Painter/Drywaller/Contractor Recommendations Needed!

[TurkeyOnRye]

I've just finished skim coating over a popcorn ceiling and need some help finding a good filling and leveling primer, preferably one that can be rolled on. I was looking at Kilz High Build Surface Healing primer, but apparently it has been discontinued, despite rave reviews.

Can anyone recommend a good high build primer to layer over a skim coat of all-purpose light joint compound? I'm having trouble finding anything that isn't aimed at high volume spray-on production.

 

[Father Heathen]

Welcome back.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Sherwin-Williams makes a high build primer that works well for rougher surfaces.

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

Welcome back.

Thank you, Father. I've been busy the last few years. Busy getting a good job and a house.

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

Sherwin-Williams makes a high build primer that works well for rougher surfaces.

Would you happen to be referring to this product?

High Build Primer - Sherwin-Williams

Have you used it before? If so, can you speak to its practicality for roll-on applications? My understanding is that most of these high build primers are for production, i.e. sprayer. Are you a professional by any chance? Thank you very much for the time.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Would you happen to be referring to this product?

High Build Primer - Sherwin-Williams

Have you used it before? If so, can you speak to its practicality for roll-on applications? My understanding is that most of these high build primers are for production, i.e. sprayer. Are you a professional by any chance? Thank you very much for the time.

Yes, that's the product.

I was a plasterer/drywall finisher by trade and a contractor for 12 years.

While I've never used the product personally, as I subcontracted out my painting work, I've seen it used successfully in remodels/restorations. I recall a Victorian home that I restored that the plaster was in very rough condition. The homeowner selected dark colors for some rooms, and without a good primer, patches would be visible given the patches were porous plaster and the remaining wall was oil based paint, so I collaborated with a painting contractor and we agreed to use this product (in a roll-on application) and were successful in doing so.

 

[Revoltingest]

I've just finished skim coating over a popcorn ceiling and need some help finding a good filling and leveling primer, preferably one that can be rolled on. I was looking at Kilz High Build Surface Healing primer, but apparently it has been discontinued, despite rave reviews.

Can anyone recommend a good high build primer to layer over a skim coat of all-purpose light joint compound? I'm having trouble finding anything that isn't aimed at high volume spray-on production.

I wouldn't depend upon primer to fix surface defects.
I've never even run across one claiming to do that, but can imagine problems.
Use finish coat drywall mud for smoothing.
Then (for those of us who aren't skilled professionals) use a pole sander to get it smooth.

Note: Use bright light at a shallow angle to find defects.
Note: The only high volume method for good drywall finishing is a skilled drywaller.
Those guys need many years to become good at that....they impress me.
They're capable of flawless work without any sanding....& fast...did I mention fast?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Use finish coat drywall mud for smoothing.

He's already done this.

Can anyone recommend a good high build primer to layer over a skim coat of all-purpose light joint compound?

 

[Revoltingest]

He's already done this.

I assumed that the job still needed some surface
prep cuz of the corrective primer desired. Hence
the duplicity of my suggestion.

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

I wouldn't depend upon primer to fix surface defects.
I've never even run across one claiming to do that, but can imagine problems.
Use finish coat drywall mud for smoothing.
Then (for those of us who aren't skilled professionals) use a pole sander to get it smooth.

Note: Use bright light at a shallow angle to find defects.
Note: The only high volume method for good drywall finishing is a skilled drywaller.
Those guys need many years to become good at that....they impress me.
They're capable of flawless work without any sanding....& fast...did I mention fast?

Already there (hopefully). I am by no means a professional, but one thing I do have is time and patience. I cannot do a 2-coat skim without sanding, but maybe I can do 3 or 4 coats plus touch-up/sanding. I'm using thinned-down USG Topping Lite on top of the all-purpose light for the finish coats with a squeeggee and 12" knife to do the final layers and am banking on pole sanding or vacuum sanding plus a high build primer to give me the smoothness I desire. But again, it's time and patience that are on my side. Here are some recent photos. Shallow angle lighting added in the second two pics.

https://i.ibb.co/xfZyjmY/IMG-20190908-091926971.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/1MjJQqb/IMG-20190908-091950501.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/H4qZ17z/IMG-20190908-092002477.jpg

This is 1-2 coats plus touch-up. Been a learning curve and certainly a non-linear process, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Does this look on-track to you guys?

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

For reference, here's what I skimmed over. Easily 1/8" to 1/4" deep in some areas, especially around the corners. O' the humanity...

 

[SalixIncendium]

Already there (hopefully). I am by no means a professional, but one thing I do have is time and patience. I cannot do a 2-coat skim without sanding, but maybe I can do 3 or 4 coats plus touch-up/sanding. I'm using thinned-down USG Topping Lite on top of the all-purpose light for the finish coats with a squeeggee and 12" knife to do the final layers and am banking on pole sanding or vacuum sanding plus a high build primer to give me the smoothness I desire. But again, it's time and patience that are on my side. Here are some recent photos. Shallow angle lighting added in the second two pics.

https://i.ibb.co/xfZyjmY/IMG-20190908-091926971.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/1MjJQqb/IMG-20190908-091950501.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/H4qZ17z/IMG-20190908-092002477.jpg

This is 1-2 coats plus touch-up. Been a learning curve and certainly a non-linear process, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Does this look on-track to you guys?

I would continue to do very tight skims in lieu of just going over what's there with a high build primer. You'll be much happier with the results. The trick is to do the subsequent layers with a very tight skim. This will minimize sanding as well.

I wouldn't thin down the topping (or use topping at all for that matter). While sanding topping is easier, the shrinkage is higher (exacerbated by thinning it down) than all-purpose compound or all-purpose lite compound. It is also much more susceptible to nicks and dings. I would add about two cups of water maximum to a 5 gallon pail of all-purpose lite and apply tight coats sanding down ridges between coats until you have the surface you like. Adding more water will make the compound spread easier, but as I said, the more water is added, the more the product will shrink.

 

[Revoltingest]

Already there (hopefully). I am by no means a professional, but one thing I do have is time and patience. I cannot do a 2-coat skim without sanding, but maybe I can do 3 or 4 coats plus touch-up/sanding. I'm using thinned-down USG Topping Lite on top of the all-purpose light for the finish coats with a squeeggee and 12" knife to do the final layers and am banking on pole sanding or vacuum sanding plus a high build primer to give me the smoothness I desire. But again, it's time and patience that are on my side. Here are some recent photos. Shallow angle lighting added in the second two pics.

https://i.ibb.co/xfZyjmY/IMG-20190908-091926971.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/1MjJQqb/IMG-20190908-091950501.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/H4qZ17z/IMG-20190908-092002477.jpg

This is 1-2 coats plus touch-up. Been a learning curve and certainly a non-linear process, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Does this look on-track to you guys?

Time & patience are friends of low skill dabblers like me.

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

Time & patience are friends of low skill dabblers like me.

Oh come on! Lol

I'd love to skim that room in two 20-minute coats with no sanding, but I work in a medical lab for a living. As long as it comes out looking good though, that's good enough for me.

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

Update.

The ceiling is ready for primer and paint. It's hard to visualize with photos, but I'd love to get some feedback. These photos are taken at night with a single light source. The photos with the light bloom were done with the light about 6" below the ceiling at a parallel angle. The third photo is an extreme close-up of the worst blemishes.

@Revoltingest @SalixIncendium

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

Update

Here are some photos post-priming. I dropped by a Miller paint store and found a high-build acrylic primer called Super Seal. To my satisfaction, it performed almost exactly as I hoped. It works fine for scuffs and tiny pockmarks on broad flat surfaces, but it works really well for those issues around corners, which was far and away my main concern. There are some drawbacks to the primer I noticed, however. It leaves behind more visible brush strokes than less viscous primers (My guess is that this is partly why high-build primers are usually used and recommended for spray-on applications). Second, it dries super fast. It's dry to the touch in 30 minutes. You really need to make sure you get any overlapping done within like 10 minutes.

First two photos show the initial brushing around the corners. Third photo shows the complete application after rolling.