How to fix drywall after primer is on?

Question

We just got done mudding the taped drywall. We used 2-3 coats of the mud on it. Then we applied primer to the wall. Unfortunately now that the primer is on we can see the areas we mudded, like stripes running down the wall. How can we fix this problem? Will the stripes show after we apply the paint to the walls? Should I sand these areas down even though the primer is on it already? Don't know what to do? This is our first attempt at mudding drywall!

Answer 1

hello,im a drywall finisher for over 20 years,this could be a couple of things. first use a 10inch drywall knife and place it on the seam to check and see if it is crowned. if the knife rocks on the joint it is crowned and that will cause it to show.if it is flush and you have aplyed the primer correctly and your joints have been sanded so that all areas are flush you should'nt have a problem in your finish coat of paint. if there not in good enough shape yet you can touch them up over the top of the primer, but you will need to reprime those areas again after you apply more mud.it is also good to sponge after sanding to get the dust off,as the dust will affect how the primer looks on the wall surfus.its sorta hard to know excactly what your seeing ,but if all is smooth and a good coat of primer was used the flashing should cover with final color coat. hope this helps you,or theres ucandrywall too.

Answer 2

It has to do with the translucent nature of your primer but it should be ok.

Curious to know what brand of primer and paint you intend to use. .. There are only one or two good brands of paint... Benjamin Moore Super Spec, eggshell is good for walls and some of the Sherwin Williams. If you cant buy Benjamin Moore primer Lowes carries Zinser, it works great. Woudn't hurt to give it another coat of primer with some good paint...

Look at your primed job at an angle do you see any raised areas.. Indented areas are ok you can fill after you prime and touch up prime...Sometimes you cant see these until the primer is on. Thats why its better to use a good primer that is not translucent... Whatever you do don't touchup prime with Kilz water based primer. That will give you spots that bleed thru your paint even if you put 100 coats on..
The oil based kilz was good the water base is a hideous product...

Answer 3

First off, Anyone referring drywall mud/ Joint compound as spackle comments should be ignored as they are not a drywall finisher. I am like "drywall pro 4 24 yrs" I have been doing it for over 20 yrs and your problem sounds like it was the finishing of the nails that were showing, This is caused by not enough sanding or too much sanding. Or Crowned joints or butt joints that were crowned or blistered. Sounds like you can touch up the bad spots and prime again , or show some pics and explain more.

here is video about basic patches, small and medium.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZAdwd_4TqQ

Answer 4

Most primers don't cover completely. Its job is to seal the surface. If the mud is smooth, go ahead and paint. If you still see any dimples, hit them again with mud keeping the knife tight. Sand lightly, prime those spots, then paint. Don't worry about seeing the mud through the primer.

Answer 5

If you are seeing the tape lines, you need to sand and reprime the wall. Sounds like you did not feather out the joints far enough to blend into the wall. Each coat of mud should be applied with a wider knife than the previous coat.

Answer 6

if the area is bowed out, you have too much mud and yes you will see it when the paint is on. to solve it now, you will have to use heavy grit sand paper to get the primer back off, then sand down the mud until smooth. in the future, thin your mud with water (if you bought pre-mixed). it should be slightly thicker than cake mix but not run or drip off the spackling knife. if its the consistency of cookie dough, you need to thin it to prevent this gobbing. if the area is bowed in or concave, then your mud was too thin and after the water leaves in the drying process left you you with this problem. in this case, leave the primer on, and apply another coat of mud, resand, and reprime.

Answer 7

primer does just what it's name says, it primes the walls for paint. it does not hide the mud stripes.

when you paint, you will not see the mud.

it is impossible to get a perfectly straight wall with no imperfections. even when professionals do it, there will be some imperfections. but since you did the work, you will always know where the rougher areas are. it's just a mental thing. paint it and move on.

Answer 8

How To Fix Drywall

Answer 9

In all of the answers above, I am surprised that no one mentioned the fact that spackling trowels are different from masonry trowels. Spackle trowels have a very slight bow in them. This lets more spackle in the center of the trowel to be left on the joint, while allowing a feathering action along the edges. This compensates for shrinking of the spackle, thus leaving a level seam after final sanding.

Using a flat trowel causes a hollow in the center of the seam, and beginners keep trying to fill that hollow by applying more spackle. That action, leaves blobs of spackle on the edges of the seams which must be sanded.

Proper tools for a proper result.

Answer 10

sure!
Just feather your "new" mud out better this time , sand wipe off the sander dust with a damp cloth and re prime the spot. its just the primer and it won't show up.
That's a good question to ask 1 bright yellow star for the painters!