What Kind of Paint Should You Put on New Drywall?

Drywall Primer

• Priming the walls is the critical first step that you must take when painting drywall. Specially formulated primers exist that are designed to work best on drywall. You should use this type of product instead of a general latex primer paint because it will stick better to the drywall. It is also designed to seal the drywall more effectively, helping to protect your walls over the long term.

Latex Paint

• Latex paint is probably better than an acrylic paint for painting drywall because drywall is typically hung on the inside of a home, which means that, while painting, you and anyone in the home will be constantly exposed to the fumes from the painting. Latex paints don't give off the chemicals that irritate the skin, lungs and overall health of people the way that some acrylic paints do.

Sheen

• Another thing you need to make a decision on is which sheen of paint to use on your drywall. Any sheen will work well on drywall. However, the room that the drywall is located in is more important than the drywall itself when you choose which sheen to paint with. Any room with drywall where the walls will get messy and need frequent cleaning, such as the kitchen or bathroom, should be painted with a higher gloss paint. In living areas and bedrooms, flat or lower gloss options work well.

Sealers

• Drywall sealer is another option for preparing drywall for painting. The sealers differ from primers because they have a much higher percentage of resin compared to the pigment in the paint. A drywall sealer is designed to seal off the drywall itself so that the top coat of paint does not soak through, which also helps stop other liquids, such as water or water vapor, from penetrating to the drywall.