How to make the perfect wall for further painting: how to prepare, do-it-yourself work order and guidance on what needs to be done. Preparing the walls for painting Painting the walls stages of work

If you want to be comfortable in own house, then you can not do without repair. There are a number of rooms where wall painting is the only possible option. However, using modern paints, you can paint any room and achieve amazing results.

In order for your walls to please with beauty, it is important that they are perfectly even, which is quite difficult to achieve without knowing the correct technology of work.

Pros and cons of painting

When planning repairs in any of the rooms of your house, you must decide in advance what exactly you want to see there: glue wallpaper, lay tiles or steal walls. The paint option has both its pros and cons, and you yourself have the right to decide what to look for when choosing.

The advantage of painting is:

  • Positive effect on indoor climate. Walls that are properly prepared for painting are usually primed, treated with an antiseptic, which in turn prevents fungi from developing and other microorganisms from multiplying. All pits and cracks must be removed from the surface, which means that harmful microbes will have nowhere to develop;
  • The speed and cost of the procedure. If you have normal, even walls, and you just want to refresh the color, then within just a few hours you will get the finished result, at no extra cost;

  • Ease of use. Painted walls are easy to clean, they can be quickly washed, removing traces of children's creativity, food stains in the kitchen, dirt from shoes in the hallway and more;
  • Safety. Painted walls will never be of interest to pets, they will not scratch it like wallpaper, they will not permanently stain it with their paws from the street, therefore the coating will retain its original appearance;
  • variability. Since a huge range of paint and varnish products is now on the market, I use different colors, textures and surfaces, you can come up with the most unique and inimitable decor for any room.

Of the minuses, there are also a number of important aspects that you should pay attention to when choosing materials for wall decoration in a room.

There are such shortcomings:

  • Wall preparation. If you have problem walls, then before you paint them, you need to carry out a series of preparatory work, which will require the ability to work with different tools and surfaces;
  • Process Features. For a person without experience, painting walls is a lot of work, because it is important not only to apply paint to the wall, but to do it correctly in order to get the desired result;

If you can’t do it yourself, you need to call professionals whose services are not small

  • Painted wall maintenance. After the surface of the walls has been painted, it is important to wash it regularly to remove all small dust particles. Glossy finish paints don't need as much maintenance;
  • Fortress. Any walls, especially painted ones, will not withstand mechanical stress, any strong blows will cause cracks, and the paint will begin to peel off the surface;
  • Design. If you want to have a home is not easy plain walls, but an interesting pattern or texture, it is better to use the services of a designer and a painter, because without experience it is simply impossible to achieve the beauty and quality of the surface.

Almost any room in the apartment is subject to painting the walls, but important to use this species covering correctly. Each room has its own functional purpose, and therefore the selection of material for decoration should be appropriate.

Most paint is suitable for the bathroom and toilet, partially it can be used in the kitchen. The design of the hall will not do without painting the walls in different colors, the use of different patterns and textures.

Surface preparation steps

In order to prepare the walls for applying new paint, it is important to carry out a number of works. It is important to remove all unnecessary from the surface so that it is completely clean.. Old wallpaper, paint, whitewash, tiles or dirt spots should not remain on the wall. Each of the options has its own way to quickly and effectively remove unwanted coating.

If we are talking about wallpaper, then in order to remove them without much effort, you need to thoroughly moisten the wall where they are pasted, and wait until the paper begins to swell. After that, they are much easier to remove. The work is best done with a medium-sized spatula..

If there are areas where the surface is not completely cleaned, it is important to carry out the same steps again, under the influence of water, the wallpaper will still come off the wall.

A more complex process lies ahead when manually removing paint from walls. In order for the process to go quickly and as efficiently as possible, you need to follow not only the order of work, but also have the right equipment.

One option involves using a drill with a special nozzle with abrasive bristles, or using a grinder. This option will completely remove old paint, but will create a terrible garbage around from dirt and dust.

If you still decide to work this way, it is very important to prepare a respirator or other mask and goggles to protect your eyes and respiratory organs from small particles.

For those who want a cleaner option for removing paint, a blow dryer will do. With its help, it will be possible to warm the wall in separate sections and remove the paint. As soon as the surface begins to bubble, it is worth removing the hair dryer and set to work. scraping paint off the wall. The sooner you do this, the easier the coating will come off.. It is not easy to work in this mode, especially if the room has considerable dimensions.

Another disadvantage will be the high consumption of electricity, which will hit your pocket solidly.

If you want to try something different, you can use a blowtorch, but it is important to know and follow fire safety rules, because the work will be done with an open fire. In this case, it is important to remember that painted wooden surfaces in no case can not be processed with a blowtorch.

If you paint a wall water-based paint, on the same surface, then you can do without preliminary work if the wall is even, has no cracks and any other factors that prevent the application of a new fresh layer of paint.

Wall alignment

In order to be able to paint the wall of any of the rooms in your home, it is important to make its surface perfectly even. There are two options for this: the use of drywall or the use of dry mixes, which are diluted with water and applied to the surface.

It is easier to prepare a wall with drywall, but it is many times more expensive and “eats up” centimeters of usable area. Therefore, if you have normal walls that need a little adjustment, you should not resort to this option. The method is only appropriate when the surface of the walls is so uneven, then the amount of effort expended on its alignment and the materials spent exceeds the cost of a gypsum board.

For other cases, it will be enough to prepare the necessary solution and carry out work to level the surface. To prepare the right amount of the mixture, it is important to first correctly assess the unevenness of the walls, and then prepare the wall itself and level it with plaster, and then putty.

It is important to remember that after any stage of preparatory work for painting, the wall must be primed, wait until it dries and continue to work on.

The use of drywall

If you decide to work with drywall, then you need to know about the existence of two options for attaching sheets, on a frame and without a frame.

The frame method involves the use of metal or wooden elements, which together create a structure to which drywall sheets are screwed with screws. With this option, you do not need to make any preparatory work with the wall surface, but it is important to check that it is completely dry.

Frameless method - alignment occurs by gluing the sheet to the wall itself, using a special glue.

  • If the uneven places and the level difference are small and do not exceed 4 mm, then gypsum putty is used, which must be applied in longitudinal lines to the entire sheet.
  • If the irregularities reach 2 cm, then you need to use drywall glue, applying it to the desired sections of the wall - 30 cm apart.
  • If the differences reach 4 cm, then drywall strips are glued to the wall, after which the sheet itself is already attached.

The surface of the wall must be free of dust, dirt, greasy spots, and in wet areas it is necessary to carry out the process of drying the surface. If there is a risk of moisture absorption into the wall, it is best to coat it with a primer, which will also increase the adhesion of concrete surfaces.

Alignment technology in this way is given in several stages:

  • Inspection of the wall and the study of its level difference and flaws using the building level;
  • Based on the results, there is a choice of means by which the sheet will be glued to the wall surface;
  • Implementation of the marking of the leveled wall;
  • Preparing drywall for installation, cutting holes for electricity and light.

After the sheets are installed on the surface, it is required to continue the preparatory work for painting. The next step will be putty. The seams must be filled using a special Fugen putty, after it dries, the joints of the corners of the room are pasted over with a special mesh, without which cracking of materials cannot be avoided.

As soon as the grid is fixed, with a wide spatula it is necessary to distribute the putty with a new layer directly over the grid. In those places where the sheets were fastened with self-tapping screws, it is necessary to fill in the formed holes from the hats with the help of a narrow spatula. When working with corners, it is important to keep order, working alternately with each side.

Before one is dry, do not start working on the other side of the corner.

When the preparatory part of the work is completed, the primary finishing of the entire drywall sheet begins with the help of the starting putty and wait until it is completely dry.

The next step is grouting the surface before the next layer. After that, a layer of plaster is applied again, and after drying, the surface is skinned to an even state.

The last stage is the application of finishing putty and grinding. As soon as the dust has settled and removed, and the wall has completely dried out, the surface is ready for painting..

If your walls are more or less even, then there is no need to use drywall, you can simply align the necessary places and remove flaws on the surface.

  • To align concrete walls, where the difference does not exceed 5 mm, only putty can be used. For brick wall the scope of work will be approximately the same, but it all depends on the magnitude of the difference.
  • If the difference in surface heights reaches 3 cm, then initially it is better to plaster the wall, and then putty.
  • If the difference is more than 3 cm, then it is necessary to plaster the masonry using a reinforced mesh, and in order to level it completely, you need to use putty.

The use of dry mixes

Repairing a room and preparing walls for painting in it is not an easy task and not everyone can do it with their own hands, but if you approach the work correctly, the result will please.

First of all, you need to carry out preparatory manipulations with the walls so that you can prepare them for painting, for this you will need to remove the old layer that was originally there, disassemble the communications, get rid of greasy and dirty spots, apply a primer layer.

To properly plaster the wall, you need to install beacons and work on them. These can be strips, slats or profiles. Then we prepare the solution and with a spatula we throw it on the wall near the lighthouses. With a long spatula, the mixture is leveled from top to bottom. The excess mixture is removed, and the voids are additionally filled and everything is smoothed out again. When the work is finished, you need to remove the beacons and level the place where they were. The time for complete drying of the plaster varies up to two weeks.

In order to achieve a perfectly flat surface, it is necessary to apply a starter putty on the plastered walls, and then a finish one. You can use the universal one and not take two different mixtures. Putty is applied in small portions, and leveled with circular movements with the correct angle of inclination. When the layer is leveled, it must be thoroughly dried. After the wall is polished with sandpaper and another layer of primer is applied. When it dries, the finishing putty is applied.

Plastered surfaces are thoroughly cleaned of dusty and dirty areas, primed and then painted.

You can use fiberglass to protect the surface from cracking and any other damage. Fiberglass is glued to the finished wall, leveled and puttied, after which the surface can be painted, while obtaining an interesting texture. If you want completely smooth walls, then you will need additional finishing with putty, after which there is a mandatory cleaning of all irregularities.

It is no longer necessary to prime the surface, this was done earlier.

Plaster

In order to prepare the walls for painting, it is important to choose the right tools and materials.

Plaster has options such as:

  • plaster;
  • cement;
  • lime-cement;
  • clay.

The most common is the use of the first two options.

Gypsum mortars are well applied, it is flexible and does not shrink. Another advantage is environmental friendliness and Fire safety. The mixture quickly grabs, which for some will be a plus, and for others a minus.

Cement plaster remains elastic for two or more hours, so you can make a large amount of the mixture at once. It is applied to any surface, but can shrink and dries longer. The advantage is the low cost.

The gypsum version is used for internal robots, as it allows you to create a perfectly flat surface, and the cement-sand mortar is used for outdoor work, the presence of sand does not make the surface without roughness. You can paint any of the options.

But it is worth considering:

  • gypsum plaster will have a smooth surface;
  • cement - moisture resistant.

putty

When planning the decoration of the premises, both inside and outside, the most important thing will be the use of putty. From her right choice and will depend on the result of the entire repair.

There are options for mixtures for internal and external work, in addition, it is divided into three more groups:

  • Home– the structure is rough, the particles are large. It is necessary to remove large defects on the surface. The maximum layer can be up to twenty centimeters.
  • Finishing- fine-grained structure. After the material dries, you can get a completely flat surface. Apply both to the starting putty and to the surface itself.
  • Universal- has a ready-made form of a fine-grained dispersion solution. The base is polymer. It can be used both as a starter and as a finishing putty.

When renovating a room, painting the walls is considered one of the simplest types of work. This statement is considered true if the surface on which the paint will be applied is even and without visible defects. Otherwise, the paint will show irregularities and surface imperfections. Preparing the wall for painting will improve the result of the work performed.

Surface types

Before you prepare the walls for painting, it is worth clarifying that paint can be applied to various types of surfaces. They can be conditionally divided into the following types:

  • Smooth surface.
  • Decorative and textured plaster.
  • Surface with installed facing material(wood, tiles, wallpaper).
  • Walls made of natural wood.

Taking into account the type of surface with which it is planned to work, preparations are made that are specific to each of them. Work steps can be repeated or combined various types surfaces. However, there are procedures specific to some types of surfaces. Consider the stages of preparing a wall for painting, starting with the process of cleaning the surface of old coatings.

Removing the previous coating

Before starting work, it is recommended to remove furniture from the room and spread a plastic film around the perimeter of the floor in order to save time on cleaning in the future. In the event that sockets and switches are installed on the proposed work area, they will need to be de-energized first in order to prevent electric shock.

Wallpaper removal

To remove wallpaper from walls, there are several ways that are optimal in certain situations. Methods depend on the type of wallpaper, the quality of gluing and improvised materials. The traditional wallpaper removal method consists of the following steps:

To speed up the process, use specialized tools for removing wallpaper. Using a solution of these substances, prepared in accordance with the instructions on the package, a complete peeling of the wallpaper is achieved without additional physical costs.

Cleaning the surface from whitewash

Removing ceramic tiles

When removing ceramic tiles, it is recommended to use a metal chisel and a hammer. First, the tile is hooked from the corner and with weak blows to the chisel with a hammer, it is beaten off the wall. This operation will need to be repeated as many times as the tiles are installed on the wall. If the tile is held tight and does not move away, use a perforator with a nozzle. Work is recommended to be done wearing thick gloves to prevent cuts on the sharp edges of the tiles.

Removing the old layer of paint

Old paint is removed with tools or washes. In other words, the paint is removed mechanically or chemically. The most popular methods:

Having completed the stage of cleaning the wall from the old coating , you can proceed to the next step - surface leveling.

Leveling the wall surface

In a situation where the differences in wall level do not exceed 2 mm and there are no cracks and chips on the surface of the plaster, it is not necessary to carry out additional actions to level the surface. Just needs to be sanded a layer of old plaster with sandpaper or a grinder. If the differences in level are more significant, you need to eliminate irregularities in one of the proposed ways:

Having completed the alignment of the walls according to the level, they proceed to the stage of puttying.

Applying the starting putty

It is not recommended to paint the surface without prior application of putty. Drywall and plaster are highly porous, absorb moisture well and do not allow the paint to be applied to the surface in an even layer. Applying putty on the surface will avoid defects when painting the wall.

Initially, a starting putty is selected, which contains fine sand, which allows it to be applied with a layer of 3-4 mm. The solution is evenly distributed over the wall with a wide metal spatula, smoothing out small irregularities. The putty dries quickly, so it is diluted in small portions in accordance with the proportions indicated on the package.

To increase the strength of the putty and improve its adhesion to the wall, it is recommended to putty with reinforcement. For this, a nylon mesh with a cell size of 2 mm is used. It is pressed into the putty layer applied to the wall, after which another finishing layer of putty is applied over the mesh.

After the putty dries, which occurs within 6-8 hours, sanding is performed with sandpaper with a grit size of P80. This process allows you to smooth out the shortcomings formed in the process of applying the material to the wall. However, the resulting surface will remain grainy. For final preparation walls for painting use finishing putty.

Finishing putty

Finishing putty allows you to get a smooth finish layer for painting, as it does not contain large inclusions.

The method of applying the finishing putty is similar to applying the starting putty, with the only difference being that the layer of finishing putty should not exceed 1–2 mm thick. Otherwise, the putty will crack. After the material has dried, it will be necessary to grind the surface with sandpaper with a grit size of P100. When sanding, it is important not to erase the layer of finishing putty.

Final work

Before applying paint to the finished surface, you will need to completely clean the wall from the resulting dirt and dust. When the surface is cleaned, you need to apply an impregnating primer and wait for it to dry completely. At this stage, the repair of the wall for painting is considered complete.

The procedure for preparing walls for painting is a set of measures that must be performed to obtain a smooth surface. Absolutely any foundation has flaws that need to be addressed. If you remove the old wallpaper, then cracks and shedding will be found behind them.

Painted surfaces need to be completely cleaned, otherwise the new coat will not be able to fix well. Brick coatings with numerous seams can also be painted. Therefore, the preparatory work will depend on many factors.

All work should start with preparation necessary tools, and preparing walls for painting is no exception. The list of everything you need depends on what basis you have to deal with. But there is a general list:

  • Surfaces covered with plaster that has been applied for a long time or has numerous irregularities must be completely cleaned. Plastered walls, for example, in recently completed apartment buildings may just need to be adjusted. But this can cause difficulties for those who do not have the proper experience. For work you will need:
    • puncher with a special nozzle, but you can get by with a chisel and a hammer;
    • Sander, a bar for grinding and sandpaper having a different fraction;
    • brushes or vacuum cleaner to completely remove dust after grinding.

    Tools and consumables required for the dismantling of the plaster layer

  • Ceramic tile cladding assumes that the same tools will be used for work as for plastered walls.
  • The situation is more complicated with old paint. To simplify the work will help special solutions used to remove such materials. But you will also need tools: a scraper, a spatula, a building hair dryer and an electric drill with a metal brush nozzle.

  • It is a mistake to assume that the preparation of a whitewashed surface for painting is not mandatory. This coating must be completely removed. Therefore, you need to prepare a sponge and a spray gun to remove the main part and a spatula to remove the remaining sections.

    Devices necessary for washing and complete removal of whitewash

  • Removing wallpaper is much easier, but sometimes there are problems due to too strong fixation. In this case, the most in a simple way the use of a spray gun and a spatula is considered, well-adhered areas can be removed with a steamer. Coatings with a thick layer are processed with a spiked roller, which helps water to penetrate better.

After the surfaces are thoroughly cleaned of all layers, they must be brought to an ideal state. The paint does not forgive even the smallest flaws, they will immediately become noticeable, this will ruin the expected result.

To bring the base to the desired state, you will need devices:

  1. A container and a special mixer or drill with the necessary nozzle for mixing the starting and finishing mortar.
  2. A set of spatulas and it would be nice to get a rule to avoid long grinding of small irregularities.
  3. Roller or brush for applying primer.
  4. Electric grinder and sandpaper bar.

Tools needed to prepare walls for painting

How to clean walls before painting

Initially, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the surfaces. This will help you choose the right general algorithm of work and save time on preparing unnecessary tools. Many craftsmen rightly recommend starting any work by removing shelves, light sources and other interfering decor details.

You will need free access to all areas, so the furniture needs to be moved or taken out. So that it does not get dirty, it is worth covering it with plastic wrap.

The technology of preparing any walls for painting implies the presence of dust, so it is better to work in special protective equipment that will help protect the eyes and respiratory tract from negative effects.

Removing wallpaper

With wallpaper sometimes you have to tinker a lot, but preparing the walls for painting requires that the base be completely cleaned.

Very old products that have a paper base are removed quite quickly. To do this, just pry off the bottom edge with a spatula or knife, and it will quickly fall behind the surface.


To remove old paper wallpaper it may be enough to pry the edge of the canvas with a spatula, after which the wallpaper can be easily torn off the wall

But it happens that the coating adheres very well to the base. Then a simple home sprayer comes to the rescue. Warm water is drawn into it (it is it that impregnates the paper most quickly) and sprayed over the entire surface. After a while, you can quickly remove everything that did not leave before.

Modern vinyl and non-woven wallpapers are highly moisture resistant. This leads to the fact that the decorative layer cannot be removed, even using your described tricks. Then a toothed roller comes to the rescue, which can be successfully replaced with a simple clerical knife. It is necessary to damage the surface severely to ensure free access of moisture.


Sometimes the toothed roller option can be useless. Then you need a steamer, with it you can clean the most problematic areas.

Advice! The steamer can be replaced with a hair dryer, which heats the wetted area. If there is no hair dryer, you will need to painstakingly clean everything with a knife and spatula. Only in this way the preparation for painting with your own hands will be of the highest quality.

It is important to ensure that there are no residues of wallpaper or glue. If it is supposed to remove all layers to the base, then you can simply knock everything together with the plaster at once.

Preparing for painting surfaces that have been whitewashed is one of the most tedious tasks. The fact is that you need to remove literally everything to the very foundation. If even the smallest inclusions remain on the walls, then the subsequent finishing layer will turn out to be uneven, with numerous spools.


The following methods will help to perform this work most qualitatively:

  1. The most common option is warm water. This method almost completely repeats the technology with wallpaper: the surface is carefully sprayed with a spray gun, and then the old layer is lifted with a spatula. Only wetting must be carried out constantly, because whitewash quickly absorbs moisture.
    Some masters advise to wash off the coating big amount water. This works, but only on surfaces coated with a simple composition, without the addition of special additives and hardeners.
  2. Some areas will require the use of a grinder, trowel and iron brush without the use of water. This process is complicated by the fact that a lot of suspension is formed, which completely fills the room. It is required to interrupt the work to allow the dust to settle. It is believed that a vacuum cleaner connected to most grinders will help fix the situation. In reality, only special device, which has many filters, including water.
  3. To simplify the preparation of a whitewashed surface for painting, there are special compounds that allow you to quickly clean the walls. Home craftsmen have developed a simple recipe for such a remedy. It includes soda (5 tablespoons), grated laundry soap (2 tablespoons) and water (10 liters). The solution is well mixed and applied to the coating. Removal occurs with a sponge and spatula.

Thus, the procedure will require sufficient effort and will lead to serious contamination. And if the work is done poorly, the result will be an ugly painted surface.

Old paint is removed in a similar way. But only special formulations are used for work. Of course, you can apply a new layer of paint on the old one, but in this case no one will give a guarantee of a good result.


Advice! It is the previously painted areas that are easily cleaned with a building hair dryer. The technology lies in the fact that by blowing the selected area, the bubbling layer is immediately removed.

Removing plaster or tiles

When deciding how to prepare the walls for painting, if it was plastered or tiled, you need to carefully evaluate the existing coating. The fact is that it is not always necessary to remove the old layer of plaster, sometimes it is enough to repair cracks and eliminate irregularities. But the presence of crumbling areas is a sure sign that the layer needs to be completely changed. Ceramic tiles are always removed together with a layer of fixing compound.


The work is carried out according to the following scheme:

  • The main parts of crumbling areas are removed with a spatula. The main thing is to choose a thicker tool to avoid deformation.
  • Often problems arise with a layer of finishing putty. It has voids, that is, there is no fixation with plaster. Due to the fact that the putty is applied quite thinly, it is removed after wetting with water.
  • Removing the entire coating causes problems with well-adhering layers, but should not be left if the main part is eliminated. After all, the preparation of a plastered surface for painting assumes that each section will hold securely.
  • Tiled walls will take longer. The ceramics are removed first. In this case, a perforator with a chisel nozzle proved to be excellent. It is necessary to completely remove the fixing compound, which can hold very well. After that, you should evaluate the base, especially if it is made of plaster. The presence of any defects is an occasion to clean everything to the ground.

Removal of ceramic tiles is carried out together with the fixing layer

On a note! Sometimes it turns out that under the layer of tiles there is a rather strong coating that needs only a little restoration. This allows you to significantly reduce the preparation time and save a fair amount of the budget.

What if the walls have small imperfections?

Surface preparation for painting does not always involve the complete removal of the old layer, sometimes it is enough to carry out a series of restoration procedures. But you need to be completely sure that the base will last a long time, otherwise it is likely that the new decorative layer will quickly become unusable.

The main problem is always cracks, so they should be properly sealed.

  1. All work begins with jointing: the crack is expanded and deepened. This is done with a spatula, chisel and hammer. The area must be thoroughly cleaned of dirt and dust. A simple brush comes to the rescue, allowing you to penetrate deep enough.
  2. The existing defect is well processed with a primer. It is necessary to use compounds that allow you to achieve the most thorough impregnation.
  3. Further preparation of the walls for painting with their own hands is carried out using putty and a spatula. It is necessary to cover the damaged area well so that the composition completely fills it.
  4. A reinforcing tape is applied on the front side, it will avoid the occurrence of possible troubles. It is pressed into the uncured solution and smeared. The resulting area is well polished.

Important! Spot finishing of walls for painting allows you to achieve the desired quality only when the base is a very reliable canvas. Damaged areas should not be more than 15-25%.

Preparatory work by leveling

Most often, after removing the old decorative layer, it is impossible to carry out further work if the walls are not leveled for painting. Currently, there are several basic options that help to do this most correctly. This is the application of a layer of plaster, puttying or mounting drywall slabs. Each method is suitable for a specific situation.

Plastering

In most cases, it is the plastering of the walls for painting - optimal solution, because it is possible to obtain an excellent surface at minimal cost. It is applied directly to the wall in the amount necessary to smooth out all the imperfections.


If the walls have many flaws, then plaster is used to level the surface.

If it is assumed that the layers will be thick, then they are laid on the beacons in several stages. It is this option that is the main one when preparing concrete walls for painting.

Procedure:

  1. Before plastering the walls for painting, a preliminary marking of the walls is made. Every 60 cm, marks are attached to the gypsum mortar, they will serve as a guide for installing profiles.
  2. When the beacons are securely fixed, each part of the concrete wall or other base is treated with a primer, this will give excellent adhesion of materials.
  3. The prepared solution is applied by spraying onto the surface. The layer should be thicker than the width of the installed beacons.
  4. The rule is set from below and raise the top. You need to press hard enough to move the tool along the profiles.
  5. If empty areas remain, they are filled with a solution and the procedure is repeated.
  6. After drying, the beacons are taken out and cover up the defects.

It is important to consider that the plaster layer should not be thicker than 30 mm. If this value is exceeded, it is necessary to lay a reinforcing mesh, which is also mandatory when working with brick surfaces.

On a note! There is no need to make perfectly aligned areas, if putty is used, it will smooth out any remaining irregularities.

putty

How to level the walls for painting with putty? The technology almost completely repeats the algorithm of work with the previous version. The difference is that the application does not require the installation of beacons, the layer must be thin. The mixture only needs to be distributed over the surface, filling in the existing irregularities.

Drywall

An excellent way out is the use of drywall, it allows you to avoid numerous preparatory procedures. Coloring can be done directly on it, but it is more efficient to cover the material with a thin layer of putty.

An important step is the priming of the surface. It not only increases the reliability of fixation, but also reduces paint consumption.

You can decorate the walls in the apartment with the most different ways, and each of them provides for a special surface preparation. The areas that will be subsequently painted require the most careful care, because even the smallest flaws will be visible under a thin layer. How to prepare the walls for painting, we will tell in this material.

Types of painted surfaces

Those surfaces that can be stained are very diverse. In the current options for creating an interior with your own hands, you can most often find the following:

  • putty or decorative relief plaster;
  • smooth plastered or putty wall;
  • smooth coating: panels, wallpaper, tiles;
  • surface with textured elements;
  • wood.

The main stages of preparation for staining

In most cases, surface preparation consists of the following steps:

  • alignment;
  • patching defects with starting putty;
  • smoothing minor imperfections with finishing plaster;
  • cleaning and priming.

If you are working with textured materials, then the leveling and grinding process may be absent. The wallpaper whose color you want to change can only be opened with a thin layer of diluted glue.

Technological map of the painting process

In order to properly prepare the walls for painting, it is necessary to consider in detail each stage of this process.

Surface leveling

To prepare a wall for painting with water-based paint of any shade, the first step is to carefully level it so that the smallest defects on it are not visible under a thin layer of emulsion. You can smooth out irregularities in the following ways:

  • Beacon plaster is suitable if the surface is very uneven, and it has deep cracks and crevices, and in some places protrusions are clearly visible.
  • Grinding. This method is possible only if the cloth is strong and durable, and if the surface does not already have many deep ruts and holes from the very beginning. The maximum depth of flaws is 2-3 mm. If the surface is strong, and you are sure that it will not be damaged during work, then feel free to proceed to work. Remove the former from the canvas decorative coating And upper layer putties. For alignment, use the usual sandpaper, which wrap wooden block, and if possible, take a special stone.

Important! This method is dangerous because in the process a huge amount of dust rises into the air, which can enter the respiratory tract. Protect your respiratory organs with a mask or respirator, and special plastic goggles should be put on your eyes.

  • Application of drywall sheets. Sheathing a room with sheets of drywall can transform the most unsightly room. This process is moving much faster than both previous ones, and the quality remains on top. After installing the sheets, you just have to cover the bayonets between the plates with putty. Preparing drywall walls is as easy as shelling pears, because the initially smooth canvas does not require additional alignment.

Remember that after leveling, the wall must be primed. The primer layer dries after application for at least 6 hours.

Putty canvas for painting

If the question arises of how to treat the walls before painting, then you need to proceed from the type of surfaces. Plastered or plasterboard areas must be puttied.

  • To prepare the walls for painting, purchase a couple of types of material: putty marked "start" and "finish". Base putty is needed to even out the deepest and most noticeable irregularities. Its structure is quite rough with small grains, but it is the “start” that will allow you to quickly and qualitatively “patch” deep “wrinkles” and cracks. Dilute dry powder with water as indicated in the information on the product packaging. If you have purchased a previously prepared solution, then you need to open it immediately before the start of finishing work, because the substance dries quickly as soon as air enters the container.

  • The first base layer will be better attached if a special mesh is used during finishing. First of all, with the help of a spatula, they cover the desired area by 2-3 millimeters of the “start” wider, and after that they apply a grid on top and press them to the surface with a narrower spatula. A narrow tool will help to evenly distribute the substance. On top of the paint grid impose another layer of putty. Then leave it to dry for at least 6 hours until the material is completely dry.

Important! Typically, a paint mesh is applied to the areas of the seams between the sheets of drywall. If on working area there are no flaws, then the grid does not need to be used.

  • After drying, the canvas should be thoroughly sanded to remove all roughness and waves. Proper preparation walls before painting involves careful grinding and removal of the slightest jagged. This work is very long and painstaking, but a smooth and even wall under water-based paint will look perfect. The finished canvas is polished with a special grout, on the basis of which an abrasive mesh with a grain of 120-150 microns is attached. A continuous canvas is processed in parts, and the result of labor is constantly under control.

Important! Remember that the applied layer of plaster is not too thick, so do not overdo it with the grout.

  • An experienced craftsman knows that before painting the walls, you need to use finishing plaster, which helps to smooth out the smallest roughness and grainy structure. "Finish" is characterized by a uniform texture and the absence of large particles in the filling.

That is why the cloth comes out smooth and relatively white. Advantageous is the fact that the coating density is sufficiently high, which significantly reduces the consumption of coloring material. The application method does not differ from the starting one, only the finishing layer should be a little thinner, and be no more than 2 mm. If you apply the composition thicker, then in the process of drying and operation, it can become covered with a network of cracks and completely fall off.

  • The finish also needs to be polished after hardening, but the abrasive mesh should be chosen with smaller holes - 60-80 microns. Try not to get carried away, and not to grab too much in the process of friction. It happens that the finish is distributed not in one, but in two layers. This is possible when noticeable problems remain after the first treatment.

Interesting! To check if there are defects on the panel, direct the light from the table lamp at an oblique angle relative to the wall. In this case, the shadows from the remaining protrusions will fall in such a way that all imperfections become clearly visible.

Cleaning and priming

When the required area is plastered, puttied and sanded to the most even condition, all dust and remaining construction debris should be removed.

  • The wall is easier to process with a vacuum cleaner, a dry cloth or a soft brush. These items are used singly or in combination to achieve the desired result.
  • You can start priming the walls. On a smooth and clean area covered with a primer, the paint will lie more evenly, and the adhesion of its particles to the wall will become even stronger.

Important! Take into account that the primer can be different, and you need to select it based on the purpose of the room and the type of future coloring composition. Acrylic primer is suitable for almost any decor.

  • To carry out painting work yourself, you will need: a brush-brush, a spray gun or a roller. Preparatory stage will be considered complete when the primer is completely dry.

Now you can prepare the mills of any room with your own hands before painting. Repair will not turn into hell if you strictly adhere to the described recommendations.

Video: Description of all stages of preparing walls for painting

Wall paint has been used for a long time. For a sufficiently long period, instead of it, they used it for decoration, considering them the best option. However, these judgments are relevant if we talk about Russia. And even if the general use of wallpaper for a long time, it is impossible to call the paint “old and uninteresting”, and the wallpaper “progressive” materials. The fact is that in the United States and a number of European countries wallpaper has never been considered particularly chic, and it is always customary to paint the walls in houses abroad. And in Russia, despite the emergence of a large number of different finishing materials, paint is now considered interesting and relevant. Looking into the portfolio of any designer, you can see all sorts of finishes, including wall painting.

Preparing walls for painting - workflow

Why is paint still relevant and used for interior decoration? It's simple - it has too many advantages, which cannot be turned a blind eye.

Table. Advantages of paint as a finishing material.

DignityCharacteristic
Possibility to customize the room You can decorate the walls with paint in any color you like, give them all sorts of shades and, as an option, even paint them with paint to order or on your own. Wallpaper, on the other hand, involves applying a certain pattern that is already on them. Of course, we are not talking about wallpaper for painting or plain options. But as for the latter, it is the paint that offers much more shades of color. Plus, using colors, you can independently choose the desired shade.
Easy maintenance of walls Despite the appearance of washable wallpaper and other materials that can be cleaned using water, it is still much easier to wash the paint from any contamination. Also, the paint almost does not collapse under the influence of a number of cleaning agents, unlike the same wallpaper or some other materials. So for those who care about cleanliness in the house, but at the same time children and pets live in the home, paint can be the best solution for wall decoration.
Easy to change wall color Painted walls, if desired, can be easily repainted in a different color. If we talk about wallpaper, then they will have to be re-pasted, and this is the need for a large number of works. With paint, everything is easier - you can apply new color over the old one.
Ability to finish any surface The paint can be applied to any materials - concrete, wood, drywall, etc. Even a log house at home can be easily repainted using it in the desired shade. But the wallpaper on it is no longer glued.

Of course, paint is not a perfect material. She also has her shortcomings. So, with frequent exposure to it, it will no longer look neat - it will wipe itself off, scratched. However, this disadvantage also applies. Also, paint, contrary to popular belief, is far from the cheapest finish option. So, it will require certain preparatory work, which sometimes turns out to be quite costly and troublesome.

Which is cheaper - wallpapering or painting the walls?

Important! Walls in a new building are not always recommended to be painted. The fact is that new house subject to shrinkage, and the paint will quickly become covered with a network of cracks. Usually painting is done a couple of years after the construction of the building. For the first time, it is better to glue the wallpaper - the resulting defects on the walls will be less noticeable.

General information on preparing walls for painting

Preparing the walls for painting must be done. Otherwise, you should not expect a beautiful and neat result. Moreover, the order of work must be strictly observed. Applying the paint itself is sometimes not as difficult as properly preparing the walls, especially those that need leveling and other additional work.

The main stages of wall preparation:

  • cleaning the walls of old coatings, if any. It is important to remove old wallpaper, peeling paint and other materials that, by their presence under the final layer of paint, can ruin the whole work;
  • , which will get rid of all the irregularities and minor surface defects. The putty is applied in 1-2 layers, the second is the final one;
  • priming makes it possible to ensure a more even application of paint in the future. Also, the primer increases adhesion and is applied under the putty;
  • it may be necessary to treat the walls with antiseptics, agents against the appearance of fungus, mold and to prevent the occurrence of other negative consequences.

Important! Each stage of preparation is carried out sequentially, it is important to wait for the complete drying of a layer of one material before applying any other.

What tools are needed?

The set of tools required for preparatory work for painting may vary depending on what work needs to be done. However, in general, we can name the main tools that will be needed for these purposes.

  1. A drill equipped with a special nozzle will allow you to get rid of old plaster.
  2. Sandpaper with a bar or a grinder will make it possible to align the walls well, remove small irregularities.
  3. A vacuum cleaner will help get rid of the dust formed during the cleaning and grinding of the walls.
  4. To remove old paint, you need to use special compounds, as well as a spatula, a building hair dryer and a drill with a nozzle made in the form of a metal brush.
  5. Water in a spray bottle, as well as a wide spatula, will help remove old wallpaper.
  6. Also, for preparatory work, you will need a roller or brushes for applying a primer, spatulas that will help to apply putty.

Do not neglect the preparation of the walls for painting. If these works are not done, then the paint will not lay down evenly or will not hold as firmly as we would like, and will soon peel off.

Removal of old coatings

To begin with, it is worth inspecting the surfaces that need to be painted. Depending on the condition in which they are, the order of preparation work will also depend. If it is planned to paint walls that already have a finish, then it is important first, as well as all the protruding elements that interfere with the work - lighting, decorative elements, shelves, etc. It is better to take furniture out of the room if possible, or at least carefully wrap it in a covering film.

Advice! Work on preparing the walls is best done in a respirator so as not to inhale dust.

Old wallpaper is much easier to remove than old paint. Those that have a paper base are the easiest to remove. Sometimes they come off very easily - just pull on one edge of the wallpaper sheet. In some cases, the wallpaper may not be removed so easily, and then it is better to moisten them with water first, and then, prying with a spatula, remove them in layers. It is recommended to use warm water for these purposes.

Advice! It is recommended to damage vinyl and non-woven wallpapers before spraying with water using a notched roller or a clerical knife. You can also use a steamer to remove them faster.

Whitewash is the most difficult to remove - it must be carefully removed from the entire surface of the walls, and this is not an easy task. If the whitewash is not removed well, then the paint will not lie flat. You can remove this material using water, as in the wallpaper technique. The easiest option for whitewashing in general can simply be washed off with plenty of water. In some cases, it will be necessary to use spatulas, grinders and other devices to get rid of the material. They say that the following composition works well for whitewashing: 10 liters of water, 2 tbsp. l. laundry soap, 5 tbsp. l. soda.

Old paint can be removed using special formulations. Sometimes you can not remove it, but only if the previously applied layer is even, without defects.

If you need to remove ceramic tiles, then it is important to remove it along with the adhesive composition on which it rests. After that, the walls must be carefully leveled to perfect condition. The ceramic itself can be removed using a puncher with a chisel.

Elimination of serious defects

After the old coating has been removed from the walls, you can proceed to further preparation of the walls, that is, puttying and priming. However, if the walls have serious defects such as deep cracks, then it is important to repair them first.

Prices for popular types of putty

Putties

So, any large crack that cannot be filled with a small amount of putty must first be expanded and deepened, no matter how strange it may sound. Next, the gap should be thoroughly cleaned of debris and dust and the cavity should be well treated with a primer.

As soon as the primer layer dries, you can close the gap with ordinary putty. The composition should fill the crack well so that cavities do not form and it is possible to achieve maximum adhesion of the composition to the surface. Also, a reinforcing tape must be glued to the front part of the closed gap - it must be pressed into the still uncured layer of putty, smeared well with it, and then dry the putty and sand it.

Wall alignment

After large irregularities have been repaired, you can begin to level the entire surface of the walls. If this stage is neglected, then already during the final application of paint, it will be possible to see wall defects that were previously invisible. It will turn out to align the walls by grinding, plastering or installing sheets.

Sanding is used to level concrete walls and prepare them for painting. The main thing is that the surface itself is strong and does not crumble, and also does not have serious defects. You can grind with a special machine or even sandpaper. All minor defects and this procedure will remove irregularities.

Prices for grinders for walls and ceilings

Wall and ceiling grinder

Also, to remove small defects, you can use stripping and plastering. After completion of work, level differences on the wall should not be more than 2 mm per 1 running meter. If all is well, then you can proceed to plastering and priming.

Plastering allows you to get a perfectly flat wall surface. It is necessary to apply the composition in such an amount that it is sufficient to completely level the walls. Thus, thick layers of plaster can be applied over lighthouses - this is usually how concrete walls are prepared. Before applying the putty, the walls must be primed to increase adhesion. The primer layer dries for several hours.

Important! The plaster layer cannot be made more than 3 cm. If it is planned to be thicker, then a reinforcing mesh will have to be laid, which, by the way, must be laid if it is planned to paint brick walls.

After plastering, it is important to apply a thin finishing coat of putty to the walls. Only after it dries can you proceed directly to priming and painting the walls. Before applying the finishing layer, the starting layer of putty must also be sanded, like the walls. The main thing is not to get carried away and not to grind off the entire finish layer. It is better to remove the resulting dust with a dry cloth so as not to spoil the putty layer. After applying the putty, the wall must be primed again.

Deep penetration primer prices

Deep penetration primer

The process of preparing walls for painting

Step 1. The first step is to inspect the surface of the walls that you plan to paint and assess its condition. This procedure will help you understand what work will need to be done to prepare the walls.

Step 2 Using a spatula, you can remove some of the debris from the wall, including pieces of cement.

Step 3 Using a rule or a flat rail, you need to evaluate the evenness of the wall. The rule must be attached to the wall and see if there is a gap between it and the wall, which will indicate the unevenness of the wall. It is especially important to check the corners carefully.

Step 4 All large irregularities, especially in the corners, can be knocked down with a perforator.

Step 6 Now you can tighten the corners with plaster and close up large irregularities with it.

Step 7 After applying the putty in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe corners, it must be stretched using the rule.

Step 8 Now in the corners it is recommended to glue the corner-forming tape, which will allow you to beautifully form the corners in the room and save the corners from the appearance of cracks in this place. Gluing it is simple - you need to put putty on both sides of the corner of the room, then take a piece of tape, bend it in the middle and paste it into the corner.

Step 10 Now you need, according to the instructions, to mix the finishing putty.

Construction mixer price

construction mixer

Step 11 The finished putty should be applied to the entire surface of the walls in one even layer.

Step 12 After the first layer of putty has dried, before applying the second, you need to remove with a clean spatula small tubercles formed at the time of applying the first layer of putty.

Step 13 Now you can apply the second layer of putty. It is important to highlight the wall from the side - this measure will allow you to see if the layer is evenly applied. Application is also made with a spatula.

Step 14 When the second layer of putty dries, you need to sand the surface well with fine-grained sandpaper.

Step 15 Now the walls should be primed again. The primer can also be applied with a roller or spray gun.

Step 16 Next, you need to glue the fiberglass. It is applied using an airless painter. It can also be glued with a roller. First, an adhesive is applied, then the fiberglass itself is glued, leveled with a spatula. Important - gluing fiberglass is on glue with dye. Then, when applying the last layer of putty, it will be seen whether it has been applied with a sufficient layer.

Step 17 After the fiberglass layer has dried, you can apply the so-called superfinish putty, which has a very fine fraction.

Step 18 Superfinish putty is also applied under side lighting. It must be applied after the previous layer has dried.

Step 19 The final stage is grinding the wall with all layers of fine sandpaper. The wall is ready for painting.

Video - Preparation for painting

Video - Plaster on lighthouses

Preparing walls for painting is even more difficult than applying paint to them. This task requires caution and attention - you can not miss a single detail or miss some important step. If you violate the technology of preparing the walls, then when they are painted, all the shortcomings will be visible. So it is better not to neglect these works and do everything as recommended by experienced master finishers.

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