Drywall

Walls, Low Traffic/Unpainted/To Be Painted

a. Surface Preparation:

• repair gouges, etc. with drywall compound or spackle, and sand flush once dry; for maximum durability, use plaster of Paris or patching plaster, and sand flush
• fill gaps with quality acrylic or siliconized acrylic caulk, and immediately smooth it flush; allow to dry over night and make a second application if needed; do not sand a caulk
• remove all dust using rags or vacuum cleaner; clean off any dirt, etc. with a detergent and water mixture, rinse thoroughly

b. Priming:

• priming is required in order to achieve adequate uniformity of sheen and hiding
• for most work, a PVA latex wall primer works well
• or, for maximum adhesion and stain blocking, use a quality latex stain-blocking primer that is recommended for interior use
• do not leave a primer unpainted

c. Painting:

• for best dirt resistance, durability and cleanability, use a top-of-the-line interior latex wall paint in flat or eggshell finish, depending on appearance desired
• an eggshell finish will provide better dirt and stain resistance
• a medium line, dead flat latex wall paint will do well for hiding irregularities in the surface, and will touch up less noticeably than a paint with more sheen