Preparing walls before painting: the importance of filler

06 September 2019

It's time to get down to business and give your house or office a good coat of paint. And that simple step can give a new air or a change in appearance to the space, where apart from the choice of colour, the preparation of the walls is key to achieving a good finish. As in any activity of renovating and improving a space, the preparation will largely determine the final result obtained, so it is important to spend precious time to assess the state of the walls or surfaces and decide what steps we should take before applying the paint.

WALL OR SURFACE PREPARATION

The durability and quality of the wall paint finish is going to depend on the previous steps and everything that is done before painting, with the idea of allowing the paint to adhere better.

Depending on the case, it is sometimes necessary to take time to remove the old paint, especially if it is in poor condition, lifted and may hinder the adhesion of the new paint. On metal or wood surfaces, it is highly recommended to remove the old paint and strip it.

Then, depending on the state of the wall, touch up and repair possible cracks or fissures with filler and perform a general sanding to even out and smooth the surfaces.

THE DECISIVE STEP IN WALL REPAIR: THE APPLICATION OF FILLER

Wall filler is the ideal product to repair imperfections, cracks or old holes that you want to hide.

To make the repair more effective it is important choose the right filler for each surface and type of arrangement, we have to consider whether we just want to smooth the surface, or whether we also have to fill in holes and cracks.

The advantage of using filler is that this type of product makes the tasks of repairing and preparing a wall much easier, as well as allowing us to get a very professional and uniform finish, without investing a lot of money.

For general repairs, powdered filler for walls allows a quick drying thanks to the chemical setting of the plaster that contains

But standard filler comes already prepared and does not set, so it avoids product loss. While the fibreglass filler is essential in case of major damage and larger cracks.

On other occasions, the application of filler can also be done with the aim of smoothing acoustic walls. In this case, however, it may be necessary to use a smoothing trowel and opt for a thicker coating paste that covers the acoustic wall and creates a thicker filling layer.

If the surface to be repaired is wood, we also have wood fillers that facilitate filling cracks and provide a uniform finish. In this case we must also consider whether we need to use an exterior wood filler or a regular wood filler, and then choose the most suitable product.

HOW TO APPLY FILLER FOR A SMOOTH AND EVEN WALL

o   Start by protecting the floor and furniture with protective plastic so that it is easier to clean and remove stains later.

o   Spend time removing layers of paint that are flaking or are in poor condition using a spatula.

o   It's time to start applying the filler to cover up imperfections. If you use powdered wall filler to create a mass, wait long enough for it to achieve the right consistency, making it easier to fill gaps and spread.

o   If you have to cover a crack it is advisable to take small amounts of filler and apply it in thin layers until it is filled. It is very important to carry out this step carefully, to avoid leaving any globs which will make the filler come off once it is dry.

o   If the idea is to cover up an old studs, it is best to remove them completely, if possible, or cut off the head. If removed completely, soak a mesh filler and insert it into the hole, continuing to even out the surface.

o   Let the filler dry long enough and look over the surface finish, in case any imperfections or gaps need to be touched up.

o   Once finished and dried, it's time to sand the wall with a fine-grained sheet of sandpaper to leave it smooth and even. After that, wipe down the dust and leave the wall clean.

o   If it is necessary to apply a primer coat to improve paint adhesion, now is the time.

By choosing the best products and carrying out the process carefully, you will achieve uniform walls with a perfect finish so that the application of the paint is simple and leaves the very best results.