Plasterboard Painting 101 – How to Paint Plasterboard

What is Plasterboard?

There are many types of plasterboard, Boral SHEETROCK is our preferred brand, and is used to line interior walls and ceilings. It is a composite product that sandwiches a gypsum plaster layer between two sheets of paper. It is very porous and absorbs large amounts of moisture.

How to Paint Plasterboard – Getting Started

The first thing you need to do is calculate how much paint and sealer you will need to use in your project. You can get a decent estimate for walls by adding the length of all the walls then multiply that number by the height, from floor to ceiling, of the room. For ceilings, multiply the length of the ceiling by its width then divide that number by 6.5 (which is the approximate amount of square metres covered by a litre) to calculate how much paint you will need.

You will also need to prepare tools and safety equipment such as:

• A ladder
• Floor covering – we recommend a roll of our carpet or hard surface protection film
• Mask, gloves, and goggles
• Bucket and paint tray
• Masking tape

Rollers, Brushes, and Sprayers

You can use rollers, brushes, or a paint sprayer to apply the paint. Paint sprayers are commonly used on professional jobs to get the job done efficiently but they require a bit more preparation time to protect things from over-spray. Brushes take a considerable amount of time but are inexpensive and can be used in places rollers can’t such as edges and corners. Rollers can cover an area quickly, evenly, and create a nice textured finish.

How to Paint Plasterboard Walls

Ensure the area is clean, set, and dry before you paint. The surface of the plasterboard should be smooth and flat; lightly sanding the area can remove any minor imperfections.

We recommend using a sealer, it is mandatory in work done by professionals, because it enhances the final coat of paint and makes for a better-looking project in the end. Stir up your sealer and apply the initial coat to corners, areas with skirting boards & frames, as well as along ceiling lines. Using a brush at this stage will give you more control over the application of the sealer. Change to using a roller to cover the walls smoothly and evenly.

After the sealer has dried, apply two coats of your preferred paint. The industry standard in Australia is a Level 4 finish for most areas. A Level 5 finish is recommended when using glossy paint or dark colours. Glossy finishes and dark colours expose imperfections in the plasterboard and using a Level 5 finish helps even out the flaws while creating a solid base over the entire surface.

How to Paint a Plasterboard Ceiling

Take time to make sure all the power is off to any fixtures and that the ceiling is clean. Make sure your floor and trim are completely protected too. The actual sealing and painting process is the same as that used on a wall. Start off by using a brush along edges and corners then move on to the main part of the ceiling. Start from a central point and paint your way towards a wall.