are coated with a brush, and the walls themselves are coated with a roller. Then the surface is dried. And only after this can we consider that the preparation of plasterboard walls for wallpaper is completed.

Preparation for plastering

The process begins with selecting the right tool. For work you will need:

• Spatulas - wide and narrow. It is more convenient to apply the mixture to even and large areas first. Craftsmen recommend taking one with a width of 44 cm. The narrow one is useful for hard-to-reach places, corners and joints.
• Level. Without it, it is difficult to determine whether everything is smooth.
• Roller with a long handle for priming. It will save you from climbing stairs.
• Vacuum cleaner, preferably industrial. It will be needed to remove dust.

First of all, vacuum the surface or remove dust with a damp cloth. Contaminants interfere with the adhesion of soil and putty to drywall.

Cleaning dust from drywall with a vacuum cleaner

When the dust is finished, check whether the screws are screwed in correctly and their heads are recessed deep enough. Next, move on to the primer. Prime the areas that will be puttied: joints, seams, holes. After the soil has dried, they begin to putty.

The putty is taken ready for use or in the form of a dry mixture. In the second case, they spend it as quickly as possible.

The putty layer does not exceed three millimeters. Deep irregularities and seams are reinforced. This protects the putty from subsequent cracking. Use serpyanka or paper tape.

First there is a layer of putty, the tape is applied and pressed on top, and then covered with a solution for better adhesion. Internal and external corners are closed in the same way, but using profiled corners with perforations, which provide access to the surface of the putty when pressed into the corner. Excess putty is immediately removed with a spatula. For reliability, the corner elements are fixed with self-tapping screws.

After drying, minor blemishes are removed with sandpaper. The quality of work is checked using a level or a regular rod. Then the entire surface is primed. A deep penetration primer is used to ensure good adhesion to the plaster. Craftsmen recommend an acrylic mixture that impregnates the plaster, strengthening it to a moisture-resistant state.

This is done with a roller, and the primer is taken in excess, but so that there are no smudges. When the soil is dry, begin plastering.

Putty joints

Next the joints are sealed. When understanding how to prepare plasterboard walls for wallpapering, you need to understand that this is the most crucial moment. If the seams are puttied poorly, there will be bumps and holes on the wall, which looks very ugly. The depressions will be noticeable even under the wallpaper.

To do this you will need the following tools and materials:

• putty knife;
• serpyanka mesh;
• special putty for seams;
• container for working solution.

USEFUL INFORMATION: Using moisture-resistant plasterboard in the bathroom
Work progress:

• The edges of the sheets are chamfered at the factory at an angle of 45 degrees. If the drywall is cut, you need to remove the chamfer before installing the sheet with a special plane or after installation using a sharp construction knife.
• Before puttying, the joints are especially carefully treated with a primer, which must dry completely.
• First, dilute the putty according to the instructions. Then the working solution is applied along the entire length of the joint, carefully ensuring that the gap is filled.
• The solution is also applied 5 cm to the left and to the right of the joint. Then a sickle mesh or paper tape is laid on top of the first layer, which will reinforce the joint. The mesh must be laid so that it lies flat and fits tightly to the surface of the drywall. Then the next layer of putty is applied over the mesh, leveling it to create a smooth surface without bumps.

Mesh or tape can also be used to process internal corners, especially if the walls do not meet clearly perpendicular to each other. To ensure a clear angle, the mesh must be carefully pressed with a spatula. If this is not done, the corner will turn out to be rounded.

Is it necessary to apply plaster to drywall?

Today there is an opinion that it is impossible to apply plaster on walls finished with plasterboard under any circumstances. A large mass of plaster in combination with water in its composition will lead to damage to such surfaces and deformation of the frame.

However, this does not apply to decorative types of plaster, which can be easily applied to gypsum boards as a residual finishing option.

However, if you still need to level the surfaces, some experts recommend adhering to the following technology:

• Apply plaster only to sheathing consisting of moisture-resistant plasterboard;
• before work, you need to carefully treat the sheets with deep penetration soil;
• The plaster must be applied alternately in several thin layers.

But taking into account this technology, and in the event of differences or defects, you can simply use starting gypsum putty, which will eliminate the defects.

Puttying drywall surfaces is an almost mandatory step, but it can be neglected in some cases. So, is it necessary to plaster drywall before wallpapering and painting?

Puttying under wallpaper

If, after installing plasterboard structures on the walls, you plan to glue wallpaper, then you don’t have to resort to completely puttying the sheets.

It is important to follow the rules for preparing walls:

1. Without fail, the joints are reinforced with tape and the fastening points are hidden with putty. At the joints of plasterboard elements, reinforcing tape is initially glued and coated with a thin layer of special putty for sealing joints. The points where the screws are screwed in are simply coated with putty.
2. The rest of the surface must be carefully covered with deep penetration primer, which will act as protection for drywall.
3. Puttying is carried out by applying the mixture to the surface. After drying, minor defects may appear that will hide the wallpaper.

All the intricacies of this work are shown in the video:

Plaster for wallpaper and painting

If you plan to paint walls and ceilings made of plasterboard, then puttying is necessary. All imperfections will be visible on the painted surface, and color consumption will increase significantly.

The material used is "Rotband". This is a gypsum mixture for universal use. It is used as a starting and finishing mixture in a complex.

Stages of applying plaster:

1. All walls finished with gypsum plasterboard are first prepared by applying deep penetration soil. This increases the adhesion (adhesion) of the plaster to the top layers of drywall. The soil also “blocks” the rapid and deep penetration of water from the plaster mixture.
2. Be sure to seal all joints between sheets. They are glued with reinforcement tape (serpyanka) and plastered with a mixture for reinforcing joints. After drying, these lines are rubbed with a grater and sandpaper, removing minor defects and sagging.
3. The plaster composition is applied with a wide spatula (width from 300 mm), placing it at an angle to the surface of 30–40 degrees. When applying, you do not need to press hard on the tool, otherwise the plaster will lie in waves, forming unnecessary sagging. The starting composition is laid until the desired layer thickness is obtained. On large defects, the mixture is applied in 2 approaches, in layers of 3–5 mm.
4. After the starting mixture has dried, it must be finally leveled with putty and a finishing compound. It is applied in a thin layer up to 1 millimeter, eliminating the smallest defects on surfaces.
5. Drying will last 1-2 days, the dry plastered wall will be snow-white. After this, using fine sandpaper with a grain size of 120–160, it is necessary to eliminate minor defects.

Plaster is used to prepare already mounted plasterboard walls with cracks or dented areas for painting or wallpapering. Moreover, the size of the damage does not exceed 10–15 mm.

The same technology is used to prepare drywall for tiles.

As a result, plastering plasterboard surfaces comes down to eliminating minor defects and defects; you can also level the level with differences of no more than 10–15 mm.

Several main reasons for applying putty

It would seem that this type of finishing is needed only where obvious protrusions and recesses are visible on the surface. Drywall is visually smooth, and the seams are often almost invisible. So, maybe if we use, for example, non-woven fabric or vinyl, we can do without putty? Let's find out whether it is necessary to putty the drywall before wallpapering. So, you have good, thick wallpaper that will definitely hide all the small irregularities, including the joints between the sheets, which are sewn onto the frame completely without flaws. However, there are still seams, and under the sheathing, if dry plaster is not glued to the wall, there is a void. Thus, air will remain at the joints under the wallpaper, as well as at the fastening points where the screw heads are located. As a result, the finishing vinyl or non-woven covering may begin to peel off over time.

Applying the mixture to gypsum board walls

You can, of course, remember the problem areas listed above and try to hide only them under a layer of putty. Then the wall covered with plasterboard will become completely flat. But let’s imagine that someday you want to stick not vinyl, but rolled fiberglass that can be painted. And, tearing off the old wallpaper, along with it you will begin to tear off pieces of cardboard that cover the sheets of dry plaster. In addition, it should be borne in mind that the surface of the cardboard coating of dry plaster has a color very different from putty, and stains of the applied putty will be clearly visible through most types of wallpaper after it has dried. And if you cover the walls with waterproof plasterboard and plan to stick white wallpaper on it, the green color of the sheets will be fairly visible.

Features of preparatory work

Even if the sheet material appears clean, it must be prepared by brushing away construction dust and debris. The wall is primed, including those places where the mixture is planned to be laid. If the surface will be used under difficult conditions with high humidity, a primer with antiseptic additives should be used. To prevent the plaster from cracking during shrinkage or temperature changes in the linear dimensions of the material at the seams, sickle tape is glued to these places.

You can increase adhesion by walking over the surface with a damp sponge.

Particular attention should be paid to the seams, where a lot of dust most often accumulates. You can use a brush to clean chamfered seams.

What you need to know about preparatory work

An important step is the correct choice of putty, on which the future final success largely depends. In order to better select the necessary material, it is best to listen to a number of tips and recommendations given by experienced professionals:

• Be careful and do not buy expired goods. Such simple advice, but nevertheless, cases of purchasing materials with an expired expiration date are, as a rule, not so rare. Such material loses its consumer characteristics, which leads to poor-quality repairs and loss of time/money.
• Buy the materials you need, not those that some may think are more durable and reliable. If you need putty for interior finishing work, there is no need to buy its analogues intended for facade work, since there are often cases of the use of certain chemical components in such materials that are unsafe for human health.
• In most cases, the best option is a ready-made composition, and not just a dry mixture, which requires considerable additional time for preparation, searching for tools and preparing the solution.
• There is no need to save money by choosing the most affordable option. The point is that yes, you will be able to save some money. However, is it possible to be 100% sure of the quality of such inexpensive materials? This question is best answered by the centuries-old folk saying “the miser pays twice.” In addition, higher quality, albeit somewhat more expensive, material has less consumption. Therefore, if you buy inexpensive putty, on the one hand, the quality will be questionable and the consumption will most likely be higher. So, it’s difficult to talk about any significant savings. Quite the contrary.

Priming technology

Recommendations for applying primer to drywall

Before applying the primer to the surface, it is necessary to clean it from dust and dirt. It is best to clean with a wet cloth. Wait until the wall dries and apply primer.

Large surfaces of walls and ceilings are primed with a roller. At the joints you need to go through the soil several times. In problem areas - corners, it is necessary to prime with a brush. The primer on the wall must be applied from top to bottom to avoid the soil dripping onto the floor.

After the first layer has dried, apply the second at intervals of at least 5 hours, but it is better to wait a day for all the components of the primer to work.

How and with what should I treat drywall before wallpapering?

In order for the finishing material to adhere firmly to the walls, it is necessary to use glue that matches the type of wallpaper. However, you should not skip the intermediate stage in the entire process of pasting wallpaper onto drywall.

The treatment of walls begins with their priming.

Processing material

To prime the surface, deep penetration primer based on acrylic and latex is used. This material will provide:

• reliable adhesion of wallpaper to the wall;
• uniform application and economical use of the adhesive solution;
• protection of drywall and wallpaper from adverse factors.

Primers are available in the form of a dispersion of acrylic particles and latex. If the composition is concentrated, it can be diluted with water to the desired consistency.

Processing process

The surface of the sheets is primed twice. The first time the layer is applied to a fully assembled surface with unclosed seams.

The primer is applied with a roller, and at joints and corners - with a wide brush. When priming joints, the primer must be passed so that the liquid penetrates all the way to the profile.

After the primer has dried, putty is applied to the surface, and first the joints are sealed using the starting compound and reinforcing tape.

The dried putty at the joints is sanded and these places are primed again.

Then they putty the entire plane, removing all the irregularities. Putty walls and ceilings are cleaned with meshes of various brands in ascending order: M80, M120, M240. If the surface requires it, then you can start with the M60 mesh.

Before applying the primer a second time, the surface is cleaned of dust. Then they prime. You need to prime the second time in two layers. The second layer is applied after the first has completely dried.

Twenty-four hours after applying the second layer of primer, begin wallpapering.

Do I need to putty drywall before wallpapering?

The joints between sheets of drywall are sealed using putty and reinforcing tape. Thus, unevenness appears on the surface of the wall, which must be smoothed out with putty.

Why do you need to putty drywall before wallpapering?

Puttying the walls before wallpapering will create a perfectly flat surface without joints or irregularities, which will certainly have a positive effect on the quality of the wallpaper.

Preparing for putty

The gypsum board surface is puttyed after installation of the sheets. Before filling, all surfaces are cleaned of dust, dirt and primed. The sockets and switches are removed from the walls. All sockets and switches are insulated with protective film to avoid electric shock.

Putty joints

Puttying of joints is carried out with reinforcement with serpyanka mesh. The mesh is glued to the joint, cut at an angle of 90 degrees. The joint on top of the mesh is filled with putty. When filling joints, use starting putty or a special compound for joints. The putty is allowed to dry and then cleaned of sagging and irregularities.

Putty corners

Puttying of external corners of plasterboard structures is carried out with starting putty using reinforcing perforated corners made of metal or plastic.

The filling process is the same as when sealing joints. The corner is installed at the installation site and secured on top with putty.

When reinforcing corners, several types of structures are used. Corners made of thin perforated steel are used on vertical and horizontal projections. Plastic corners are used to form arches and curved lines.

Treatment of gypsum board fastening points

If you leave the gypsum board fastening points untreated, then over time the screws and putty will rust from moisture and this rust will come out. To prevent this from happening, all fastening points after priming are treated with the same putty solution as the joints. A thin layer of putty is applied to each screw.

This operation is performed simultaneously with sealing the joints of plasterboard sheets.

Processing external corners

Drywall is a rather fragile material. The outer corners are especially susceptible to destruction: chips often appear on them. To prevent this from happening, they need to be reinforced, but a simple sickle mesh will not be enough for this. For external corners, a special perforated aluminum corner is used.

USEFUL INFORMATION: Niches made of plasterboard in the hall and living room (17 photos)

For work you will need:

• putty;
• putty knife;
• perforated corner;
• level;
• container for putty.

Sequence of work:

• A layer of putty putty is applied to the corner and the perforated corner is carefully placed against it.
• The aluminum product is carefully pressed into the wall. When pressed, the solution will protrude through the perforation. Excess construction mixture is collected with a spatula.
• Use a level to check how level the corner is. If necessary, it is trimmed, pressed with the level itself or the rule. The aluminum corner should stand up straight and not stand out from the general plane.
• When the putty has hardened, final leveling is carried out: the corner is rubbed with mortar, the perforation is filled with building mixture, and the plane is leveled.

Selection of plaster

Drywall can be plastered with different materials, which are not the same in composition and properties. For wall and ceiling gypsum boards, it is allowed to use only those solutions that do not contain water or include a minimum amount of it. Polymer compositions are suitable for all sheets, and cement compositions are suitable only for moisture-resistant ones.

Gypsum plaster

The material is used in dry rooms because it contains gypsum, which does not tolerate moisture well. Gypsum-based plaster is well suited for gypsum board sheets, as it has a similar composition and quickly sets and hardens. The advantages of the gypsum mixture are:

• vapor permeability, no influence on the microclimate;
• environmental friendliness and fire safety;
• light weight, versatility;
• ease of mixing, application, restoration of damaged areas;
• minimal shrinkage, no cracks;
• low consumption.

Gypsum plaster composition Volma

In addition to fear of hydrophobia, gypsum plaster has other disadvantages - reduced frost resistance, the solution hardens too quickly, and the inability to add large portions at once.

Cement plaster

The main component of such a building mixture is Portland cement. Sand, plasticizers, and various additives are used as additives. Most cement plasters are considered frost-resistant, so they can be used for exterior work. They quickly and firmly adhere to the base, are easy to spread and apply, durable, resistant to moisture. Using cement mixtures, you can give moisture-resistant drywall additional protection from water.

Moisture-resistant cement-based composition Weber.Vetonit

The disadvantages of such plasters are:

• heavy weight, unsuitable for thin gypsum board sheets;
• long-term development of final strength;
• poor vibration tolerance.

Modern polymer compositions

Polymer plasters are an invention of recent years. They may have a gypsum or cement base, but their properties are still determined by the added polymer materials:

• acrylic;
• silicone;
• siloxane, etc.

Acrylic silicone plaster

Such building mixtures easily withstand high humidity, are elastic and do not shrink, quickly gain strength and do not deteriorate from mechanical stress or vibration. They are suitable for any premises, as well as for outdoor work.

The weight of such mixtures is small, so they do not weigh down the plasterboard wall. The disadvantages include the high price of such products. In addition, they are sold already diluted in small packages, which is not always convenient.

How to prepare walls for wallpapering

So, the primer has dried and it’s time to repair all the bumps, scratches and gaps between the sheets. To do this, it is worth purchasing special compounds, commonly called “putty.” For gypsum plasterboards, gypsum-based mixtures are produced, which are divided into dry and ready-made, starting and finishing. For those who have not dealt with such work before, it is preferable to buy dry mixtures. Ready-made putty usually sets quickly, and an inexperienced person will not have time to use it completely. And the dry mixture can be diluted in small portions.

Wallpapering on drywall without putty is not advisable. In case of a new renovation, the old wallpaper will have to be removed. Often in such cases, the paper layer of plasterboard comes off along with the wallpaper. This threatens to replace the damaged sheet of drywall and, as a result, increase the time and cost of the repair itself. Therefore, experienced customers do not spare time and money for the full finishing of all gypsum plasterboard walls, rather than immediately pasting wallpaper onto drywall without putty, and then suffer when removing the wallpaper from the walls.

Is it necessary to apply plaster to drywall?

Today there is an opinion that it is impossible to apply plaster on walls finished with plasterboard under any circumstances. A large mass of plaster in combination with water in its composition will lead to damage to such surfaces and deformation of the frame.

However, this does not apply to decorative types of plaster, which can be easily applied to gypsum boards as a residual finishing option.

Only decorative plaster can be applied to drywall

However, if you still need to level the surfaces, some experts recommend adhering to the following technology:

• Apply plaster only to sheathing consisting of moisture-resistant plasterboard;
• before work, you need to carefully treat the sheets with deep penetration soil;
• The plaster must be applied alternately in several thin layers.

Plastering a plasterboard wall is carried out as a last resort using tools and separate rules

But taking into account this technology, and in the event of differences or defects, you can simply use starting gypsum putty, which will eliminate the defects.

Puttying drywall surfaces is an almost mandatory step, but it can be neglected in some cases. So, is it necessary to plaster drywall before wallpapering and painting?

Puttying under wallpaper

If, after installing plasterboard structures on the walls, you plan to glue wallpaper, then you don’t have to resort to completely puttying the sheets.

When preparing a plasterboard surface for wallpapering, the walls are puttied in a thin layer without removing the ideal surface

It is important to follow the rules for preparing walls:

1. Without fail, the joints are reinforced with tape and the fastening points are hidden with putty. At the joints of plasterboard elements, reinforcing tape is initially glued and coated with a thin layer of special putty for sealing joints. The points where the screws are screwed in are simply coated with putty.
2. The rest of the surface must be carefully covered with deep penetration primer, which will act as protection for drywall.
3. Puttying is carried out by applying the mixture to the surface. After drying, minor defects may appear that will hide the wallpaper.

All the intricacies of this work are shown in the video:

Plaster for wallpaper and painting

If you plan to paint walls and ceilings made of plasterboard, then puttying is necessary. All imperfections will be visible on the painted surface, and color consumption will increase significantly.

The material used is “Rotband”. This is a gypsum mixture for universal use. It is used as a starting and finishing mixture in a complex.

Knauf is distinguished by high product quality indicators.

Stages of applying plaster:

1. All walls finished with gypsum plasterboard are first prepared by applying deep penetration soil. This increases the adhesion (adhesion) of the plaster to the top layers of drywall. And also the soil “blocks the rapid and deep penetration of water from the plaster mixture.

Drywall should be primed carefully, without making any mistakes. Be sure to seal all joints between the sheets. They are glued with reinforcement tape (serpyanka) and plastered with a mixture for reinforcing joints. After drying, these lines are rubbed with a grater and sandpaper, removing minor defects and sagging.

Correct reinforcement of plasterboard joints The plaster composition is applied with a wide spatula (width from 300 mm), placing it at an angle to the surface of 30–40 degrees. When applying, you do not need to press hard on the tool, otherwise the plaster will lie in waves, forming unnecessary sagging. The starting composition is laid until the desired layer thickness is obtained. On large defects, the mixture is applied in 2 approaches, in layers of 3–5 mm.

Plastering the walls is done without applying pressure to the tool. After the starting mixture has dried, it must be finally leveled with putty and a finishing compound. It is applied in a thin layer up to 1 millimeter, eliminating the smallest defects on surfaces.

The finishing putty is applied in a thin layer. Drying will last 1-2 days, the dry plastered wall will be snow-white. After this, using fine sandpaper with a grain size of 120–160, it is necessary to eliminate minor defects.

Removing defects using sandpaper

The same technology is used to prepare drywall for tiles.

As a result, plastering plasterboard surfaces comes down to eliminating minor defects and defects; you can also level the level with differences of no more than 10–15 mm.

Coating a plasterboard wall with paint

If there is a very large difference in the levels of different areas, it is not advisable to use thick layers of plaster that the frame and its cladding cannot withstand.

Is it necessary to putty drywall under wallpaper: technology for working with the material

Drywall is used to level walls. This material has a fairly smooth surface and is used for rough finishing of premises. However, not everyone knows whether it is necessary to putty the drywall before gluing the wallpaper or whether it can be applied directly to the gypsum board. It would seem that both the first and second materials have a paper base, so they should be well attached to each other.

One of the main reasons why it is necessary to putty the drywall under the wallpaper is that in the future, when changing the wallpaper and removing it from the wall, if the drywall has not been puttied, it may be damaged.

Below we will consider the answer to the question of whether it is necessary to putty drywall under wallpaper.

Experts have no doubt about the answer to the question of whether it is necessary to putty drywall before applying finishing materials. This need is due to the following reasons:

1. Over time, for one reason or another (new interior design, damage to the material), the owners decide to replace the old wallpaper with new ones. And if the sheets of drywall were not previously puttied, then, by tearing off the old material, it will damage the gypsum board. Quite often, part of the plaster comes off along with the wallpaper.
2. Putty hides defects in the base. Installation of drywall is carried out using self-tapping screws, which leave small recesses at the fastening points. And if thin wallpaper is used when decorating a room, then after gluing these recesses become noticeable. In addition, plasterboard sheets have a dark tint. Therefore, if thin wallpaper is used, the base will be visible through it.
3. Putty increases the service life of the finish. This material not only makes drywall more durable, but also absorbs some of the glue, thereby ensuring a reliable connection between the wallpaper and the gypsum board. In cases where a moisture-resistant finishing material is used, it is impossible to do without first applying a putty mixture. The surface of such drywall sheets repels glue.
4. Puttying the joints between gypsum boards allows you to hide unevenness in these areas.

All the situations described above indicate that drywall requires puttying before applying wallpaper.

The modern market offers a wide range of finishing materials. However, not all of them are universal. Deciding whether it is possible to putty drywall with one or another type of putty is quite simple, if you take into account the following nuances:

1. GCR is treated with a starting and finishing mixture. The wallpaper base is covered in several layers. At the beginning of the work, a starting putty is used, and at the end - a finishing putty.
2. For wallpaper, it is recommended to choose a material intended for interior decoration.
3. When purchasing liquid mixtures, remember that they have a short shelf life.
4. To putty walls in rooms with high humidity levels, preference should be given to polymer or cement mixtures. In other rooms, you can use material with a gypsum base.

When choosing a putty material, it is also important to pay attention to its price. You should not purchase cheap products, as they may contain components that have poor contact with the glue.

How to quickly and correctly cover walls with plasterboard with your own hands

Before applying the putty material, the drywall sheets must be cleaned of debris and dust. You should also check all self-tapping screws: their heads must be recessed into the plasterboard.

Before starting puttying, you need to check all the screw heads and tighten them, because they should be recessed in drywall.

It is recommended to use a thick spatula along the entire wall. This procedure will reveal deep dents that need to be repaired before the sheets are puttyed. After completing all the described steps, apply the primer to the wall using a roller and let it dry.

When processing plasterboard for wallpaper, it is important to observe a number of nuances, depending on what part of the finish is being worked on:

1. The joints of the sheets are preliminarily covered with reinforced mesh. The tape is laid so that its central part runs exactly above the seam. It is necessary to process the joints first.
2. The material is applied from bottom to top. It is recommended to apply the composition so that part of it sticks out a little. Over time, the putty shrinks and all unevenness will disappear. Upon completion of the work, you need to sand the walls.
3. Corners can be both internal and external. When working with the latter, special perforated corners are used. Plastic products are intended mainly for the manufacture of arched structures, and aluminum ones - for right angles. Installation of corners is carried out as follows:
4. the consumable material is applied to the place of future fastening and outlined with a pencil;

stepping back approximately 3 mm from the applied markings, cut through the drywall;

5. a corner is installed in the resulting recess on the adhesive base or under the putty;
6. After the materials have dried, the corner is puttied flush with the rest of the wall.

The described process takes a lot of time, but it cannot be excluded. Processing internal corners involves applying reinforced tape at the joints of drywall sheets. The putty is applied using a special spatula designed for this type of work.

Puttying the places where the drywall is attached. The recesses created as a result of fixing the gypsum boards with self-tapping screws are processed in a crisscross manner. In order to save material, it is recommended to apply putty to these places at the same time when working with corners.

Processing the entire wall. Having completed the processing of corners and recesses, you can begin to apply putty material to the entire wall. In this case, experts recommend bringing the mixture to a liquid state and applying it with a regular brush.

After completing the preparatory steps, it is necessary to bring the mixture to a liquid state and putty the entire wall with a brush.

After the material has dried, the wall must be checked with a level. If irregularities are found, they can be removed by sanding. Finally, a primer is applied to the wall, cleaned of dirt and dust.

Before gluing wallpaper, it is recommended to prepare drywall in order to eliminate existing defects. However, this stage can sometimes be neglected during finishing work. This applies to cases where fiberglass wallpaper is glued to the walls. They are characterized by a dense structure and have a long service life, reaching 30 years.

In addition, you can do without puttying the walls when using liquid wallpaper. The latter hide irregularities up to 5 mm deep.

However, it is recommended to always treat drywall with a putty mixture before applying wallpaper. An additional layer will make the gypsum board stronger and increase the service life of the wallpaper.