If you have begun to redo aged drywall on your own, you know some challenges are ahead. Drywall is one area of home improvement where perfectionists are almost worshipful – it can be tough and expensive to get just the right look and not cost too much to get it right. Here are a few tips for redoing aged drywall yourself.
The compound used to make the drywall may not be suitable for you, or it may not work well with your house’s style. It may also be too harsh for your skin. You may also find that you don’t like certain chemicals for various reasons. Try to read labels carefully and educate yourself on different products’ pros and cons before buying anything. The Internet is a great resource for learning more about the pros and cons of various compounds.
If you decide to try your hand at drywall painting, be sure to read up on the subject first. Some drywall paints are better than others. Others may also cause more problems in areas you aren’t familiar with. Don’t get discouraged if you end up having to sand or repaint after trying a new compound. You can always go back later and try again.
If you decide to use oil-based drywall paint, be sure to pick a brand that is made for painting drywall. You can use any old paint or compound, but these products are not built for this purpose. They will either flake or drip when they get wet, which can be frustrating if you try to avoid the headaches drywall paint causes. Some may also contain solvents that can be harmful to your health.
Painting drywall yourself also means that you will need to know how to prep the walls for painting. This may mean buying a bristle brush or wire brush or doing it yourself using a brush and rag. Either way, be sure you are wearing the proper safety gear. Paint may be toxic or flammable if you are not careful. Wear a respirator if there is any possibility of fumes getting into your lungs. It also helps to wear eye protection so you won’t accidentally get bits of the drywall entering your eyes.
If you have any knowledge at all about drywall repair, you may be able to do most of the redoing yourself. If you aren’t comfortable doing the repairs on your own, though, you can find many resources on the Internet to help you. You can even search for “redoing drywall,” “drywall tips,” or “drywall safety” on popular search engines. Be careful when learning how to do different types of repairs, however. You don’t want to end up making things worse instead of better.
Some older houses have a wallpaper that still looks good but has been chipped, scraped, or damaged somehow. In these cases, you can often find flat red paint that will look just like the original wallpaper but will be almost indistinguishable from it. The best thing for you to do in these situations is to call in an experienced drywall contractor.
Redoing aged drywall can be very challenging if you don’t have a lot of experience. If you are concerned that you might mess things up, hire a handyman to do the redoing. They have the experience you need and will take the time to make sure everything is done correctly. The whole point of redoing is to make your home look new again. If you try to fix it yourself, it could make the problems persist or cause new ones. Just stay focused and do it right.