I've done a lot of wall prep and painting in the past without any issues like I'm facing now. After patching and sanding some drywall, I let it dry for a whole day. I wipe it down with a damp cloth to get rid of dust and let it dry out again just to be safe. Then, I apply a thin coat of Sherwin Williams all-purpose water-based primer with a roller. But I'm finding that bubbles start to appear almost immediately, and by the second coat, the primer starts peeling off in sheets right down to the drywall patches. I'm completely stumped as to what I'm doing wrong. It feels like my patched areas are just not accepting the paint! I'm even considering starting over with sanding and scraping it back to the drywall, which is super frustrating.
3 Answers
Try using a PVA primer instead! It's specifically designed for drywall and might help with adhesion. Also, if you keep experiencing peeling, consider using a product like Gards from Zinsser, which helps bond dust and fibers down before priming.
Sometimes it can just be a bad batch of drywall or the mud you used for patching. You might want to replace it with a different batch to see if that helps. Also, consider switching up your tools and rinsing them well after each use to avoid any residue messing with your primer application.
It sounds like your issue might be related to the surface preparation. If there's any dust, residue, or if your patched areas are super smooth, that could prevent the water-based primer from sticking properly. I recommend trying a bonding primer and making sure the patched areas are completely dry and dust-free before you paint. If you still have problems, you might need to redo those patches with a different compound.
Definitely make sure to clean everything well! A dusty surface can really wreak havoc.
Yeah, cleaning tools is often overlooked but can make a big difference!