Advice on painting plasterboard

Although you’ll always get the best results by skimming your room first, painting directly onto plasterboard can save you time and money.

In fact, it’s a perfectly fine solution when it comes to decorating most rooms of the home. Here, we’ll share our best advice on painting plasterboard.

Advice on painting plasterboard

If you’re considering painting plasterboard, heed this simple advice:

1. Consider the use of the room

Standard plasterboard isn’t waterproof. So, it’s best to avoid painting directly onto plasterboard in rooms that see a lot of moisture and water, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Instead, skimming these rooms before painting will help to prevent the plasterboard from getting damaged by water.

Alternatively, consider using water-resistant plasterboard and waterproof paint in these types of rooms.

2. Cover joints and holes

If you’re planning on painting plasterboard directly, you’ll need to deal with the joints between boards as well as the screw holes that were formed when the plasterboard was secured in place.

Use joint filler and a jointing knife to smooth out every joint and fixing. Scrape off any excess filler and then sand over the filled areas once they’re dry.

3. Clean the plasterboard

To get a good finish, give your plasterboard a wipe with a damp cloth before painting. This will help to remove any dust and fluff so that you’re painting on a smooth surface.

How to prepare plasterboard for painting

First things first, when your plasterboard is being secured in place, it’s important to countersink the screws and do your best not to tear the paper. This will ensure that your fixings can be easily smoothed out with filler, and help prevent the filler from blowing.

Assuming your plasterboard is all installed, here’s how to prepare it for painting:

1. Mix joint filler. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to mix your joint filler.
2. Apply the filler with a jointing knife. Scoop out some filler with a six-inch jointing knife and run it along each joint, from top to bottom.
3. Smooth out each joint. Use the jointing knife to smooth out each joint and remove any excess filler.
4. Repeat with screw holes. Use the same process to cover over any screw holes.
5. Wait for the filler to dry. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended drying time.
6. Sand over the filler. Use fine-grit sandpaper to sand over the filled areas.
7. Clean the plasterboard. Use a brush to get rid of any dust, and then wipe down your plasterboard using a damp cloth.

Your plasterboard is now ready to be painted! Follow our expert guide on how to paint a room to achieve a top-quality finish.

Find a painter and decorator to paint your plasterboard

Short on time, or just want to ensure that your plasterboard is painted to a professional standard? Find an experienced local painter and decorator to paint your plasterboard by entering your postcode into the search box below.