2.  Paul Diguiseppi has more than 30 years
of experience in home construction. He
is the President and CEO of West Coast
Drywall, Inc., a Norco, California-based
construction company.

3.  New drywall might seem like the
cleanest slate possible for painting. The
walls are bare, so it’s time to start, right?
Wrong. Drywall must be prepared, just
like any other surface. New drywall is
dusty, and it needs to be cleaned
before painting it. Use a vacuum cleaner
or a microfiber tack cloth to remove
dust.

4.  Never skip the primer. Not only will paint
not stick well to plain drywall, it won’t
seal the surface well, either. Buy a primer
designed for new drywall. These
products contain PVA, an agent that
seals the drywall. If you are applying a
dark paint color, it’s best to tint the
primer.

5.  Now you are ready to paint. When you
are using a roller, applying the paint in a
“W” pattern works best. Remember to go
lightly, without leaving a buildup of paint
on the roller’s edge. You will achieve the
best coverage with multiple coats, not a
single heavy coat.