Skip to 0:50 of this video to see exactly what I mean. Use a fairly heavy pressure to scrape off any excess, then let it dry. To do this, just like with the primer, I used a roll for most of the walls and a small brush for the corners and edges.. Like any spray paint, the secret is to blend the texture with the existing wall, so don’t worry about overspray on the other walls. Do you agree with my “best color for your garage” selection? It’s better to have those joints and seams near the bottom of the wall instead of the top. I do also have a concrete foundation. More on that in the next section. Readers, is your garage painted? In this section, you’ll be installing the drywall panels on your wall. At this point, I don’t remember exactly what primer I bought, but, to tell you the truth, this is a job in which I don’t mind using one of the cheapest options available. For me, I found that mesh tape was harder to cover up with mud. If the garage walls are 9 feet high, select panels that are 54 inches wide. In this section we’ll be making that new drywall look pretty and ready for paint. In a couple of places, the tape started to bubble up from the surface because I didn’t have enough joint compound underneath the tape. We are Carla and Tony, and we would like to welcome you to Cheapest House on the Block, a place where we share and you can share everything about your home ownership experience and do it yourself home improvement projects. I could not do or touch anything without worrying about the walls, I definitely did not want the same problem in this new one. Also, if you’ve got cabinets or trim that are close to the area you’re spraying. Even if you make perfectly straight cuts, the factory edges are rounded slightly to help them fit together smoothly. Nail this step and your wall will be as flat as a racetrack. I also highly recommend getting another set of hands to help you lift the drywall sheets into place and secure them. amzn_assoc_asins = "B00004YUPO,B00004Z49T,B00IJGYDKA,B01CODJY8E"; It’s important to also use primer on your walls before you paint, whether you’re painting over drywall or exposed concrete block. I've painted dozens of unconditioned garages and just used Zinsser 123 primer and regular interior paint and never once had any issues. By contrast, butt joints don’t have a valley in between the sheets. PVA primer is what is normally used. The mud used on the seams of drywall absorbs paint differently than the rest of the drywall. You only want to take off the peaks in the texture, not huge chunks of it. As such, there is a huge variety of PVA primers available to buy online. I just finished installing new drywall in my garage and have primed it. Any particular reason why you did the floors before the walls/ceiling? I’ve written a longer article all about choosing the best paint for garage walls, so I won’t get into that here. Get a comfortable tool that fits your hands. Let the primer dry for at least 24 hours. I’ll be including a couple of YouTube videos from an amazing series from Vancouver Carpenter. What is the building code for garage drywall? I was not disappointed with the result. How much does it cost to drywall a garage? If you don’t feel confident in getting it just right, use your cordless screwdriver to tighten the screw most of the way and finish it off with a hand screwdriver.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'garagetransformed_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',119,'0','0'])); Once the first sheet is secured in place, it’s time to install the rest of the full-sheets of drywall. PVA primer seals the surface of … Obviously, I understand and respect everyone’s choices/preferences/taste, but in my opinion, it just doesn’t look right. and a satin finish. Adhesion Primer Like I said in the post, I wanted it to look like some kind of baseboard. Start with a clean, dry 6″ or 8″ drywall knife if you have them. Once you’ve got the settings to your liking, start applying the texture to the wall. You can hide a lot with a good texture on your wall, but that doesn’t mean you can skimp out here. Mark them on the front of the sheet, not the paper backing. Did you paint the foundation with the same color as the walls or the ceiling? Drywall and concrete are both extremely porous. Can you drywall a garage with no insulation? Even if it doesn’t directly add money to the sale price, a well-done garage will set your home apart from any other homes up for sale in your area. This is because of its high-bonding technology on elegant painting surfaces of any wall type. If you find an area where the knife rocks back and forth (skip to 2:12 in the video above), then you’ll need to spread out the mud from the center of the joint until the wall is smooth. Once the house is built, it’s very difficult to run the wiring through the cinder block. Here in Florida, homes have an ‘orange peel’ texture on every wall in the home, including the garage. To start, I went ahead and removed the old masking tape I put on the walls before starting with the epoxy floor coating application. The smoother the edges are now, the less you’ll have to sand later. 10″ or 12″ taping knife. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Edge the walls with acrylic latex interior paint. In my case, I opted to hang the sheets horizontally, which meant I’d have narrower sheets along the top and one side that would need to be cut. Somewhere along the line, it’ll feel like you’re trying to put a rectangular peg into a trapezoid-shaped hole. The worst part was that the bigger containers only cost a few dollars more for a lot more compound. Thanks for your comment and for reading our blog. Once it’s dry, lightly sand it smooth and check the fit again. The Texture of the Primer. Once you’ve got the offending piece of drywall tape cut out of the wall, you can fill it like any other joint. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; A roller is the go-to applicator when painting drywall; even when spraying paint, a seasoned pro back rolls to avoid streaks and drips. Did you use moulding around the windows and doors and also the base of the walls. Check the edges on your drywall knives to make sure that there aren’t any nicks or gouges in them. For my 10′ x 20′ wall, I ended up needing two full cans. At this point, you’ve probably got sections of your wall which have several coats of drywall compound and other sections where you can see the drywall underneath. Just be sure to let each cost fully dry before starting on the next coat.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'garagetransformed_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_16',131,'0','0'])); I’m not a handyman by any means, but I’m really proud of this wall. Garage Transformed is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Since that time we’ve received lots of comments, feedback and suggestions. You’re going to have gaps in between your drywall sheets. About 6 years ago when I painted my new drywall upstairs I used something called "first construction primer" by valspar, it was water based. If you don’t have someone around, you can invest in a drywall lift which holds the panel in place until you can screw it in. Thanks for your comment and for reading our blog. Even if you’re going to be painting with a paint that includes primer, it’s a good idea to use a dedicated primer on brand new drywall. It's pretty much only good for bare drywall/mud, but it's the best for that. Transforming the garage into living space is a job that can be tedious and expensive, but it’s worth it in the end. Here’s how I’m transforming my garage into something I can be proud to show off to others. I chose to go with Valspar Interior Multi-purpose water-based wall and ceiling primer that I picked up at Lowe’s. On the front side of the drywall sheet, make a deep incision into the drywall, but don’t cut through the paper backing. I had slightly more cuts to make this way, but ultimately less wasted drywall sheets. Prestige offers a paint and primer combo which doesn’t require more than three coats. As usual, I started with the roller, first on the ceiling and later on the walls, I quickly covered most of the area. Drywall: When drywall is used in a garage, the installers seldom finish it to the same level they do interior walls. If you’re using water-based (acrylic) paint, then use a water-based primer. Unlike some other drywall primers, Glidden needs just two hours of dry time before you can topcoat. Drywall Primer - Seals new drywall and previously painted walls for a consistent finish. Drywall mud pan. Grab a can of the texture and some crap cardboard so you can test the settings and get used to how the spray comes out. When it comes to painting garage walls, it seems to me that most people agree that white is the best paint color for your garage interior, even I used it in my first garage. Exterior-facing walls can use ½ inch drywall, but ¾ inch drywall is still recommended. Either get an all metal pan or something with a good metal edge on it. Important note: If you’re using a scrap sheet of drywall (one that you’ve already cut pieces out of), try to use as many of the factory edges as possible. It’s definitely worth it in my opinion. I think the ceiling should always be white to make the room look bigger. Driving the screws in too deep can compromise the strength of the screws holding the drywall. I just don’t like it, not too mention that it will make the garage (or any room for that matter) look a lot darker. Either way, it’s good to have a helper hold the drywall in place while you secure it with drywall screws. Prestige Semi-Gloss Paint It’s known to be the best paint for both the interior and exterior garage walls. I found myself going over and over the same section of wall, trying to fix imperfections only to find out that it was my drywall knife that was causing them. In fact, many homeowners neglect to apply primer before they paint over their new drywall. But if I were to do it again, I would probably do the opposite so I don’t have to cover the floor to paint the walls/ceiling. Because drywall is porous the PVA will help seal the surface and lend durability to the paint you layer on top. This difference in porosity can cause blotchy, dull areas under the paint (a problem called “flashing”) and an inconsistent sheen. Definitely move your car to the driveway for a few days while you finish up. While you’re waiting for the joint compound to dry in any large gaps, you can fill in the drywall screws. Yes, but it will only be for cosmetic effect. However, drywall can get pretty beat up after a few years of use, and many people prefer to replace it during a garage remodel. Sand and wipe the entire wall down. That should take a few hours, including drying time. What is a Garage Ready Refrigerator? Attach a roller grid to the edge of the bucket, and use a long-handled roller to prime the walls. KILZ L211101 Adhesion High-Bonding Interior Latex Primer It has been recommended as the best drywall primer for both professionals and DIY priming. Priming garage walls, including the concrete foundation. The biggest thing to worry about is moisture, not heat. It’s critical that you get the fit on the first sheet as good as possible. My advice is to find something that you’re comfortable with…even if it ends up costing a bit more money.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'garagetransformed_com-leader-4','ezslot_13',122,'0','0'])); Buy a big tub of joint compound from the start. Professionals will call this Drywall Finishing Level 0, because technically the drywall is just hung and not finished. Use a 1/4-inch nap for semi-gloss finishes on smooth drywall, a 3/8-inch nap for flat finishes, and a thicker -- up to 1-inch nap -- for textured surfaces. A skim coat is a light coat of drywall that adds a very thin, final layer of drywall to give a consistent surface to paint on. If you’ve been following along in my personal garage transformation, I’ve reached the point where my garage wall is framed and insulated. For example, if you have to leave a gap between the wall and the ceiling, or between two pieces in the wall, I’d choose to leave the gap in the ceiling. Sanding is really dusty, even if you get low-dust drywall compound, so I recommend moving or covering up anything that’s still in the garage. You’ll usually find some small (or not so small) mistakes that you need to fix.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'garagetransformed_com-portrait-2','ezslot_21',125,'0','0'])); If this is the first time you’ve working with large amounts of drywall you are going to mess up. Skip to 2:30 in the video below to see what a flat joint looks like. We’re almost done!eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'garagetransformed_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_17',128,'0','0'])); Finishing the drywall was the hardest part of this project and I was really glad to have it over and done with. That’s easy to fix after the primer coat, so I’ll touch on it in the next section. I recommend using two coats of paint on the wall just to make sure that you have a nice, even finish. To be honest, this gap was probably small enough to use paper tape, but there were some areas of the wall that definitely needed the mesh. If a professional tells you how to do it, then you'll probably be told to use a primer before painting. This picture shows one of the first joints I did. I’ll also be using more drywall screws for the wall on the other side of the garage. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; By securing the drywall sheet along every stud, you’ll make sure that there aren’t any gaps where the drywall can pop out from the stud. And 1 gallon of PVA primer will save you at least a gallon of paint. However, the wall between my garage and my kitchen was already drywalled and textured. Depending on if you’re going to be using a texture on your wall, you may want to apply a skim coat as a final step before priming and painting. Plus, it won't rais the nap on new drywall and it creates a beautifully smooth finish in an hour flat! The short version is that you want to use interior paint (never exterior paint!) That’s the simple answer, but there’s a lot to digest in there. Any water that’s left on your garage floor can seep into the concrete and up through the drywall itself. I hope you’ve enjoyed this series and got something valuable out of it. The short version is that you want to use interior paint (never exterior paint!) Joint compound (drywall mud). I also added an L-shaped metal channel designed for roofing applications to help channel any water spills along the bottom of the wall and out through the garage door. Even if you’re going to be painting with a paint that includes primer, it’s a good idea to use a dedicated primer on brand new drywall. If so what color did you choose. These are specially designed for drywall coating and comes at a great price range. Thanks for your comment and for reading our blog. Thankfully all you need to do is to cut out the bubbled section with your utility knife and replace that section. The paintbrush you use is just as important; tho… If your garage is 10’ x 20’, you’re going to have to make some cuts, no matter how you hang the drywall. Using primer depends on the surface condition. The ceiling is white in both garages, I agree 100% with you. Painting drywall in a smooth, clean way can take a bit of effort, but the final product is well worth it. It is very thin (it kind of looks like milk going on. A climate controlled garage helps to minimize the risk of mold and rot, but you can still add drywall and add heating or air conditioning later, if necessary. This is the first time I drywalled anything larger than a patch in the wall, so I made some mistakes along the way that I want to correct when I drywall the other wall in my garage.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'garagetransformed_com-box-4','ezslot_2',114,'0','0'])); The major thing I’m doing differently next time will be to start at the top of the wall instead of the bottom. In the image at the top of the article, you can see that I only used drywall screws around the edges of the drywall sheets. You’ll be checking each joint and seam individually to make it as level as possible. For less than $10 per wall I have a water-tight barrier for my drywall walls.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'garagetransformed_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_5',116,'0','0'])); Most drywall sheets come in 4’ x 8’ panels and you can hang them either horizontally or vertically. Before you start, take another look at your screws and make sure that they’re flush in the drywall. You could get away with only one coat, but the amount of extra mud it takes to cover them again is minimal. Any imperfections on the blade’s edge will be transferred on to the wall when you’re trying to smooth out the mud. Here’s where having a second pair of hands would be helpful. It is also highly sandable. This is by far the biggest project I’ve ever taken on in the home. Using a carpenter’s T-square or long level, connect the two markings lightly with your pencil so you have one solid line to cut along. It is a low VOC paint that can be sprayed, brushed, or rolled on. Primer takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour to dry to the touch, but leave about three hours before you paint over it. From here, my next steps are to mount the cabinets and then to add some custom flooring. If you’re looking for an incredibly smooth finish, using a high-build primer is a must. Ideally, the gap doesn’t need to be that large – ¾ of an inch will do. A coat of paint goes a long way when it comes to making any room more pleasant, comfortable and desirable to be or work in, the garage is no different. Be sure to let the drywall tape adequately dry before you do this! Problem 2: New Drywall. This is normally around $15 for a 60 lb tub at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot. Take your 4″ drywall knife and cover the screw with some joint compound. If you’re lucky enough (or good enough) with your drywall installation, you may not need mesh at all.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'garagetransformed_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_15',123,'0','0'])); Once the mesh is over the gap, you can stuff joint compound in the gap through the mesh. Most online articles will say to use mesh tape, but the professional drywallers I’ve talked to only use mesh tape for very specific things. Some of the best drywall primers are: Benjamin Moore Fresh Start This high hiding acrylic interior primer is great because it has a high build and covers real well. Once all of the major imperfections taken care of, it’s time to move on to the finishing stage. I highly recommend binge watching his channel before getting started!eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'garagetransformed_com-leader-3','ezslot_12',121,'0','0'])); Most homeowners should have some basic drywall tools like a 4” drywall knife and a drywall pan. This is one of the reasons why they recommend to let the joints dry overnight to allow these bubbles and imperfections to show up. Level 0 is used for temporary construction or when the final decoration is undetermined. Then I used some new tape to mask the floor, obviously, to avoid getting it all white with the primer. PVA primer is like $10 a gallon. If you’ve done a good job sanding and smoothing out your wall, I’d skip the skim coat and opt for a dedicated primer coat instead. Pva will help seal the surface and lend durability to the walls a! 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