[neverpainted]

Hi guys and gals, first post here.
I just bought a brand new (just built, never lived in condo) in south florida. The condo is decorator ready with bare concrete floors and they tell me that they have primered the walls and ceiling (ceiling is knockdown). I can't seem to decide which tile to go with so I figured I would start painting meanwhile and maybe that will help.
The walls and ceiling look very straight and clean with no imperfections. But when i touch the wall, I get light white powder on my hands. Is this normal? Do I paint right over it or do I need to wipe this off with sponge or should I primer first?

Do I need to paint the ceiling? It is white now and honestly looks very good? If I do need to paint it, will using a roler on the knockdown ceiling work or do I need a sprayer?

Can't wait to start painting and see it comes out. I really want to start moving in. Thanks in advance.

 

[sirwired]

I'm hoping that powder is just final construction dust. Anyway, wipe the walls down with a sponge to see if that takes care of it.

I wouldn't trust that builder primer to be any good, but I'm a belt-and-suspenders kind of guy. Get thee to an actual paint store (not BigBoxCo), get some new primer and some paint.

If using Sherwin, I would use PrepRite 200 primer, ProMar 200 Flat paint on the ceiling, and either SuperPaint or Duration on the walls. I prefer Waterbourne ProClassic on the trim. I don't know what the exact equiv. Ben Moore primer would be, but the paints would be either Regal or Aura, with Impervo trim.

A 3/4" roller should be fine for the ceiling coatings. If you don't paint them now, painting attempts in the future may pull the texture down from the ceiling.

Use a 3/8" roller on the walls.

And remember, only use quality brushes and rollers. (Purdy, Wooster, or Corona should work just fine.) Most DIY-ers here use the Purdy White Dove roller cover; cheap, high-quality, and available everywhere. Pair it with a Wooster SherLock frame and a 2 1/2" angle-sash brush, and you will be ready to go.

SirWired

 

[neverpainted]

Thanks SirWired. I was thinking of going with an Eggshell sheen for the ceiling. I see that people don't like Behr but what about Glidden? I wouldl like to keep costs under control since I also need to buy tile/laminate and have it installed as well as ALL the furniture and closets for the condo. I don't even know how Glidden, BM and SW compare in price but I hear Benjamin Moore is expensive. Needless to say, I am very excited about starting work in the condo (this is my first place) but also have reservations since I am still undecided on tile/laminate colors, paint colors and how it will all look together.

 

[chrisn]

Thanks SirWired. I was thinking of going with an Eggshell sheen for the ceiling. I see that people don't like Behr but what about Glidden?

Eggshell on ceiling, bad choice

Glidden, another bad choice

Flat is the norm for ceilings,why would you want a sheen? You will never wash the ceilings and that is the reason for the sheen.
Go to a real paint store for your paint and spend the money, it is your HOME and hopefully you will be spending a lot of time there. Your walls and ceilings are what you see EVERY day, why would you want to go with cheap materials for your finished product??

Ben Moore IS expensive, but it is so because it is a quality product. If you want your home to look cheap then do your shopping at the big box and buy Behr and cheap tile. Quality has a price.

Also take sirwireds advise; clean and re prime, builders use the cheapest primer they can get and typically the cheapest labor also, so your ceilings may look white now but don't bet on it in a few months.

 

[sirwired]

By "Glidden", I assume you mean the Glidden sold at HD.

Friends Don't Let Friends Buy Paint From a Big Box Store.

All the Big Boxes carry is cost-controlled product of generally low quality.

Go to an actual paint store and purchase your products there. SW and BM are the largest brands, but there are a bazillion others, most of which are just fine.

Yes, nonBigBox paint costs more for the decent stuff, but it is definitely worth it.

SirWired

 

[saggdevil]

I just painted several areas and used both SW and Kilz paint. (The Behr was terrible). I liked the SW and Kilz equally (xcept Kilz is about $15-20 cheaper on the gallon). What will be the main difference between the two. Will the Kilz paint color last as long as the SW?

 

[sirwired]

Well, Kilz and Behr are both made by the same company (Masco), so that might tell you something... One could assume they would use similar or identical colorants.

SirWired

 

[chrisn]

Well, Kilz and Behr are both made by the same company (Masco),

 

[ccarlisle]

Well, I'm far from being a 'pro' painter like SirWired and chrisn both are, (but neither am I a DIYer, doing painting as part of water damage restoration, and now working on my 5th house and countless rooms)...but I sure did start out like you...and I can tell you with 20/20 hindsight that both SirWired and chrisn are giving you the best advice you can get on the subject of your paining plans.

Like you I started out with $25/gallon paints from HD and others. Now I won't use any other paint than BM (I don't have a convenient SW paint store nearby) and shop exclusively at paint stores, even for a roller cover and I can't say enough about the service I get. And seeing as how I do this for pay - which really means I have demanding customers who part with their paycheques for a paint job (when most figure they can do it themselves) - the paint stores have given me the quality I look for. I put my reputation out there on each paint stroke so I cannot afford less than perfect results...don't aloways get them but I try. So if people are willing to pay me for a good job, I know what a good job is.

Here, you are only paying yourself; but the requirements for quality, I trust, are still there. Unless "saving money" is the criteria - in which case, don't read anything further. But if not, follow SirWired and chrisn's advice and you'll live to thank them down the road for the advice they shared with you at this stage. :yes:

It comes down to a 'trust' factor. You have to 'trust' what these guys say because these guys know. You don't have to, but you'll read the gist of what's going on in the painting world by going back over hundreds of posts and you'll arrive at the same conclusion. :whistling2:

 

[bobthepainter]

Yes, it's very normal to find dust in any newly built home. Wipe it off with a damp(not wet) cloth or sponge before painting. You only need enough moisture to let the dust stick to your rag.

As far as using a primer/sealer for your walls and ceiling...it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and apply another coat. You'll have piece of mind that it's been sealed properly. As mentioned already...don't go cheap on the products used. Better quality paint will last longer and be more durable. You get what you pay for.

Also you can roll or spray knockdown texture. Either will do just fine.