Primer on drywall? 10 points!?

Question

Please read to understand question!
My room had drywall installed about 5 years ago... nothing was done to it, it's just straight-up-you-can-still... My question is: after i put a bit of puddy in the nail holes, can i just prime right on top of that? (My mom says that putting primer/paint right on drywall makes the drywall release fumes! Is that true?) do i have to cover the drywall with some kind of mud/putty stuff first? Please answer!

Ah! I mean stucco*(sp) can i prime drywall without putting on stucco first!?

Answer 1

Smiles, good Q. "MUD" is usually the trade name.

I'm certain you'll get answers that prescribe Primer. It will not HURT to do so, though I so often only prime the sanded MUD.

Painting for 40 plus years, and thousands of gallons later, I often find it an unnessary step. You'll very likely apply two finish coats, no matter.

Please be nice to MOM. The only FUMES will come from the PAINT, not the substance of the drywall, and if you use latex the fumes might disipate nearly as fast as you move from one wall to another, and are not at all Toxic. Certainly they may irritate someone allerigic, but they aren't designed to.

Drywall is paper faced Gypsum/plaster, essentially, and emits no FUMES in the form of noxious gases, painted or otherwise.

Certainly if the drywall install has never been taped at the seams, or Mudded over those and/or the screw depressions, MUDDING and sanding are the standard procedure. If aesthetics aren't an issue, then any detailing might be a moot point?

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

Instead of stucco you might mean spackling. It is often used to fill dings and cracks in sheetrock/drywall. If the drywall has not been taped at the joints then you'll need to use paper or fiber tape and "mud" them with joint compound. ( extremely difficult if you have no experience). You would also use joint compound to fill the nails. Do not use painters putty to fill any of the holes. First of all it would be difficult to use and secondly it would bleed through any flat latex wall paints. After all of the joints and holes are filled it will have to be sanded. Then you are ready to begin painting. I usually sponge new drywall before priming/painting with a dampened sponge mop( cleaning often but being care full not to get to much water on the walls). At this point you can use a PVA primer but I have found that just using the flat wall paint is just as effective. If you plan to use an "Eggshell Finish" I would recommend priming with a high build primer. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Drywall does not need to have stucco on it. The only fumes you will have are from the paint. If you or your mother are worried about paint fumes I would recommend Benjamin Moore Eco-Spec paint. It has zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Those are what cause paint fumes. If I am painting in a hospital or nursing home that is what I use for paint. For unpainted drywall the primer I like to use is U.S. Gypsum First-Coat. After priming, sand the walls and ceiling with 150 grit sandpaper and apply two finish coats of paint. Paint the ceiling first, then the walls, then the trim. Spend the money for good brushes and rollers. The work will be easier and the results will be better.
The sales people at the paint store will be able to help you with your questions. The paint manufacturers send people to the stores to train the sales people.

Answer 4

Your question is a bit confusing. However, I do believe your mother's belief is errant. After putting putty in the nail holes (I presume the drywall was taped by pros), you would use a good primer / sealer, before painting it. I would do this even if you are going to stucco it. By "stucco" you probably mean "texture". I'd still primer it in any case.

Answer 5

The answer to your question is if you do not use some kind of primer the dry-wall will suck all the paint up into the wall. You see, it is like chalk and when you get it wet it crumbles. The primer is made with an oil base and it isn't as easily sucked into the wall and also may be where your mother is getting the odor. All you need is primer after you finish the mud and tape work.

Answer 6

When you put up new drywall, you have to use putty to seal the seams. You then must use a drywall primer. If you don't it will not seal properly, and you will be able to see all the seams where the putty was put on.That goes for patching nail hole also. You must use a primer first.

Answer 7

After you putty the nail holes, let them dry and sand them down. You will probably need to put 3 or 4 coats over all the nail holes because the putty will sink in. After you get all the puttying done, get "NEW CONSTRUCTION PRIMER" (you can get it at any home improvement store such as lowes or home depot) then after that you will need another coat of primer such as Kilz. THEN you can paint whatever color you want. There is nothing in drywall that can create fumes... If you want "texture" on your walls, then you can texturize before or after you prime, but by no means do you HAVE to.

Answer 8

The Putty you are referring to is "MUD" or dry wall compound. it is designed to give a seamless look to the wall. a primer/sealer is used on top of the mud to prevent the paint from drying to fast and sinking in to the paper on the drywall.

no fumes will be released other than that of the drying sealer

Answer 9

im going to redo my kitchen with venetian plaster, and on my research it says to always prime the wall before applying any paint or plaster