How Can a Dehumidifier Help in the Drywall Phase?

Painting the walls directly affects the overall aesthetics of the house. If the wall surface is not treated properly, it may appear uneven, bubble-like, peeling, or exhibit other phenomena, which can be troublesome to repair. This article will explain the process of wall beautification and the application of dehumidifiers in this process.

What are the steps for wall painting?

Processing the wall base layer

Before painting, the wall base needs to be flat and clean. For rough house walls, leveling treatment is required. For painted walls, it is necessary to remove the old paint. For walls that were previously covered with wallpaper, remove the wallpaper and proceed with the treatment.

Apply the interface agent

After the basic treatment of the wall is completed, the next step is to choose to brush the interface agent. Interface agents can enhance the adhesion to the base layer and avoid the phenomenon of hollowing and peeling of the plaster layer. When brushing the interface agent, be sure to brush it evenly.

Waterproof treatment

If it is a wall with waterproof requirements, such as kitchen and bathroom, waterproof coating must be used. Before construction, it is necessary to understand how to mix waterproof coatings and what the mixing ratio is. If not proportioned, the waterproof coating produced may not achieve its original effect.

Crack prevention treatment

If there are cracks on the wall, they need to be treated before painting. In general, it is necessary to apply materials such as kraft paper, Dacron cloth, mesh fiber cloth, bandages, to areas with cracks in the wall, joints between lightweight walls and load-bearing walls, and joints in gypsum boards.

Scraping putty

After completing basic cleaning, applying interface agents, leveling, and crack prevention treatment, the next step is to apply putty. Common putty powder needs to be mixed on site, and the ratio of putty powder to water should be strictly controlled according to the product instructions. At the same time, try to stir it evenly, let it stand for 10-20 minutes, and then stir it evenly again before use.

When scraping putty, use a scraper or spatula to scrape it according to the usual practice. When scraping, try to apply as much force as possible to fully bond it with the wall, and do not repeatedly scrape it. The thickness of putty for scraping is generally between 0.8-1.5mm, and the number of scraping times should not be too many. For new houses, two coats are enough, while for second-hand houses, three coats are better. After each application, due to the high strength of the putty, it should be lightly pressed by hand while the putty is in a semi-dry state. If it does not deform, use a scraper to smooth and level it.

Polishing and repairing

After applying putty, there will inevitably be rough areas on the wall, so sandpaper is needed to polish the wall. The softness of sandpaper should be selected based on the texture and hardness of the putty. Polishing must be carried out from all sides towards the center, and extra care should be taken when polishing the edges and corners. Be careful not to miss or wear through the putty. After sanding the scraper with sandpaper, clean up the floating dust, and then you can directly apply the topcoat.

Priming

Nowadays, walls generally need to be painted with primer, which is used to seal the substrate, increase adhesion, and enhance fullness. The primer must be evenly applied to ensure that every part of the wall is covered. If there is a large amount of paint on the wall, it is best to add an appropriate amount of water to the primer to ensure even application.

Apply topcoat

After the primer is completely dry, it needs to be sanded again with sandpaper. Afterwards, it's time to apply the topcoat. Do not add excessive water when mixing the topcoat; otherwise, it will affect the thickness, feel, and hardness of the paint. The topcoat is usually applied twice.

 

Precautions for painting

1. If there is old paint on the wall, it is necessary to first wipe and clean the surface, wait for it to dry before shoveling scrape off the old paint, and finally use sandpaper to increase the adhesion of the wall. Clean the ceiling first, and then clean the surrounding walls.

2. It is best not to paint in humid weather; otherwise, it will affect the overall construction quality, and the paint will not dry easily.

3. Pay attention to indoor ventilation, polish paint and coatings after they are completely dry. If the construction environment is very humid, or if you want to accelerate the drying of the wall, you can use a construction dehumidifier. Preair sells various commercial dehumidifiers and air mover fans. There are also air scrubbers for sale.

4. When the brush is waiting to dry after brushing once, soak it in water and check if there are any bubbles in the brushing area. If there are bubbles, break them immediately.

5. When the brush is dipped in paint, the part of the bristles that are immersed in the paint should not exceed half of the length of the bristles. If the roots of the bristles are coated with paint, the paint brush will deform, and the service life of the paint brush will be shortened.

6. A paintbrush with paint must be lightly wiped on the inner surface of the container before brushing to remove excess paint and prevent paint from dripping onto the ground.

 

Use dehumidifiers and fans during the drywall phase

Connect the dehumidifier to the inlet and outlet pipes through the flange.

Wrap the painted wall with plastic film, with a gap of about 15 centimeters in between, and reserve a hole.

Thread the intake pipe of the dehumidifier through the hole and align it with the wall.

If you have both dehumidifiers and air movers or air scrubbers, connect them according to the product instructions. They work together will not only speed up the drying time but also help control dust, mold spores, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).