drywall / plasterboard primer - do I need it?

kokolino23

Hello,
We did a garage conversion and used plasterboard all the way through.
Not enough money to have it plastered so we only used tape on the joints then easyfill as well as on the screws.
Do I need to prime it before I'll paint it over? I did some research and it's recommended to do so.

I struggle to find the primer though and this seems to be much more expensive than the emulsion itself.

Some people recommend to use 50/50 white matt emulsion as a primer but I'm not sure therefore this thread.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Plumber90

They never use it on new builds, just water down some white emulsion to give it a most coat and then paint as normal.

rexmedorum

We did this with newly plastered ceilings. About 20% water (any more and it would drip too much) on the first coat and then another 3 coats (!) straight of value white emulsion.

kokolino23

As far as my research went, a mist coat (white emulsion with 50% water) is recommended when the plasterboard is plastered all the way through.

Our drywall is done with joint tape and easyfill on them plus on the screws.

Not sure if mist coat would be suitable instead of primer. Saying that, we've got already white emulsion so we'll be saving money as primer is quite expensive.

stayhigh149

Hi, whenever I drywall I seal/prime the surface with a 1:5 coat of pva. This then kind of 'fixes' the surface and then 'er indoors can do the 50/50 priming coat of emulsion, thru a 75/25 coat; then neat.
S/H

southcoastrgi

Drywall is American, this is a UK site so it's plasterboard, don't use PVA the paint won't stick to it, just mist coat it as others have already said you don't need primer

Kiran

Agree with Southcoastrgi definitely do not PVA. Board sealer is not required on standard plasterboard, a mist and 2 coats of your chosen paint is all you need unless its a really strong colour.