What kind of putty to putty plasterboard - features of the choice and finish of the coating

If the repair involves finishing the walls with drywall, then you will definitely have to face the question of choosing a putty for it. Not only how smooth and even the surface will turn out, but also the durability of the finish will depend on this material.

General information

When finishing walls with drywall, many joints, cracks and seams are usually formed, which are the so-called "risk zones" of the structure. In addition to the fact that cracks can go from them to the finish, microorganisms often appear in such places. Therefore the quality.

Even if you fit the material webs as tightly as possible, this will practically not change the situation. From this it becomes clear which putty is better for drywall - one that has excellent strength characteristics and elasticity, since drywall is subject to movement, albeit insignificant, for example, as a result of temperature fluctuations.

In addition, the priority should be the environmental friendliness of the composition and the speed of its drying. In the complex, these qualities of the material will make it possible to prepare the surface with the highest quality for finishing with your own hands, of course, subject to the technology of applying putty, which we will discuss below.

The choice of putty

Today, building materials stores have such a large selection of compositions that it is really not easy to decide which putty is best for drywall. Some compositions and walls. In addition, there are mixtures that are used exclusively for decorative purposes.

It should be said right away that it is more profitable to buy dry mixes, since they are stored much longer in warehouses and after purchase. In addition, their quality is not affected by temperature storage conditions. Another important advantage is the possibility of using it in doses, since it is often necessary to use putty in small portions - to grease somewhere, to trim somewhere.

Depending on the type of binder, putties can be:

  • gypsum;
  • cement;
  • polymeric;

For puttying drywall, all three types of compositions are suitable, however, not for every room. Therefore, further we will dwell on each type of mixture in more detail.

Gypsum

Experts say that for finishing drywall, a gypsum-based composition is the best option. This putty is based on natural material and fillers that improve the characteristics of the mixture.

Among the advantages of gypsum putty, one can also highlight the fact that it does not shrink, lends itself well to leveling and dries quickly. To use the composition, simply add water to the gypsum in the required amount, which will not cause difficulty.

However, their disadvantage is poor water resistance - gypsum quickly absorbs moisture. With repeated drying, the coating cracks. For this reason, gypsum putties cannot be used in rooms with a high level of humidity.

Cement

This type of coating is the most moisture resistant among all types of putties. In addition, cement-based mortars withstand large temperature fluctuations well. Therefore, such putties are great for finishing drywall in a bathroom or kitchen.

The disadvantage of these mixtures is the strong shrinkage during the drying process and the formation of microcracks, so puttying must be done several times.

Polymer

Polymer putties surpass both of the above compositions in their characteristics. They can be used in any room, be it a bedroom, bathroom or kitchen. In addition, they do not shrink and provide a smooth surface, so they can be used for finishing.

However, the disadvantage of polymer compositions is their high price. Therefore, not everyone can afford to use this material for repairs, especially if they need to cover a large area. True, it should be borne in mind that the consumption of such putties is much lower than the previous two mixtures, which provides little savings.

If, however, financial possibilities allow, then choosing which putty to putty drywall with, it is quite possible to opt for a universal polymer putty.

Drywall plastering technology

In order for putties to correspond to all the properties declared by the manufacturer, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions for their application. Otherwise, even the right composition does not guarantee a quality repair. Therefore, we will now consider the main nuances of this process.

Primer

An important step in plasterboard puttying is priming, since the adhesion of the coating depends on it, and hence the durability of the entire repair. In addition, if the walls are wallpapered, the primer will prevent the wallpaper paste from being absorbed by the material.

The process of applying a primer is not difficult:

  • First of all, the walls must be prepared for further processing - for this they need to be cleaned of dust and other contaminants, if any. You can use a slightly damp sponge.
  • Then pour the solution into the roller tray, and then dip the roller itself into it.
  • The primer is applied evenly over the entire surface of the drywall. In this case, streaks and a large accumulation of the solution should be avoided.

Note!
For priming drywall, alkyd primers should not be used, as they cause deformation of the cardboard layer.
In addition, peeled paper begins to bubble and hang in tatters.
Naturally, after this, there is no need to talk about any coating strength.

Putty preparation

After the primer has hardened, the walls should be prepared for puttying.

The instructions for doing this work are as follows:

  • First of all, it is necessary to ensure a flat surface of the walls so that self-tapping screws do not protrude from it. But at the same time, they should not be deepened so that they do not form pits.
  • Then you should pay attention to the fact that in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe joints of the sheets the outer layer of material does not peel off from the gypsum layer. If there are such defects, then the paper must be cut with a knife under the base.
  • Next, the resulting wrinkle must be cleaned with sandpaper.
  • If the joints of the sheets do not have a factory edge, then it must be done independently by cutting the edges at an angle of 45 degrees. Only in this case it is possible to ensure reliable reinforcement of the seam.
  • Then fiberglass mesh is glued to all seams and corners. The special serpentine tape has a self-adhesive surface, so this process will not take much time. The most important thing is that the seam falls in the middle of the tape.

Advice!
If the self-tapping screw is deeply recessed into the drywall, then it must be unscrewed and a longer screw screwed into the empty hole so that the cap is at the level of the wall surface.

Puttying

After the surface of the walls is prepared, and the primer dries, you can start puttying.

The work is carried out in several stages:

  • First of all, putty should be diluted, in a small amount, so that it is enough for half an hour of work. If you make more solution, it will dry out and be unusable.
  • Then you need to close up. To do this, use two spatulas, one of which will serve to set the solution, and the second - to apply it to the surface. In order for the reinforcement of the joint to turn out to be of high quality, the putty must be stretched with a spatula along the entire seam, evenly, completely filling it with mortar.
    The most important thing is that roughness and irregularities do not form in the process. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to sand the streaks.
  • The next step is puttying the screws. This procedure can be performed in a cruciform way, i.e. the composition is applied along and across, which will fill the grooves of the caps.
  • Then you need to putty the corners. This work is more complicated and may not work right away, since it is necessary to draw both sides of the sheet, which converge at a right angle. Therefore, the procedure is carried out in two stages - first one side of the corner is removed, and then, after the putty has hardened, the composition is applied to the second side.
  • Further, an aluminum building corner is attached to all external corners, which is fixed with putty. Thus, the strength of the outer corners is achieved.
  • The final stage is the finishing putty, due to which a perfectly smooth surface is achieved. To do this, use the finishing putty, which is applied in a thin layer with a wide spatula.
  • After coating the walls with putty, the coating must be sanded to achieve a perfectly smooth surface.

Advice!
It is best to dilute the finishing putty to a creamy state, which will allow you to most evenly and evenly distribute it over the surface of the drywall.

This completes the puttying process, it remains only to finish the walls, for example, pasting them with wallpaper.

Conclusion

It is rather difficult to say what kind of putty is needed for drywall, since in some cases it is more expedient to use a gypsum composition, while in others it is necessary to use a waterproof material. Therefore, the choice should be made based on the conditions of repair and your own financial capabilities.

However, it is equally important to correctly perform puttying, because the final result depends on this no less than on the choice of material. Additional information on this topic can be obtained from the video in this article.